Extended car warranty calculator
Is the extended warranty you were offered worth its price? Enter the price, how long and how far it lasts, and what is left of your factory warranty. You will see how much cover it really adds, what each added year costs and how many repairs it takes to pay for itself.
The plan you were offered
These are example numbers. Replace them with the figures on your quote.
Your car and your driving
Check your warranty booklet or ask the dealer.
A repair you are worried about
A transmission or an engine part, for example.
What you actually get for the price
4 years of added cover
$800 per added year, $67 a month
The detail
- The plan lasts, at your driving
- 5 years
- The factory warranty lasts, at your driving
- 1 year
- Added by the plan
- 4 years
- Share of the plan that repeats the factory warranty
- 20%
- Claims of $3,000 to pay for itself
- 2
Part of this plan repeats cover you already have. Ask whether the price drops if it starts after the factory warranty ends.
Plans differ in what they cover, what they exclude and who pays for the repair. Ask for the full contract, read the exclusions, and ask whether it can be cancelled and refunded. The price is almost always negotiable.
Keep going with Uobo
Uobo is your personal car agent. Text it what you need and it does the research and the checks, asks dealerships about availability, condition and price for you, and helps you decide. This is the text you would send:
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On a computer? Text (289) 819-4586 from your phone and paste what you copied. Standard message rates apply. Reply STOP any time to stop.
How it works
Many plans start right away, so part of what you pay for repeats cover you already have from the maker. The tool subtracts the factory warranty that is left and shows only the years the plan adds.
It also checks the kilometres. At your driving, a plan may reach its kilometre limit before its years are up, which shortens what you get.
To judge value, you can enter a repair you worry about. The tool shows how many repairs of that size, after your deductible, the plan must pay for before it is worth its price.
Example: a $3,200 five-year, 100,000 km plan
You drive 20,000 km a year and the plan starts right away, with one year of factory warranty left. The plan adds 4 years of cover, which is $800 a year or $67 a month. It pays for itself after 2 repairs of $3,000 with a $100 deductible.
What this does not cover
- A plan is only as good as its contract. Which parts are covered, what is excluded and who pays the shop differ a lot, so read it before you decide. The car dealer add-ons explained guide covers the other extras you may be offered.
- The break-even assumes the repairs you name actually happen. Most owners never claim the full value of a plan, which is how plans are priced.
- It cannot predict your car's repairs. Reliability varies by model and by how the car is treated.
Common questions
Is an extended warranty worth it?
It can be if you plan to keep the car well beyond the factory warranty and a large repair would strain your budget. For many people it costs more than it pays out. The price is often negotiable, so compare plans.
Can I buy an extended warranty later?
Often yes. Many makers and third parties sell plans while the factory warranty is still active, sometimes for less. You do not usually have to decide at the dealership.
What does an extended warranty not cover?
Wear items such as tires, brakes and wipers, routine maintenance, damage from accidents and neglect, and often a list of excluded parts. Ask for the full contract and read the exclusions.
Can I cancel an extended warranty and get a refund?
Many plans can be cancelled for a pro-rated refund, sometimes minus a fee. Ask before you buy, and ask what happens if you sell the car.