Best used car warranty in 2026

National Best used car warranty in 2026 A car warranty for used cars can be a lifesaver when you need repairs, especially since you may not know your vehicle's history. Car repairs are expensive, and can easily lead to hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per year. To help you combat expensive car repairs, the team at USA TODAY used our in-house methodology to rank the top car warranty names in the industry. Here are the top seven used car warranties that made our list in 2026. Top 7 car warranty companies for used cars Olive: Best overall Endurance: Best for extra perks Mopar FlexCare: Best for flexible coverage options CarEdge: Best for long-term value Toco Warranty: Best for pay-as-you-go Everything Breaks: Best for comprehensive coverage Route 66: Best for no deductible Olive: Best overall Get a free quote Olive extended car warranty affordably covers vehicles up to 185,000 miles, starting as low as $50 per month. Unlike some warranty providers that cap yearly mileage, Olive puts no restrictions on your driving habits. This means you can commute and travel as much as you want without worrying that it will affect your claim eligibility. Olive's car warranty plans have no waiting period, so you can start making claims right away. The company's three levels of warranty coverage - bumper-to-bumper, Powertrain and Powertrain plus - include benefits like towing and rental car coverage (but not full roadside assistance like other providers). No matter where your breakdown happens, Olive can get you to a qualified repair shop. Pros: Positive customer reviews Affordable car warranty costs, often less than $100 per month No waiting period Cons: Fewer add-on options compared with competitors Availability may vary by state Endurance: Best for extra perks Endurance auto warranty stands out by offering unlimited mileage coverage for vehicles up to 20 years old, making it ideal for drivers of high-mileage or older cars. Some plans even include routine maintenance, such as oil changes and brake pad replacements, alongside traditional breakdown protection. When you need repairs, your warranty can be used at any Automotive Service Excellence (ASE)-certified shop or dealership. Endurance customers have mixed reviews about their warranty coverage. Whereas some report a smooth claims process, others find the coverage more challenging to use. Pros: Unlimited mileage and coverage for older vehicles Warranty plans that include car maintenance Accepted at any shop or dealership with ASE certification Cons: Mixed customer reviews Ongoing class action lawsuit alleging deceptive marketing, claim denials and breach of contract Mopar FlexCare: Best for flexible coverage options Get a free quote An extended car warranty from FlexCare by Mopar covers more than 5,000 car components, including major systems like the engine, transmission and drivetrain. What makes FlexCare stand out is its customizable coverage. You can choose from multiple plan tiers (Care, Care Plus and Care Premium), add extra benefits like roadside assistance, and even select different term lengths to fit your driving habits and budget. However, FlexCare only applies to Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep brands, so if your vehicle comes from another automaker, you'll have to find car warranty coverage elsewhere. But if you do own one of these top car brands, you're in luck because you're almost guaranteed top original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-quality parts and service. Pros: Positive customer reviews 8-year coverage terms OEM-quality parts and service Cons: Only offers extended warranty coverage for Chrysler, Dodge, Ram and Jeep Limited high-mileage coverage CarEdge: Best for long-term value Get a free quote CarEdge providers warranty coverage for vehicles up to 150,000 miles, so it's perfect for the driver who wants coverage for a vehicle that has just aged out of its factory warranty. Where CarEdge shines is in its customer reviews, with averages of 4.5 stars or higher on major third-party review sites like Trustpilot. CarEdge's extended car warranty is just one aspect of its broader automotive ecosystem. Alongside warranty coverage, it helps you find the right vehicle and offers insurance options tailored to your needs. Pros: Positive customer reviews Choose your repair shop Also offers car buying assistance and insurance Cons: Higher monthly plan cost than competitors Warranty plans vary by state Read our CarEdge review Toco Warranty: Best for pay-as-you-go Get quote A high mileage cap of 250,000 miles makes Toco car warranty a great choice for used vehicle coverage. Its plans are affordable, backed by positive customer reviews and come with 24/7 roadside assistance. Toco also allows you to pay month-to-month, so you won't be locked into a contract unless you want to be. Plan availability is based on your car's mileage, so you may not be eligible for the most comprehensive coverage. But, you can still get car warranty coverage for the car parts most likely to break down at high mileage, like your engine and transmission. Pros: Affordable car warranty plans High mileage cap of 250,000 Positive customer reviews Cons: Not available in Alaska, California, Missouri or Washington Plan availability may be based on vehicle mileage Everything Breaks: Best for comprehensive coverage Get a free quote Everything Breaks car warranty coverage is exactly that; it has plans designed to cover every important component of your vehicle. The company offers six plans to choose from and covers vehicles up to 250,000 miles. Be on the lookout for deals, as Everything Breaks often runs promotions for new customers looking for an affordable used car warranty. Pros: Broad coverage for major vehicle systems Flexible payment options Includes roadside assistance and rental car benefits Cons: The highest level of coverage may be more expensive than some competitors'. Fewer customization options compared with competitors. Route 66: Best for no deductible Get a free quote If you don't want to pay a dime when your car breaks down due to normal wear and tear, then an extended car warranty from Route 66 is one of your best options. Eligible car parts require no deductible when they need fixing, so all you have to do is bring your car into your preferred repair shop and let Route 66 handle the rest. The downside of this car warranty provider is that they don't provide much information online, and you can only purchase a contract from a participating bank or credit union. Pros: Affordable prices and flexible terms $0 deductible Your choice of repair facility Cons: Can only purchase from a bank or credit union No sample contracts on the website Honorable mentions Not every extended car warranty company has what it takes to make our list of the seven best car warranties for used cars. Here are the providers that round out the top 10: Premier Auto Care: Premier Auto Care is geared toward drivers who want comprehensive coverage similar to their manufacturer's warranty. Prices are often competitive, but can be pricey for higher levels of coverage. CarChex: CarChex has a short 20-day waiting period, 10 days shorter than the average car warranty waiting period. This means you can start making claims sooner. CarShield: CarShield narrowly misses our top car warranty for used cars list because of mixed customer reviews. But its 300,000 mile mileage limit makes it a competitive option for anyone who owns a vehicle with higher mileage. Why trust USA TODAY The team at USA TODAY takes your trust seriously. Every car warranty company featured on our site is thoroughly vetted and approved by our dedicated team of editors and writers. We carefully evaluate providers based on key factors such as coverage options, customer experience, pricing transparency and industry reputation. Our goal is to ensure you have access to reliable, unbiased information so you can make confident decisions about your vehicle's protection. Do you need an extended car warranty for used cars? An extended car warranty offers coverage beyond the manufacturer's original warranty, and when breakdowns qualify, the warranty covers the cost to fix them. Buying a used car can be a good financial decision, especially if you anticipate needing car repairs in the near future (as many used cars often need). When you buy a used car, you may not know its entire history. "You should get a warranty when you buy a used vehicle. You can buy a warranty later, but you might as well buy it when you buy the car so that you're protected immediately," says Melanie Musson, an auto industry expert with AutoInsurance.org. Extended car warranties often come with a 30-day waiting period where you cannot make claims. If your car breaks down during that period, all the repairs come straight out of your pocket. To avoid this issue, buying an extended warranty when you buy the new car is the best option. When might you skip buying an extended warranty for your used car? "One exception is what is called a Certified Pre-Owned warranty ("CPO"). Vehicles with CPO warranties are used vehicles that have been inspected, serviced and are backed by an additional manufacturer's warranty and other benefits. These vehicles meet specific manufacturer standards, providing buyers with more peace of mind than a standard used car," explains Michael Ouziel, the founder of MMO Law, APC. If the car is still under the manufacturer's warranty. If you have a reliable emergency fund for repairs. You buy a certified pre-owned vehicle from a dealership. Ultimately, the decision depends on your car's age, mileage, reliability and your personal risk tolerance. Extended warranties can be valuable for high-mileage vehicles or models known for costly repairs, but they're not always necessary for every driver. How to choose an extended car warranty Every car owner has different needs, and you should choose your extended car warranty based on your vehicle. Here is what you should keep in mind as you shop: Monthly budget: The ultimate goal of an extended car warranty is for you to save money on repairs, and your monthly rate needs to reflect that. Set your budget and choose a plan that falls within that range. Level of coverage: Bumper-to-bumper coverage is significantly more expensive than a basic Powertrain warranty. Only choose the level of coverage that you need and don't overpay for a full warranty if you only need a few systems covered. Age and mileage of vehicle: The older your car and the more miles it has, the more you'll pay each month. Get quotes from at least three providers to compare costs, as one might offer a better deal than the rest. Deductible: The deductible is the amount you pay for each repair or claim. Lower deductibles typically come with higher monthly rates and vice versa. If you anticipate more repairs, a low deductible plan may make the most sense. But if you think you'll make a single claim during your term, a higher deductible plan might save you more money in the long run. Repair technician network: Most of the top car warranties for used cars accept claims from any licensed repair shop, but others only work with shops in their network. If you live outside of town and further away from the nearest approved shop, getting your car fixed will be more of a headache. How to avoid a car warranty scam Avoid car warranty scams with these common red flags: Pushy sales tactics: If the salesperson makes claims that your offer is only good if you sign up immediately or pressures you to buy a warranty, that's a red flag. Reputable car warranty companies give you time to get other quotes and consider their offer. Robo-calls: Real car warranty providers have real people on the other end of the line. If you get repeat calls or unsolicited phone calls, that's a sign of a scam. Crazy low prices: Car warranty providers all fall within a similar cost range, so if you're promised rates of $20 per month or less, take pause. How much does a used car warranty cost? A used car warranty costs between $70 and $180 per month, or $1,500 to $4,000 per year. Your cost depends on the type of car, age, mileage and level of coverage. How USA TODAY ranks car warranty companies The USA TODAY team ranks extended car warranty companies using our in-house methodology. We look at coverage, cost, customer experience, company reliability and transparency to determine which providers are named the best car warranties for used cars. For this ranking, we considered 24 car warranty providers, 18 of which met the criteria to be part of our ranking. More than 900 data points and 42 individual factors were used during our vetting process. Frequently asked questions about used car warranties Who gives the best warranty on used cars? Olive extended warranty, CarEdge and Toco Warranty are all reliable and trustworthy third-party car warranty providers. What are two reasons not to buy an extended warranty? If you have a healthy emergency savings account or bought a new car that comes with a manufacturer's warranty, you don't need an extended car warranty. What are red flags in extended warranties? Pushy sales tactics, unreasonable promises and required upfront payment are all red flags for extended car warranties. If you notice any of these, use caution before you buy. Is it worth buying a warranty on a used vehicle? An extended car warranty for used cars can be worth it, especially if you don't have emergency savings for car repairs and if you plan on keeping your vehicle for a long time. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Best used car warranty in 2026 Our editors independently choose our recommendations. Some content is produced with paid support from a third party, however our editorial decisions remain independent. If you buy through our links, the USA TODAY Network may earn a commission. Prices and availability may change. Reporting by Alora Bopray, USA TODAY / USA TODAY USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect This story was originally published September 8, 2026 at 9:49 AM.