{"id":26531,"date":"2026-03-14T03:33:58","date_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=26531"},"modified":"2026-03-14T03:33:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-14T03:33:58","slug":"extended-warranty-scams-what-car-owners-need-to-know","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=26531","title":{"rendered":"Extended Warranty Scams: What Car Owners Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\">\n<div class=\"out-of-date-message mb-4 rounded border border-neutral-300 bg-neutral-50 p-4\"> <span class=\"font-gotham text-sm font-bold\"> SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED <\/span> <\/p>\n<p id=\"oodm-text\" class=\"mt-2 text-sm font-normal text-neutral-800\">\nThis page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on<br \/>\n    SS. The information has been collected by SS and has not<br \/>\n    been provided or reviewed by the card issuer.\n<\/p>\n<p> <!-- Tiny inlined script to personalize names -->  <\/div>\n<p><span>If you haven\u2019t received a call warning you that your car\u2019s warranty is about to expire and pressuring you to purchase an extended warranty, you\u2019ve probably heard of someone who has.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The extended car warranty industry is hard for customers to trust:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<ul class=\"list-disc ml-5 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ol]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ul]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li]:mt-2\">\n<li>\n<li>\n<p><span>Others push murky contracts with too-good-to-be-true pricing that might not do anything except take money out of your bank account every month.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><span>Then there\u2019s the fake warranty offers, often presented over the phone or email, that are likely not connected to any real service contract and could end up putting your financial information at risk.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Here\u2019s how to tell the difference between a real extended car warranty, a serious scam and the grey area in between.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading font-gotham text-[1.5rem] font-bold\">Are all extended warranties a scam?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4\"><span>No, not all extended car warranties are a scam, though they tend to have that reputation. The SS editorial team shopped for extended car warranties and found a handful of legit third-party extended warranty companies (warranties not offered by the car manufacturer or dealership). These companies provide clear sample contracts, have positive customer reviews, and are accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).<\/span><\/div>\n<p><span>We also found several companies that still offer extended warranties, but raised some red flags: high-pressure sales tactics, no sample contracts, recent bankruptcy and inconsistent pricing information. These companies may not be peddling a true \u201cscam,\u201d but they\u2019re unlikely to give you and your car the protection you\u2019re looking for.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading font-gotham text-[1.5rem] font-bold\">I got an extended warranty scam call \u2013 what\u2019s going on?<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Extended car warranty scam calls are so pervasive that car owners may be more aware of the fake warranties they offer than actual aftermarket extended warranties. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span class=\"font-bold\">How it happens:<\/span> These calls are often prerecorded or automated, and may include specific information about your car that can make them seem legit. They might tell you that your car\u2019s factory warranty is about to expire and that you have to act quickly to extend your warranty by providing immediate payment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span><span class=\"font-bold\">What to do: <\/span>In general, assume that any caller requesting personal information from you \u2013 such as a license number or payment information \u2013 isn\u2019t safe to deal with. Don\u2019t share any of this info over the phone. If you\u2019re concerned about your warranty expiration, contact your car\u2019s manufacturer or dealership directly to confirm. Any legit warranty provider should be able to send you a written copy of the policy, so ask for one if you\u2019re not sure.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<h2 class=\"heading font-gotham text-[1.5rem] font-bold\">Extended warranty flags to watch out for<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<p><span>Whether you\u2019re shopping for an extended warranty and coming across fishy behavior from real companies, or trying to identify if the call, email or letter in the mail you just got is a scam, some common red flags should make you pause before proceeding or signing anything. Here are a few warning signs:<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<ul class=\"list-disc ml-5 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ol]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ul]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li]:mt-2\">\n<li>\n<p><span><span class=\"font-bold\">Demands for immediate action. <\/span>Any time-sensitive pressure, whether it\u2019s from a cold call or an online extended warranty company you requested a quote from, is a signal that the sender might want to push you toward an unwise financial decision. Generally, you don\u2019t need to purchase an extended warranty until your factory warranty fully expires, so don\u2019t rush.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><span><span class=\"font-bold\">Unsolicited communication. <\/span>\u201cWarranty expiration\u201d notices or mailers that aren\u2019t from your car\u2019s manufacturer may have information about your car, but that doesn\u2019t mean they\u2019re helpful. If you didn\u2019t contact the company first \u2013 or are unable to get ahold of customer service when you try \u2013 they\u2019re likely not legit.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li>\n<p><span><span class=\"font-bold\">Murky contracts and policies.<\/span> A good extended warranty company that is actually providing the service they\u2019re advertising should have no problem providing a sample contract and clarifying their pricing levels to customers. If you\u2019re being asked to input payment information before seeing what you\u2019re signing up for, it\u2019s a red flag. And if the pricing looks too good to be true, it probably is.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4\">\n<ul class=\"list-disc ml-5 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ol]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li&gt;ul]:ml-4 [&amp;&gt;li]:mt-2\">\n<li>\n<div class=\"mt-0 mb-0\"><span><span class=\"font-bold\">Bad reviews. <\/span>You can search a company on the BBB website to see if there\u2019s open customer complaints, and check their rating on an A to F scale. Not all companies will have a rating, so customer reviews may help paint a picture. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) also has reports on lawsuits against companies, which you can search by company on the <a class=\"text-blue dark:text-blue-light hover:underline\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/legal-library\/browse\/cases-proceedings\" target=\"_blank\" data-nw-tracking=\"{&quot;impression&quot;:{&quot;event&quot;:&quot;link_viewed&quot;,&quot;setEventGroupId&quot;:&quot;921277d2-31d6-4ab3-92ff-2afd36803641&quot;,&quot;properties&quot;:{&quot;entity_name&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;destination_url&quot;:&quot;https:\/\/www.ftc.gov\/legal-library\/browse\/cases-proceedings&quot;,&quot;link_copy&quot;:&quot;${el.innerText}&quot;}},&quot;click&quot;:{&quot;event&quot;:&quot;link_clicked&quot;,&quot;properties&quot;:{&quot;entity_name&quot;:&quot;link&quot;,&quot;parent_event_id&quot;:&quot;921277d2-31d6-4ab3-92ff-2afd36803641&quot;}}}\" rel=\"noopener\">FTC website<\/a>. You can also check more informal review sites, like Trustpilot.com and Reddit, to read unfiltered customer experiences.<\/span><\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-0 mb-0\">\n<div data-nw-tracking='{\"impression\":{\"event\":\"feature_viewed\",\"properties\":{\"entity_name\":\"wp_dynamic_placement\",\"content_id\":1790924}}}'><span class=\"text-blue text-xs-half bg-blue-lightest inline-block rounded px-2 py-1\"><br \/>\nAdvertisement<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"overflow-x-auto pt-[2rem]\">\n<table class=\"border-neutral-light w-full border-collapse border text-sm md:table-fixed\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border p-4 text-center\" data-nw-tracking='{\"impression\":{\"event\":\"SKU Viewed\",\"fieldMap\":{\"pageview_id\":\"impression_pageview_id\"},\"onEventFiredKey\":\"external-shopping-links\",\"properties\":{\"event_id\":false,\"institution_id\":\"d157a7be-46d3-11f0-829d-079a7c2e57d9\",\"institution_name\":\"CarShield\",\"offer_id\":\"9f863a94-d43a-11f0-b4ac-839e02f7beb4\",\"offer_name\":\"Carshield Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"product_id\":\"ee45518c-46d3-11f0-8d54-2ba5e9e4e0a8\",\"product_name\":\"CarShield Car Warranty\",\"sku_id\":\"9f863a94-d43a-11f0-b4ac-839e02f7beb4\",\"sku_level\":\"offer\",\"sku_name\":\"Carshield Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"sku_product_type\":\"expansion\",\"sku_source\":\"marketplace\",\"sku_impression_id\":\"b0cce786-3c68-4021-8abb-d572a9763374\",\"monetizable\":\"yes_assumed\",\"impression_page_url\":\"${window.location.href}\",\"impression_position\":0,\"impression_section\":\"flex_comparison_table\"}}}'>\n<p> Best for low cost per mile (new car) <\/p>\n<p>  <\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border p-4 text-center\" data-nw-tracking='{\"impression\":{\"event\":\"SKU Viewed\",\"fieldMap\":{\"pageview_id\":\"impression_pageview_id\"},\"onEventFiredKey\":\"external-shopping-links\",\"properties\":{\"event_id\":false,\"institution_id\":\"1189f87e-46d3-11f0-be14-5f77a2a313ce\",\"institution_name\":\"Endurance\",\"offer_id\":\"2c416530-d43b-11f0-93d6-73300cdc8f05\",\"offer_name\":\"Endurance Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"product_id\":\"344b9bf6-46d3-11f0-b207-fbc18abb1fa4\",\"product_name\":\"Endurance Car Warranty\",\"sku_id\":\"2c416530-d43b-11f0-93d6-73300cdc8f05\",\"sku_level\":\"offer\",\"sku_name\":\"Endurance Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"sku_product_type\":\"expansion\",\"sku_source\":\"marketplace\",\"sku_impression_id\":\"d35df223-593a-46fb-89af-4bdf4253c858\",\"monetizable\":\"yes_assumed\",\"impression_page_url\":\"${window.location.href}\",\"impression_position\":1,\"impression_section\":\"flex_comparison_table\"}}}'>\n<p> Best overall <\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/cdn\/vertical-expansion\/partners\/endurance.svg\" alt=\"Endurance Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\" class=\"mx-auto block aspect-[135\/66] w-[135px] object-contain\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border p-4 text-center\" data-nw-tracking='{\"impression\":{\"event\":\"SKU Viewed\",\"fieldMap\":{\"pageview_id\":\"impression_pageview_id\"},\"onEventFiredKey\":\"external-shopping-links\",\"properties\":{\"event_id\":false,\"institution_id\":\"8472532c-46d3-11f0-a350-7b37f457d799\",\"institution_name\":\"Premier Auto Protect\",\"offer_id\":\"6ecb85e6-d43d-11f0-9a26-5fb708ebc55a\",\"offer_name\":\"Premier Auto Protect Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"product_id\":\"9e97cef8-46d3-11f0-8d54-3f7062df33d3\",\"product_name\":\"Premier Auto Protect Car Warranty\",\"sku_id\":\"6ecb85e6-d43d-11f0-9a26-5fb708ebc55a\",\"sku_level\":\"offer\",\"sku_name\":\"Premier Auto Protect Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\",\"sku_product_type\":\"expansion\",\"sku_source\":\"marketplace\",\"sku_impression_id\":\"af4b35ad-bab7-4ba7-8b03-21b900475915\",\"monetizable\":\"yes_assumed\",\"impression_page_url\":\"${window.location.href}\",\"impression_position\":2,\"impression_section\":\"flex_comparison_table\"}}}'>\n<p> Best for 24\/7 claim filing <\/p>\n<p> <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/cdn\/vertical-expansion\/partners\/premier_auto_protect.webp\" alt=\"Premier Auto Protect Car Warranty (newer, low-mileage cars) organic\" class=\"mx-auto block aspect-[135\/66] w-[135px] object-contain\" loading=\"lazy\"> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-4 text-center align-bottom\">\n<div class=\"bg-yellow-lighter-2 mb-2 mt-5 px-2 py-1\">\n<div class=\"inline-block\">  <span class=\"text-xs-half font-sans font-normal\">Limited-Time Deal: <\/span> <span class=\"text-xs-half mr-1 font-semibold font-sans font-normal\">$360 off<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-4 text-center align-bottom\">\n<div class=\"bg-yellow-lighter-2 mb-2 mt-5 px-2 py-1\">\n<div class=\"inline-block\">  <span class=\"text-xs-half font-sans font-normal\">Limited-Time Deal: <\/span> <span class=\"text-xs-half mr-1 font-semibold font-sans font-normal\">$300 off<\/span>  <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-4 text-center align-bottom\">\n<div class=\"cta-container min-h-[90px]\">\n<p class=\"text-neutral-darker text-xs-half mt-1 text-center tracking-tight font-sans font-normal\">on Premier Auto Protect&#8217;s website<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"bg-[#f5f5f5] text-center\">\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Cost comparison<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">$$<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Cost comparison<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">$$$<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Cost comparison<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">$$$<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"bg-[#f5f5f5] text-center\">\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Online quote<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Online quote<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">Yes<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Online quote<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">No<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"bg-[#f5f5f5] text-center\">\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Plan choices<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">Excellent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Plan choices<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">Excellent<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<td class=\"border-neutral-light min-w-[230px] border px-2 py-4 align-top\">\n<p>Plan choices<\/p>\n<p class=\"font-sans text-base font-normal\">Good<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"mt-0 mb-0\">\n<div class=\"mt-7 sm:mt-[var(--margin-4-small)] xl:mt-8\">\n<div class=\"accordion-container flex flex-col \">\n<div class=\"accordion-item border-neutral-lighter border-t last:border-b\">\n<details class=\"group overflow-hidden \" data-nw-tracking='{\"impression\":{\"event\":\"feature_viewed\",\"setEventGroupId\":\"e3b75435-04c4-4597-ae39-fd10e6c83319\",\"properties\":{\"entity_name\":\"accordion\"}},\"click\":{\"event\":\"feature_interacted\",\"properties\":{\"entity_name\":\"accordion\",\"parent_event_id\":\"e3b75435-04c4-4597-ae39-fd10e6c83319\"}}}'>\n<summary class=\"hover:bg-neutral-lightest active:bg-blue-lightest active:border-blue-light flex cursor-pointer flex-row items-center justify-stretch gap-[1rem] border border-transparent after:block after:h-[1.3em] after:w-[1.3em] after:shrink-0 accordion-after-bg-icon after:bg-contain after:bg-center after:bg-no-repeat after:content-[''] after:transition-transform after:duration-300 group-open:font-medium group-open:after:rotate-180 group-open:[&amp;&gt;*&gt;:where(h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6)]:!font-normal p-[1rem]\">  <span class=\"grow-1 hidden group-open:block\">Article sources<\/span> <span class=\"grow-1 block group-open:hidden\"> Article sources <\/span>  <\/summary>\n<\/details>\n<div role=\"region\" class=\"accordion-content-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"accordion-content text-base-content min-h-0 overflow-hidden\">\n<div id=\"citation-list\" data-top=\"70\">\n<div class=\"mt-3\"> <span class=\"font-sans font-normal\"><br \/>\nSS writers are subject matter authorities who use primary,<br \/>\n          trustworthy sources to inform their work, including peer-reviewed<br \/>\n          studies, government websites, academic research and interviews with<br \/>\n          industry experts. All content is fact-checked for accuracy, timeliness<br \/>\n          and relevance. You can learn more about SS&#8217;s high<br \/>\n          standards for journalism by reading our<br \/>\neditorial guidelines.<br \/>\n <\/span> <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<aside class=\"@container\/author-cards flex flex-col gap-6\"><span class=\"font-gotham text-xl font-medium\"><br \/>\nAbout the author<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"@2xl\/author-cards:grid-cols-2 grid grid-cols-1 gap-4\">\n<div class=\"border-neutral-lighter-2 relative flex min-h-24 flex-col gap-6 rounded-lg border p-6\">\n<div class=\"flex gap-6\">\n<div class=\"outline-5 h-20 w-20 flex-none overflow-hidden rounded-full shadow-lg outline-white\">\n<figure class=\"h-full w-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dalia Ramirez\" width=\"80\" height=\"80\" fetchpriority=\"low\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/tachyon\/2023\/06\/049A10E0-B397-439E-985C-9827C45D52B2-1.jpg?resize=160%2C160\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/tachyon\/2023\/06\/049A10E0-B397-439E-985C-9827C45D52B2-1.jpg?resize=160%2C160\" class=\"object-cover\" style=\"object-fit:cover;object-position:center\"><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-neutral-darker-2 line-clamp-3 text-ellipsis text-[0.813rem]\">\n<div class=\"mt-0 mb-0\">\n<p><span>Dalia Ramirez writes about home and car services for SS. She has previously written about estate planning, cryptocurrencies, small business software and other personal finance topics. Dalia has a B.A. in science and technology studies from Wesleyan University. Her work has appeared in publications including The Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg and The Associated Press. She is based in San Francisco.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nerdwallet.com\/auto-loans\/learn\/how-to-spot-extended-warranty-scams\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SOME CARD INFO MAY BE OUTDATED This page includes information about these cards, currently unavailable on SS. The information has been collected by SS and has not been provided or reviewed by the card issuer. If you haven\u2019t received a call warning you that your car\u2019s warranty is about to expire and pressuring you to<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":26532,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[195],"tags":[793,2901,1146,669,3223],"class_list":{"0":"post-26531","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-personal-finance","8":"tag-car","9":"tag-extended","10":"tag-owners","11":"tag-scams","12":"tag-warranty"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26531","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=26531"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/26531\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/26532"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=26531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=26531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=26531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}