- The CarvanaCare warranty program has three plans and offers coverage that is comparable to leading providers.
- There is a strict timeline for purchasing a CarvanaCare plan, and our team did not find free quotes or sample contracts online.
- Customers who prefer the Carvana buying experience may also appreciate the Carvana extended warranty, but we recommend getting quotes from other providers.
Based in Tempe, Arizona, Carvana is an online used car retailer that allows customers to shop, sell, finance, or trade in cars through its website. Made popular in part by their car vending machines and no-hassle, online car buying experience, the car seller also offers an extended warranty called CarvanaCareTM. In this article, our review team discusses the details of Carvana’s extended warranty and how it compares to the best extended auto warranty companies in the industry.
Our team examines thousands of online reviews, collects quotes, and mystery shops warranty providers to understand the customer experience they provide. This adds up to 1,475 total hours of research and more than 2,200 data points. Backed by this extensive research, we gave Carvana 3.6 out of 5.0 stars for its extended warranty program.
Our Carvana Warranty Review And Methodology
The CarvanaCare warranty program has three plans and offers coverage that is comparable to leading providers. Each of these plans comes with roadside assistance, and the highest tier of warranty covers complimentary maintenance services. As you might expect, the terms and cost of a Carvana warranty are affected by the specific vehicle you buy.
How We Rated Carvana Warranty
To give you the most up-to-date information, we update our review standards several times each year. Our warranty research evaluates providers in the following main categories:
Industry Standing
When we rate warranty providers for industry standing, we consider things like how long they’ve been in business, Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation, and availability. Carvana’s extended warranty plans are available for most vehicles the company sells, but not all. The car dealer has been in business since 2012 and is not BBB accredited. Overall, we give the company a 3.4 out of 5.0-star rating for industry standing.
Coverage
Carvana offers three levels of extended warranty coverage, which is fewer than many leading providers. However, the company’s selection of plans features powertrain protection – for core engine and transmission components – and more comprehensive options that include maintenance benefits. There are also some impressive perks that come with all Carvana warranty plans. All things considered, we give the company a solid 3.8-star rating here.
Cost
The cost of a Carvana extended warranty depends on the purchased vehicle model, age, and mileage. Carvana has a network of more than 5,000 preferred repair shops that offer $0 deductibles on covered repairs. It’s tough to rate a warranty provider’s cost when it doesn’t disclose prices, but after reading Carvana extended warranty reviews relating to cost, we awarded the company 4.0 stars in this category.
Transparency
We typically consider sample contracts and the availability of a money-back guarantee when we rate warranty companies for transparency. Carvana offers a 7-day guarantee for the vehicles it sells. There aren’t any sample contracts available on the website. Overall, we give the company 2.5 out of 5.0 stars for transparency.
Customer Service
Online Carvana extended warranty reviews relating to customer satisfaction play a key role in our ratings for this category. We also consider a warranty provider’s digital presence. Carvana doesn’t feature a mobile app, but it does offer online chat. More than 6,900 customer reviews on Trustpilot compile to award the company 4.0 out of 5.0 stars. Weighing all these factors, we give Carvana 3.9 stars for customer service.
Is a Carvana Warranty Worth It?
Before evaluating Carvana’s extended warranty, it is worth noting the warranty that comes with every vehicle purchased from Carvana.
Carvana’s limited warranty, or “Worry Free Guarantee,” entitles every new Carvana vehicle to 100 days/4,189 miles of coverage for needed repairs. While Carvana will cover most of the cost of your repairs, there is a $50 copay each time Carvana’s limited warranty is used.
The Worry Free Guarantee covers repairs on all assemblies and parts on your vehicle except:
- Interior or exterior cosmetic imperfections
- Replaceable/wearable parts
- Recommended maintenance
- Aftermarket accessories
Carvana’s limited warranty also comes with roadside assistance, including towing, jump-starts, and flat tire assistance. In addition, locksmith services and emergency gas/fluid assistance are offered.
Drivers may find Carvana’s Worry Free Guarantee helpful for the short-term, but most vehicle owners who desire long-term coverage need a warranty much longer than 100 days.
Concerns With CarvanaCare
While CarvanaCare could potentially be a good fit for some drivers, we cannot recommend this extended warranty without reservation for the following reasons:
- Strict timeline for purchasing: Our review team believes that an extended warranty should be able to be purchased whenever someone feels that it is a good fit for them. Since a Carvana extended warranty has to be purchased by the end of the company’s seven-day money-back guarantee, some customers may feel rushed to purchase the plan.
- No free quotes or sample contracts online: Free quotes and sample contracts allow prospective customers to compare important plan details and costs so they can make an educated decision on a provider.
Carvana Warranty Coverage
In contrast with many other reputable extended car warranty companies, you can only purchase CarvanaCare at the time you purchase your vehicle or by the end of Carvana’s seven-day money-back guarantee period. Although the company sells Carvana extended warranty plans, it is not the plan administrator. The CarvanaCare extended warranty is administered by SilverRock, a third-party warranty company.
CarvanaCare is only offered with some of Carvana’s vehicles that are available for purchase online. For example, CarvanaCare was not offered for a 2015 Porsche 911 Turbo Coupe being sold on its website.
Based on the information provided to us, CarvanaCare seems fairly comprehensive and is competitive with other providers. However, we recommend that our readers study the sample vehicle service contract they receive for CarvanaCare before purchasing an extended warranty plan. Sample contracts can reveal differences in coverage between extended warranty providers that are not evident when comparing high-level descriptions on providers’ websites or in brochures.
CarvanaCare Plan Options
CarvanaCare offers three different coverage plans: CarvanaCare Essential, CarvanaCare Plus, and CarvanaCare Premier. Here’s a look at the components each of these plans covers:
| Carvana Plan | Plan Details |
|---|---|
| CarvanaCare Essential | A basic level of protection that covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain. |
| CarvanaCare Plus | Along with everything in the Essential plan, this coverage level also includes steering, heating, air conditioning, exhaust, and more. |
| CarvanaCare Premier | Similar to a manufacturer’s warranty, this is the highest level of coverage Carvana offers. The Premier plan features all protections of the Plus and Essential packages while adding coverage for minor cosmetic damage and tire/wheel repair. This plan also includes complimentary maintenance services such as oil changes, tire rotations, and multipoint inspections for one year. |
In the table below, our review team compared the offered coverage terms for three different Carvana vehicles. Since a new car is less likely to have issues than a used vehicle, a Carvana extended warranty offers more coverage in terms of mileage and years of coverage for newer vehicles.
| Vehicle | Mileage | CarvanaCare Coverage Offered |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 Kia Forte | 22,951 miles | 48 months/90,000 miles or 60 months/100,00 miles |
| 2018 Mitsubishi Outlander Sport | 37,478 miles | 36 months/90,000 miles or 60 months/100,000 miles |
| 2015 Ford Edge | 33,499 miles | 24 months/60,000 miles or 48 months/90,000 miles |
Carvana Warranty Benefits
Every CarvanaCare plan comes with the same roadside assistance offered through Carvana’s limited warranty, including towing, jump-starts, and flat tire assistance. The company’s locksmith services and emergency gas/fluid assistance is also provided to Carvana extended warranty customers.
What Does a Carvana Warranty Not Cover?
Like other extended warranties, CarvanaCare plans don’t cover damage caused by lack of routine maintenance, theft, vandalism, or acts of nature. Modifications to the vehicle and unauthorized repairs are also exclusions from Carvana warranties.
Carvana Warranty Cost
Carvana does not disclose the cost of CarvanaCare. The cost of an extended warranty depends on a vehicle’s age, model, and mileage. Generally, an extended warranty will cost you somewhere between $350 to $1,500 per year.
The deductible for a Carvana extended warranty is dependent on the plan you purchase, but the highest deductible is only $50.
For more information on pricing, you can read our article on extended car warranty cost. Our team also surveyed 1,000 extended warranty owners in March 2022. As you can see in the chart below, the majority of respondents paid between $2,000 and $2,490 for both third-party and dealership long-term vehicle protection plans.
Carvana Extended Warranty Reviews: Conclusion
A CarvanaCare plan is a decent option for Carvana customers who want some extra peace of mind. The fact that you have to purchase a plan before the end of the company’s 7-day money-back guarantee is a complicating factor. It’s also not ideal that free quotes and sample contracts are unavailable. It’s a good idea to explore as many third-party warranty options as possible before the end of the 7-day Carvana guarantee period.
Our Recommended Extended Car Warranty Providers
Our review team has examined several extended warranty companies, and we found that both Endurance and CarShield are excellent providers.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
We give Endurance 4.6 out of 5.0 stars and award it our Best Coverage designation. Endurance is a direct provider of vehicle protection plans, which means there’s no middleman to handle claims. You can get free, customizable quotes online and view sample contracts at the same time. Endurance also allows you to choose any shop that’s certified by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for covered repairs. Read more in our full Endurance warranty review.
CarShield: 4.5 Stars
With coverage for cars with up to 300,000 miles on the odometer, CarShield is known for high-mileage coverage limits and competitive prices. We give the company our award for Best Monthly Payments and consider it an ideal option for a used car warranty. CarShield covers high-tech vehicles, luxury cars, and even motorcycles. Learn more in our full CarShield review.
Carvana Extended Warranty Reviews: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about Carvana extended warranties: