Carvana Extended Warranty [CarvanaCare]: Is It Worth It?

https://www.findthebestcarprice.com/author-ftbcp

Geoff Cudd

Geoff Cudd

I am a serial entrepreneur and a consumer advocate. When I’m not helping car buyers, I love working on ventures that have a positive impact.

I run a cause marketing agency and serve on the board of Vayu Global Health where we are disrupting the medical industry and preventing the needless deaths of mothers and babies during childbirth.

Linkedin

As industry experts with years of experience in the car buying world, we're here to dissect Carvana's proposition: their extended warranty program.

Carvana, a company that has disrupted the traditional car-buying experience with its novel car vending machine, often suggests customers add their extended warranty for additional peace of mind.

But the question remains: is this CarvanaCare truly beneficial for you, the buyer, especially when purchasing through such an innovative platform?

Let's find out.

Check out our full review and guide of Carvana.

What is CarvanaCare?

CarvanaCare is what Carvana calls its extended warranty program.

It consists of three plans at different price points and levels of coverage (which we’ll get into later): Essential, Plus, and Premier.

These are all optional extended warranties that customers can add on to the limited warranty that comes automatically with each car purchased through Carvana’s service.

What Is Carvana's Limited Warranty?

Carvana’s limited warranty is the basic warranty that you’ll get if you buy your car from Carvana. Learn more about the different types of car warranties here.

This is a “worry-free guarantee” that covers every repair on all assemblies of your car for the first 100 days or 4,189 miles (whichever comes first) that you own it. There is a $50 pay-per-visit co-pay for repair visits depending on what state you live in.

The limited warranty doesn’t cover things like basic recommended maintenance, any aftermarket parts, or replaceable parts.

Carvana Extended Warranty Review: The Good & Bad

Let’s look at a few specific pros and cons to see if CarvanaCare extended warranty is worth the investment.

Should I Get Carvana's Extended Warranty?

CarvanaCare is worth it if you want to have extra peace of mind in an easy way. It can be convenient to be able to get your car and extended warranty plan from the same place. In that way, you don't have to worry about the potential risk of not having any coverage for a period of time.

However, if you're past the 7-day sign-up period, there are other trustworthy providers to consider.

CarvanaCare Plan Options & What It Covers

Depending on the level of coverage you go for with your extended warranty, you can get just about everything on your car covered.

CarvanaCare Essential Warranty

CarvanaCare Essential offers the company’s most basic mechanical coverage.

Essential coverage only covers things like the engine, the transmission, and the drivetrain. This does include all components of each of these parts and the front/rear-wheel drive components.

This is a great option if you want some coverage but also want to save money.

CarvanaCare Plus Warranty

CarvanaCare Plus covers all of the mechanical components in your car.

This includes everything that the essential plan covers plus: all components of your fuel system, steering, suspension, ignition, heating and AC systems, brake system (which could be the cause of a shaking car), and electrical parts.

This plan also has you covered on all-electric and hybrid components for newer cars, plus many miscellaneous pieces you may not even think of, like your speedometer or the hinges for your doors.

It’s important to note that while all of the mechanical components are covered, your interior and exterior components are not. These warranties also can be voided if you get modifications done to your car.

CarvanaCare Premier Plan Warranty

The most expansive (and expensive) of the CarvanaCare warranties is the premier one.

CarvanaCare Premier includes all of the mechanical coverage that the Plus plan does, with the addition of tire and wheel replacement services and regular maintenance like:

• Oil changes
• Tire rotations
• Multipoint inspections
• Suspension, steering, and ball joint lubrication

It’s important to note that none of their coverage extends to after-market alterations and modifications to your vehicle.

What Are Additional Benefits of CarvanaCare?

Aside from the various repairs that CarvanaCare covers, every plan includes roadside assistance. This means that CarvanaCare offers:

• Towing
• Flat tire assistance
• Jumpstart
• Emergency gas (or other essential fluids)
• Locksmith assistance

They also boast over 5,000 preferred repair facilities, allowing customers options when it comes to where they get their repairs done.

How Much Does CarvanaCare Cost?

Carvana has a few different options for coverage, each with a different price point. The cost is typically determined by factors like the type of car you purchase, the mileage on the car when you buy it, and, of course, the level of coverage you want.

Unfortunately, there is no free tool to see how much a warranty on your specific car would cost, nor is that information readily available online.

On average, the annual cost of a CarvanaCare extended warranty is anywhere from $300 to $2,000, with options to make monthly payments or pay it all in a lump sum.

Most CarvanaCare customers pay around $100 per month, which is pretty average for extended warranty costs across the board.

CarvanaCare Claims Process

To file a claim, Carvana Care customers must first choose from a list of approved repair facilities. Once the mechanics at the approved shop look over the car and assess the damage, they contact CarvanaCare’s SilverRock Repairs (a sibling company) for further instruction.

SilverRock then has the option to either okay or decline the repair, or suggest a different repair location. If the repair is approved, SilverRock will pay the repair shop directly.

Unfortunately, the majority of the complaints from actual CarvanaCare customers come from the claims process. The primary complaints are on the quality of the repair shops that customers get sent to and their iffy commitment to doing the work.

Carvana Extended Warranty Alternatives

• CarShield: CarShield is a very popular extended warranty company that provided coverage for over 1 million vehicles. They offer six coverage plans and month-to-month contracts. Learn more in our full review here.
• CARCHEX: CARCHEX has over two decades of experience providing warranties for used cars. They have a striking A+ rating with the BBB as well as accreditation. CARCHEX has five warranty plans that are customizable. Learn more in our full review here.
• Endurance: Endurance, started in 2006, has a strong reputation. It directly provides extended warranties, fulfilling most claims without outside help. Endurance also offers 6 levels of coverage and 24/7 roadside assistance. Learn more in our full review here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are CarvanaCare and Carvana extended warranty the same thing?

CarvanaCare is Carvana's extended warranty program. Carvana comes with a limited warranty that only covers the first 100 days or 4,189 miles. CarvanaCare is available for an additional cost and covers more problems for a longer duration of time.

What is SilverRock?

SilverRock is the company that actually offers the warranty and is a sibling company to Carvana.

How much is the deductible for CarvanaCare?

Though the deductible is different depending on the type of repair, no deductible will cost you over $50.

When can I purchase CarvanaCare extended warranty?

You can only purchase CarvanaCare’s extended warranty at the same time that you purchase your car, or at the end of the 7-day money-back guarantee.

Can you cancel the CarvanaCare warranty?

Yes, you can cancel your CarvanaCare extended warranty anytime and receive a prorated refund.