Continental Warranty Review

Stephen Kenney
by Stephen Kenney
Angry man with a broken car calling for assistance

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Continental Warranty sells automotive protection plans through dealerships, not directly to consumers. So if you’re offered Continental Warranty services at a dealership, should you purchase a contract?

In this review, we’ll take a look at Continental Warranty’s coverage, costs, custom reviews, and more to help you decide whether this provider is right for you. We’ll also recommend some of the best extended auto warranty companies for you to consider.

Anytime you shop for coverage, it’s a good idea to compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you get a great price. You can get free, instant quotes from any of our top choices.

Continental Warranty Review: 3.8 Stars

Overall, Continental Warranty coverage may be a good option for people who are buying a car from a participating dealership—if the price is right. Because there are not many coverage details available online, be sure to read your contract thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.


If you want more flexibility or if you’re looking for an extended warranty for a car that you already own, we recommend looking into one of the reputable extended car warranty companies listed below.

Continental Warranty Highlights

Overall Rating

3.8

Reputation

4.5

Coverage

4.0

Price

See dealership

Transparency

3.6

Customer Service

3.2

Headquartered in Claymont, Delaware, Continental Warranty has been in business for over 35 years servicing extended warranty protection to new and used vehicles. Unlike many other third-party warranty companies, Continental does not sell contracts directly to consumers. Instead, this company partners with select dealerships nationwide to sell coverage to customers buying new or certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles.

How Much Does Continental Warranty Coverage Cost?

Continental Warranty does not share information about the cost of its plans on the website because it sells directly to dealerships. This is common in the extended car warranty industry.


In our 2021 extended car warranty survey which polled 1,000 consumers, 45 percent of respondents stated they paid between $1,500 and $2,500 for an extended car warranty plan. Vehicle service contracts do not typically have to be paid upfront. Instead, you can choose to pay in monthly installments at a fraction of the overall cost. Continental Warranty boasts that the price of coverage could be rolled into your car loan, making it easier for drivers on a budget. However, this also means that you'll be paying interest on your warranty.

Continental Warranty Cost Factors

Some factors that could influence the cost of your extended car warranty include:

  • The year, make, and model of your vehicle: A good rule of thumb is that the more expensive your vehicle is, the higher the cost of your extended car warranty will be. For example, a BMW extended warranty will typically cost more than a Nissan extended warranty. Luckily, luxury vehicle owners report positive experiences with Continental Warranty. Some third-party providers won’t cover luxury vehicles, so a Continental warranty could be your best bet if you drive a high-value vehicle.
  • Your vehicle’s mileage: Cars with higher miles on the odometer tend to cost more to protect than new cars. If you buy a pre-owned car with high mileage, you might still qualify for a Continental Warranty, but you may be better off finding coverage from a third-party provider that offers plans specifically designed for high-mileage vehicles.
  • Where you buy your extended warranty: Extended warranties from car manufacturers tend to be more expensive. Warranties sold through dealerships may be subject to dealer markups and are sometimes non-negotiable. Third-party warranties sold directly to consumers tend to be more budget-friendly.
  • Your deductible: Continental Warranty offers a range of deductible options but doesn’t disclose them online. Choosing to pay a higher deductible could result in a lower overall cost for coverage and vice-versa. Typical car warranty deductible options range from $0 to $200.

What Does Continental Warranty Cover?

Continental Warranty offers customers five extended service contract options: UltraCare Exclusionary Vehicle Service Contract (VSC), UltraCare VSC, Continental Gold, Continental Plus, and Continental Powertrain.


The company does not share sample contracts on its website, which is not uncommon for warranty companies that sell only through dealerships. The chart below provides a general summary of Continental Warranty coverage:

Continental Warranty Plan

Type of Coverage

UltraCare Exclusionary VSC

Exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage

UltraCare VSC

Comprehensive stated-component coverage

Continental Gold

Mid-tier stated-component coverage

Continental Plus

Enhanced powertrain coverage

Continental Powertrain

Powertrain coverage for your vehicle’s engine, transmission, and drivetrain

Continental Warranty Plan Benefits

Depending on your plan, you may receive added benefits or be eligible to purchase add-on coverage such as:

  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Roadside assistance and lockout coverage
  • Extended seals and gaskets coverage
  • Electrical systems, sensor, and module coverage
  • GPS coverage
  • Turbo/supercharger coverage
  • Front-wheel and all-wheel drive coverage

All Continental Warranty plans come with nationwide protection. If you’re driving anywhere in the US or Canada, your repair will be covered if it’s listed on your contract. All plans are transferable for a small fee, though Continental Warranty does not specify the exact amount on its website. If you sell your car before your Continental Warranty coverage expires, you can transfer your coverage to the new owner, which can increase the resale value of your vehicle.

Quotes and Claims Processes

Drivers can only get quotes from Continental Warranty through their local dealership. You can call Continental Warranty at 800-265-9136 for more information on policies or to find a participating dealer near you. However, agents will not be able to give you a quote over the phone.


To file an extended warranty claim, Continental recommends customers take the following measures:

  • Pull your vehicle over to a safe area to protect it from further damage.
  • If you cannot drive your vehicle and you purchased roadside assistance, dial the number on your contract to request a tow.
  • Tow or drive your car to a licensed repair facility or dealership.
  • Call Continental Warranty at 800-265-9136 to notify the company of your mechanical breakdown.
  • Have your repair shop call Continental Warranty to verify that the repairs are covered.
  • Have your mechanic begin repairs after you receive Continental Warranty’s pre-authorization.
  • Once the repair is complete, you’ll pay your deductible, and Continental Warranty will handle the rest of the auto repair costs.

Continental Warranty Ratings and Reviews

Continental Warranty has an overall positive industry reputation. It holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which bodes well for the company’s dependability and business ethics.


There are only about 13 customer reviews on Continental Warranty’s BBB profile, which gives the company just nearly a 2.0 out of 5.0-star rating. Continental Warranty has also received more than 29 complaints in the past three years.

Positive reviews focus on Continental Warranty’s professional customer service staff, “stellar” coverage for luxury vehicles like BMWs, and quick and easy claims services. Negative customer satisfaction reviews say Continental Warranty actually has slow claims processing, a lack of “after hours” claims service, and a lack of coverage for certain common repairs.


A mix of positive and negative reviews is to be expected with any warranty company, and no extended warranty will cover every repair. It’s important to read your Continental Warranty vehicle service contract carefully to be sure your claim is covered.

Positive Continental Warranty Reviews

"We had a great experience with our warranty work through Continental Warranty! They came through in spades after having our Lexus give us a ton of problems. The communication was second to none and the customer service was fantastic. Highly recommend."

- Paul T. via BBB


"What an awesome experience dealing with Continental Warranty. They came through for us when we really needed them to. Highly recommended!"

- John W. via BBB

Negative Continental Warranty Reviews

"They don't cover basic repairs you would buy the warranty for. I needed $1,000+ worth of repair work, and they covered $240. They said the other work wasn't covered even though the parts were needed to make the car operate again."

- Brian H. via BBB


"They are a fraud they won't pay for anything. I have had to pay for every repair on my truck and what needed repairs was on my contract. I paid good money thinking I was covered and I was so wrong. They find every excuse not to pay for the repairs that are clearly in my contract. It's a rip-off and it's not fair."

- Jefferey A. via BBB

Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

Anytime you shop for an extended car warranty, we recommend considering all of your options and getting quotes from multiple providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal. With so many extended warranty companies to choose from, it can be hard to know where to start your research. So, our review team did the homework for you, evaluating each major provider and ranking them according to coverage, cost, reputations, and more.


Endurance, CARCHEX and CarShield are three companies that have high customer service scores and offer high-quality coverage at fair prices. Learn more about these providers and get a free quote from each company below.

Endurance: Best Coverage

Since 2006, Endurance has been providing top-notch car warranty plans, rates and customer service in almost every state, except California.


Endurance holds a notable partnership with Andretti AutoSport, a highly successful auto racing team. The company was the primary sponsor of Jarett Andretti’s McLaren in the Pirelli GT4 America Sprint Class for the 2020 season.

Endurance has six levels of coverage plans listed below:

Supreme

Exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper plan

Superior

Coverage for many components

Secure Plus

Powertrain plus coverage

Secure

Affordable powertrain coverage

Select Premier

C

overage for high-mileage vehicles

EnduranceAdvantage™

Covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance

To learn more about this company, check out our Endurance warranty review.

CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars

CARCHEX has a strong reputation among both customers and experts. It partners with industry-leading companies like CARFAX, Edmunds.com, and Kelley Blue Book, and it has over 1,000 positive reviews on Trustpilot.

CARCHEX offers drivers five levels of vehicle protection:

  • Titanium: Exclusionary coverage, similar to a bumper-to-bumper warranty
  • Platinum: Comprehensive stated-component coverage
  • Gold: Mid-tier stated-component coverage
  • Silver: Enhanced powertrain coverage
  • Bronze: Basic powertrain coverage

When you purchase a CARCHEX plan, it will come with benefits including:

  • 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Towing reimbursement
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Trip interruption coverage

Learn more about the provider in our complete CARCHEX review.


CarShield: Best Value

By analyzing cost data from each major warranty provider, we determined that CarShield offers the most budget-friendly warranty. CarShield offers customers five automotive plans:

  • Diamond: Bumper-to-bumper exclusionary coverage
  • Platinum: Comprehensive stated-component coverage
  • Gold: Enhanced powertrain coverage
  • Silver: Basic powertrain coverage
  • Aluminum: Specialty coverage for cars with high-tech components

CarShield is also one of the only providers that offers protection plans for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Benefits that come with all CarShield extended warranties include:

  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Courtesy towing
  • 24/7 roadside assistance

You can read more about this provider in our full CarShield review.

Methodology

Our review team prides itself on sharing accurate and unbiased information with consumers. We have accumulated data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate our rankings of the industry’s best providers. Companies receive a score out of 5.0 overall, as well as a rating in each of the following categories:
  • Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
  • Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
  • Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
  • Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
  • Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Stephen Kenney
Stephen Kenney

Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.

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