Is a Lexus Extended Warranty Worth It?
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New Lexus vehicles come with a factory warranty that covers mechanical breakdowns of certain parts and systems, but that only gives you a few years of coverage. Drivers who want to keep their cars protected turn to the Lexus extended warranty, also known as a vehicle service contract.
In this article, we’ll examine Lexus extended warranty plans, pricing, and added benefits. Then, we’ll compare the manufacturer’s offering to the best extended car warranties from third-party providers. To go ahead and get free quotes from our top recommendations, click above.
Table of contents
Lexus Extended Warranty Overview
A Lexus extended warranty exceeds the 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that comes with every new Lexus. There are three Lexus Extra Care Vehicle Service Agreements—Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain—that can protect your vehicle for additional years and miles.
The Lexus Platinum plan is an exclusionary plan, covering almost all components in your vehicle. The Gold plan is a mid-level contract covering many components, and the Powertrain warranty plan focuses specifically on expensive, essential components within your vehicle’s powertrain. This includes the engine, transmission, and other components related to delivering power to your vehicle.
Powertrain |
Gold |
Platinum |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Engine |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Automatic Transmission |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Manual Transmission |
Most parts |
Most parts |
|
Axle Assembly |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Climate Control |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Suspension |
Most parts |
✓ |
|
Fuel System |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Electrical System |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Steering |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Brakes |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Computer/Electronics |
✓ |
||
Hybrid |
✓ |
✓ |
Each plan comes with a $0 deductible or a $100 disappearing deductible. In order to be eligible for the disappearing deductible, your repairs must be made at the dealership where you bought your Lexus extended warranty.
What’s Not Included
There are some exclusions to every extended warranty plan, and a Lexus dealership can explain your contract’s specific exclusions. Common exclusions are things like:
- Normal wear and tear
- Body panels, trim pieces, upholstery, spark plugs, and wiper blades
- Mechanical breakdowns caused by a lack of maintenance or pre-existing conditions
- Vandalism, collisions, and weather-related incidents
Additional Perks
Every Lexus extended warranty plan comes with some additional perks, including:
- 24/7 roadside assistance: Includes flat tires, lockouts, dead battery jump-starts, and fuel delivery services
- Substitute transportation: Up to $50 per day for a maximum of five days per occurrence
- Travel protection, lodging, and meals: Up to $100 per day for lodging and meals if you’re more than 150 miles away from home
- Transferability: Ability to transfer your coverage once at no cost to a private party
These additional perks are fairly standard for a manufacturer extended warranty. However, some manufacturer warranty plans offer key fob replacement and concierge services in addition to these benefits.
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
Whether you should purchase an extended warranty or not is dependent on your personal situation. Car repairs can be expensive, so many drivers prefer to have a plan for peace of mind rather than pay for unexpected repairs out of pocket. Drivers with extended warranties pay a relatively small monthly payment and then a deductible when services are needed.
On the other hand, if you have savings and don’t mind paying for repairs out of pocket, an extended warranty probably isn’t worth it for you.
To get a better idea of how much a breakdown could cost you, consider the following data from repair cost estimation site RepairPal.
Repair |
Model |
Average Cost |
|---|---|---|
Suspension shock or strut replacement |
Lexus SC430 |
$349 to 375 |
Exhaust manifold replacement |
Lexus ES350 |
$961 to $995 |
Brake caliper replacement |
Lexus RX330 |
$487 to $888 |
Wheel bearing replacement |
Lexus LS430 |
$775 to $945 |
Lexus Reliability
Lexus is one of the most reliable car manufacturers in the world. The company ranked second in the 2020 US Vehicle Dependability StudySM by J.D. Power and seventh in RepairPal’s reliability rankings.
While Lexus is more reliable than most car manufacturers, its vehicles are not immune to repairs. According to Edmunds.com, owners of a 2016 Lexus LS can expect to pay about $2,916 in car repairs over the next five years. This does not include the cost of common maintenance, which is over $10,000 for this same vehicle.
Lexus Factory and Certified Pre-Owned Warranties
Before deciding on an extended warranty, you should first consider whether you have remaining coverage through the Lexus factory warranty or the Lexus certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty. There’s generally no need to purchase additional coverage while one of these plans is in place.
Lexus Warranty Plans |
Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage |
|---|---|
Lexus factory warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Lexus CPO warranty |
6 years/unlimited mileage (from vehicle’s original purchase date) |
Benefits of a Third-Party Lexus Extended Warranty
While an extended warranty from Lexus comes with many benefits, including factory-trained technicians and genuine Lexus parts for replacements, there are benefits to third-party extended warranties too. Coverage from an independent company typically comes with more plan choices, the flexibility to choose your own repair shop, and lower rates.
Here’s a closer look at the Lexus extended warranty from the dealership compared with a vehicle service contract from top-rated warranty provider Endurance.
Lexus Extended Warranty |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
|---|---|---|
Number of Coverage Levels |
3 |
6 |
Deductible |
$0 or $100 disappearing |
$0, $50, $100, $200 |
Roadside Assistance |
✓ |
✓ |
Rental Car Reimbursement |
✓ |
✓ |
Repair Network |
Lexus dealer |
U.S. and Canadian repair facilities certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE ®) |
Transferability |
✓ |
✓ |
Cancellation |
Refund available within 30 days |
Refund available within 30 days |
How to Get Quote |
Call dealership |
Get Quote |
How Much Does a Lexus Extended Warranty Cost?
The cost of a Lexus extended warranty will depend on your specific Lexus’ mileage, age, and model. It will also depend on where you buy your extended warranty. According to Money Crashers, the average cost of an extended warranty from a manufacturer is around $1,000 to $1,500. Since Lexus is a luxury brand, the cost of its extended warranty is probably higher than $1,500.
You can typically buy an extended warranty from an extended warranty company for cheaper than the manufacturer coverage. For example, according to CARCHEX, the average cost of a CARCHEX extended warranty on a 2007 to 2014 Lexus is just $78 per month. That is a very reasonable price for a slightly older luxury vehicle.
Final Thoughts
The Lexus extended warranty from the automaker provides three different plan options and benefits such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and travel expenses. Whenever you shop for extended coverage, we recommend getting quotes from at least three providers so you can compare coverage, cost, and benefits. To get free quotes from our highest-rated warranty companies, click below.
Methodology
- 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.
Q & A
Does Lexus offer an extended warranty?
Lexus has three Extra Care Vehicle Service Agreement plans: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain. These extended warranty plans can be bought at a Lexus dealership close to you.
Does Lexus have a lifetime warranty?
No. Lexus offers a 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty with all new vehicles. After that coverage period has passed, you will need to buy an extended warranty if you would like to continue your coverage.
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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