What's Covered by an Audi Extended Warranty?
Auto manufacturers offer protection against mechanical breakdowns through extended car warranties. While similar coverage from third parties is available, this coverage is technically considered a vehicle service contract–not an extended warranty. However, we've used both terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
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Audi owners drive some of the nicest luxury vehicles on the road today, and they want to keep them that way. Since repairs on luxury vehicles can be very expensive, motorists often consider purchasing an Audi extended warranty to protect their vehicle from costly repairs.
Our review team has studied Audi’s extended car warranty, and we’ll share our findings to help you make a decision on this optional coverage. We’ll also explain the differences between a manufacturer extended warranty and a third-party extended warranty. This information can help you find the best extended car warranty provider for you.
What the Audi Extended Warranty Covers
An Audi extended warranty exceeds the 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that protects new Audis from manufacturing defects. The company offers additional protection for up to 10 years or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Table of contents
Audi Extended Warranty Overview
Audi offers three different extended warranty plans: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain. Each plan provides coverage up to 10 years or 120,000 miles.
Your deductible options for these plans are $0, $100 disappearing, and $250. The disappearing deductible is only available for those who have their vehicle repaired at the same Audi dealership where they purchased an Audi extended warranty. In terms of deductible cost, the higher the premium you are willing to pay, the lower your deductible will be—and vice versa.
The table below shows you what the Audi extended warranty covers under each plan.
Powertrain Plan |
Gold Plan |
Platinum Plan |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Audi Maximum Coverage Terms |
10 years/120,000 miles |
10 years/120,000 miles |
10 years/120,000 miles |
Engine |
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Transmission |
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Drive Axle |
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Hybrid/Electric |
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Climate Control |
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Shocks |
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Front Suspension |
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Rear Suspension |
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Fuel System |
|||
Electrical System |
|||
Steering |
|||
Brakes |
|||
CV Boots |
|||
Navigation |
|||
Audio |
|||
High-Tech |
What’s Not Included
An Audi extended warranty has some exclusions that are typical for extended warranties:
- Mechanical breakdowns caused by vandalism, collision, accident, or weather-related conditions
- Mechanical breakdowns caused by a lack of maintenance or pre-existing conditions
- Mechanical breakdowns covered by your Audi's existing manufacturer warranty
- Body panels, trim pieces, upholstery, spark plugs, and wiper blades
Additional Perks
Every Audi extended warranty comes with the following benefits:
- Audi parts for all repairs
- Ability to take your Audi to be repaired at any nationwide Audi dealership or authorized service provider for repairs
- 24-hour roadside assistance, including flat tire assistance, fuel or fluid delivery, lockout assistance up to $100 per occurrence, and battery service
- Towing reimbursement up to $100 to the nearest Audi dealer or authorized service provider
- Rental car reimbursement up to $35 per day for up to 10 days
- Trip interruption coverage up to $200 per day for a maximum of five days, for a total benefit of $1,000 per occurrence
- Cancelable at any time, with a $50 fee if after 30 days
Audi’s benefits are fairly comprehensive. If Audi parts are important to you, then an Audi extended warranty may be a good choice for you. If the overall benefit package is more important, then a third-party warranty provider such as Endurance could be a better option. Endurance offers a collision discount, tire repair and replacement reimbursement, and more through the Endurance Elite Benefits.
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
The table below highlights some of the more expensive problems that Audi drivers may encounter, according to CarComplaints.com.
Expensive Audi Problems |
Audi Model |
Average Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
Excessive oil usage |
2011 Audi A4 |
$6,000 |
Bad piston |
2012 Audi A4 |
$8,500 |
Unable to start |
2014 Audi Q5 |
$4,500 |
Over fueling injector |
2013 Audi A6 |
$4,730 |
Audi Reliability
Audi makes great vehicles in terms of style and performance, but reliability is generally low. According to J.D. Power’s 2020 U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM, Audi falls slightly below the industry average among all automobile brands in reliability. RepairPal ranks Audi 28th out of 32 brands for reliability. Repair costs can be high—with an Audi A4 Quattro costing about $12,590 to maintain and repair over a 10-year period, according to YourMechanic.
While Audis have average or below-average reliability overall, some Audi models have excellent reliability. For example, the 2016 Audi Q3 won a 2019 J.D. Power award for its excellent dependability. The Audi A3 ranks fourth out of all luxury compact cars in terms of reliability by RepairPal.
Audi Factory and Certified Pre-Owned Warranties
If you have bumper-to-bumper coverage left on your Audi factory warranty or certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty, it is wise to wait until this coverage is going to run out before purchasing an extended car warranty. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is very comprehensive, and it can save you money to use this type of coverage before purchasing extended coverage.
The table below shows the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage that Audi offers on new and CPO vehicles.
Audi Warranty Plans |
Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage (Includes Powertrain Coverage) |
|---|---|
Audi new vehicle warranty |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Audi certified pre-owned warranty |
If new vehicle warranty is inactive: up to two years/unlimited miles If new vehicle warranty is still active: 5 years from original in-service date |
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
Companies such as Endurance, CARCHEX and CarShield offer popular extended warranties that rival the manufacturer extended warranty. As you can see in the table below, Endurance has the edge over Audi in number of coverage levels, longest term of coverage available, repair network, and availability.
Audi Extended Warranty |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
|---|---|---|
Coverage Start Date |
Anytime |
Anytime |
Longest Term |
10 years/120,000 miles |
200,000+ miles |
Levels of Coverage |
3 |
6 |
Deductible |
$0, $100 disappearing, or $250 |
$0, $50, $100, or $200 |
Where to Get Repairs |
Audi dealerships |
Any US or Canadian repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) |
Transferability |
||
Cancellation |
Refund available within 30 days |
Refund available within 30 days |
Roadside Assistance |
||
Rental Car Reimbursement |
||
Availability |
Purchase from Audi dealerships |
Get Quote |
Audi Extended Warranty Cost
To get an idea of how much drivers can expect to pay for extended coverage, our review team reached out to Endurance and CarShield for quotes for a 2018 Audi Q5 Prestige with 38,000 miles.
Endurance offered a 5-year/60,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper extended warranty for 36 monthly payments of $132.47. The down payment was $100. CarShield offered a 5-year/100,000-mile, bumper-to-bumper plan for 18 monthly payments of $144.33. The down payment was $295. The deductible for both plans was $100.
We found the cost of an Audi extended warranty through Endurance and CarShield to be very reasonable. Edmunds.com estimates that the average five-year repair cost for a 2018 Audi Q5 Prestige at $3,062, not including regular maintenance. CarShield’s extended warranty cost for this vehicle is lower than the average repair cost.
Endurance’s cost is a bit more expensive than CarShield’s, but its cost can be justified by an impressive list of benefits.
Conclusion
An Audi extended warranty from the manufacturer provides coverage for up to 10 years or 120,000 miles. The automaker has great benefits, including roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage.
Third-party extended warranty providers have comparable coverage and benefits, as well as the convenience of many repair facilities. You can also be sure that you won’t be paying interest on a third-party extended warranty. If you purchase extended coverage from Audi when you purchase your vehicle, the cost of the plan could be rolled into your financing.
The best way to find great coverage is to shop around. We recommend getting a few quotes from different places so you can compare coverage and rates. You can also read up on our top-rated choice in our complete Endurance warranty review.
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
Is an Audi extended warranty worth it?
Purchasing an extended warranty for your Audi is a smart decision if you prefer small monthly payments over paying for repair bills out of pocket. An extended warranty can save some motorists thousands of dollars. Even if you don't end up using the plan often, you will have peace of mind.
How much will I get back if I cancel my extended warranty?
Typically, you will get a full refund if you cancel your extended warranty within 30 days of purchase. Audi offers a full refund within the first 30 days and charges a $50 fee for cancellations beyond 30 days.
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.
More by Stephen Kenney
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