Century Warranty Services Extended Auto Warranty Review

Stephen Kenney
by Stephen Kenney

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.

To learn more about our editorial integrity policy and how we make money through affiliate partnerships, read our full disclosure here.


Are you considering an extended car warranty from Century Warranty Services? Purchasing a vehicle is one of the largest financial decisions you’ll make in your lifetime, so it’s important to choose the right extended warranty to help you protect your investment.


In this article, we’ll help you decide if Century Warranty Services is the right extended car warranty provider for you by reviewing the cost, coverage, and customer service provided by this company. We’ll also recommend some of the best extended car warranty providers to compare with Century Warranty Services.

No matter whether you think Century Warranty Services would be a good choice for your vehicle, it’s always good to shop around and get quotes from multiple providers to be sure you’re getting the best deal.

To start getting quotes from our top recommended providers, click above.

Pros

Century Warranty Services has a positive reputation and plans are backed by the company’s insurance arm.

Cons

Plans are only sold through select dealerships and financial institutions.

Bottom Line

If a Century Warranty Services contract is offered at your dealership, it may be a good decision. But you should check out other reputable companies before signing on the dotted line.

Century Warranty Services Review: 3.8 Stars

Overall, we rate Century Warranty Services 3.8 out of 5.0 stars. Century has a longstanding positive reputation, which is an attractive feature in an industry that is full of fly-by-night companies. However, customer-reported prices seem expensive compared to the industry average, and having to purchase coverage through a dealership or financial institution can be a hassle.


If a Century Warranty Services plan is offered to you at a dealership, it may be a good choice for your car. But if you’re purchasing extended warranty coverage on your own, we recommend checking out third-party providers that sell directly to consumers.

Century Warranty Services Highlights

Overall Rating

3.8

Reputation

4.1

Coverage

4.1

Price

4.2

Transparency

3.3

Customer Service

3.4

Century Warranty Services, Inc. and its affiliate Century companies have been in business for over 40 years, providing vehicle service contracts and other auto products to customers nationwide. Some benefits to Century Warranty Services protection include:

  • Repairs can be made at any facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®)
  • Policies are fully transferable
  • Century Warranty Services has a positive industry reputation
  • Policies are backed by Courtesy Insurance Company
  • Rental car reimbursement and trip interruption benefits are included with plans

Disadvantages to getting an extended warranty from Century Warranty Services include:

  • Plans are only sold through select dealerships and financial institutions
  • Quotes are not available online

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide whether a Century Warranty Services plan would be worth it for your car. Read on for more about the company’s coverage, cost, and reputation to help determine if it's the right fit for you.

Century Warranty Services Extended Auto Warranty Coverage

Century Warranty Services offers three extended warranty plans ranging from basic powertrain coverage to full exclusionary protection. Depending on your car’s year, make, model, and mileage, you can get up to 120,000 miles in coverage.


The chart below outlines the vehicle systems covered under each Century Warranty Services plan:

Power Care

Sentry Care

Sentry Guard Max

Engine

✓

✓

✓

Transmission

✓

✓

✓

Drivetrain

✓

✓

✓

Steering

✓

✓

Brakes

✓

✓

Air Conditioning

✓

✓

Front Suspension

✓

✓

Cooling System

✓

✓

Basic Electrical

✓

✓

Comprehensive Electrical

✓

Fuel System

✓

Exclusionary

✓

Century Warranty Services Added Benefits

All Century Warranty Services extended car warranties come with additional perks like:

  • Rental car reimbursement: Up to $40 per day for a maximum of 10 days
  • Towing coverage: Up to $100 per occurrence
  • Trip interruption: Up to $100 per day for a maximum of 5 days for food and lodging if a covered breakdown happens more than 100 miles from your home
  • Fluids coverage: Covers all fluids, oils, greases, lubricants, and approved air conditioning gasses necessary for covered repairs

Century Warranty Services Cost

Century Warranty Services does not have pricing details on its website, but in our research, we found a few customer reviews that indicated costs. One customer reported paying $2,300 for three years of coverage under the exclusionary Sentry Guard Max plan. Compared to most comprehensive car warranties, this is expensive.


The cost of your extended warranty will depend on a few factors, such as your vehicle’s make, model, age, and mileage, the plan you choose, where you purchase coverage from, your location, and the deductible you choose. Some customers reported paying a $100 deductible, but this may vary.

Quotes and Claims Processes

To get a quote for Century Warranty Services coverage, you’ll need to call a participating auto dealership or financial institution. Some dealerships that offer Century Warranty Services vehicle service contracts include Lexus, Ford, Chevrolet, Acura, Toyota, Honda, and Nissan.


To file a claim, call 866-732-8503 during Century Warranty Services’ normal business hours (Monday to Friday from 8 am to 9 pm or Saturday from 9 am to 4 pm). Make sure you have your policy identification number handy before calling.

Century Warranty Services Reviews and Ratings

Century Warranty Services has a positive reputation, which bodes well for the company’s reliability. The company currently holds a Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating of A+, which is a positive indication that Century Warranty Services can be trusted with your vehicle protection.


When it comes to customer reviews, some praise Century Warranty Services for speedy claim payouts, but others report a slow refund process after contracts were canceled.


Many negative reviews mention frustration over Century Warranty Services not covering certain repairs, which usually stems from customers not fully understanding their coverage. It’s important to thoroughly read your vehicle service contract and call the provider for pre-approval before having any repairs made. This way, you’ll know exactly what’s covered and what you’ll need to pay for out of pocket.

Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

When purchasing an extended auto warranty, you’ll want to compare quotes from multiple providers to ensure you’re getting the best deal.


Our review team examined every major extended auto warranty provider in the industry, taking a look at plan options, costs, customer reviews, and more. Based on this research, we found Endurance and CARCHEX to offer the best extended warranties on the market.

Endurance: Most Awards Won

Endurance offers six levels of high-quality extended car warranty coverage:

  • Supreme: Exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage
  • Superior: Highest level of stated-component coverage
  • Secure Plus: Enhanced powertrain coverage
  • Secure: Most affordable basic powertrain coverage
  • Select Premier: Coverage designed for high-mileage vehicles
  • EnduranceAdvantageTM: Combines mechanical breakdown and routine maintenance coverage

You will also receive free enrollment into the Endurance Elite Benefits program for your first year of coverage. This program grants you access to some of the most comprehensive benefits in the industry, including:

  • Two tire repairs or replacements per year
  • Key fob replacement
  • Total loss protection
  • Collision discount
  • 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Endurance mobile app

For more on this provider, check out our full Endurance warranty review, in which we take a look at customer reviews, detailed plan pricing, and more.

CARCHEX: Best Industry Reputation

CARCHEX offers customers the industry’s best service. CARCHEX has a strong reputation, outstanding customer reviews, and five customizable levels of coverage with terms lasting up to 250,000 miles.

The five CARCHEX vehicle protection plans are as follows:

  • Titanium: Bumper-to-bumper coverage
  • Platinum: Highest stated-component coverage
  • Gold: Best coverage for cars over 60,000 miles
  • Silver: Enhanced powertrain coverage
  • Bronze: Basic powertrain coverage

All CARCHEX coverage plans are fully transferable and come with a comprehensive roadside assistance package that includes:

  • Courtesy towing
  • Emergency roadside assistance
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Trip interruption coverage

Interested in finding out what a CARCHEX auto warranty would cost for your vehicle? You can find out more in our in-depth CARCHEX 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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