As a new or used car owner, you know how important it is to keep your vehicle in good condition at all times. If you are going to stay safe on the road, you need to be sure that your car is running smoothly and doesn’t have any pressing issues that should be repaired. Sometimes, though, it isn’t always convenient or financially viable to get repairs done as soon as they come up. That’s why an extended warranty, which is more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), is a great option.

When you buy a new car, it will usually come with a factory warranty that is provided by the manufacturer. This warranty is there to protect you from problems due to flaws in the vehicle’s design or problems with the production. Most of the time, these warranties will last anywhere between three years or 36,000 miles and five years or 60,000 miles. Once your factory bumper-to-bumper warranty is up, though, you will be responsible for any repairs, whether they are your fault or not. An auto protection plan from a third-party provider will help you extend this coverage and protect yourself from expensive breakdowns once the factory warranty is up.

When it comes to extended auto warranties or VSCs, there are many different providers to choose from, and they all have their advantages and disadvantages. If you are going to make the right choice for yourself and your driving needs, you need to compare providers and see which ones will deliver the service that suits you best.

Endurance and Fidelity are two major auto protection providers on the market. By knowing how they stack up against one another, you can make the right decision for yourself and your vehicle.

Side-by-Side Company Comparison

Endurance Warranty Services

Since 2006, Endurance has been offering a wide range of auto protection plans for drivers and vehicles of all kinds. Based in Illinois, Endurance provides coverage for everything from older, high-mileage cars to high-end luxury vehicles and even cars used for commercial purposes like ridesharing and delivery.

Endurance also sets itself apart by offering mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) for drivers in California who would not otherwise be able to get protection for their vehicles due to strict regulations in the state. This variety of protection plans opens up the possibility of coverage for many different drivers and can help you cover your car, even if other warranty providers won’t.

Fidelity Warranty Services, Inc.

Fidelity Warranty Services has been in business for over 40 years and offers different protection plans for different needs. It works with 3,800 dealerships across the United States and can be used at over 6,000 different repair centers.

Fidelity also offers coverage specifically designed to protect electric vehicles, making it a good choice if you are planning on making the switch to an EV at some point in the near future. The company is not a direct provider of coverage, though, which means that you can only purchase your VSC through a dealership that offers it. So, it’s important to know where it is available and how you can get the right coverage for your needs.

Available Coverage Options

Endurance Warranty Plans

Endurance offers an incredibly wide variety of coverage plans for drivers with many different needs. While Endurance service plans are customizable, there are some set plans that are a great place to start when deciding what kind of coverage is best for you. View our sample contracts or read more about our levels of coverage below:

• Supreme – The Supreme plan is Endurance’s exclusionary protection plan, designed to be as close as possible to your vehicle’s factory warranty. Covered components include the cooling system, electrical, and seals and gaskets, which are generally not covered in plans from other providers.
• Supreme for Highline Vehicles – If you have a high-end luxury car made by Porsche, Mercedes-Benz, Alfa Romeo, or another well-known brand, it can be difficult to find coverage. The Supreme for Highline Vehicles plan, though, covers luxury cars that are less than eight years old and have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer with a list of exclusions that makes it easy to decide if it is the right choice for your car.
• Superior – Some components on your vehicle are more likely to fail than others and they will also be the most expensive to fix. The Superior plan protects components like the engine, transmission, air conditioning (A/C), and more, so you can rest easy.
• Select Premier – It can be hard to get a protection plan for a high-mileage vehicle but Endurance’s Select Premier plan is designed to give you coverage when other providers won’t.
• Secure Plus – The Secure Plus plan offers affordable coverage for your vehicle’s most essential parts, such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle.
• Secure – Protection should not be limited to those with a large budget. The Secure plan covers the most basic components of your powertrain with a smaller premium so you can keep your vehicle running smoothly and reduce its total cost of ownership.
• Advantage – Maintenance is just as important as making repairs quickly. The Endurance Advantage plan offers comprehensive maintenance coverage and up to $3,500 in annual services. This includes things like oil changes and oil filter replacements.

Fidelity Warranty Coverage

Fidelity Warranty Services offers three different vehicle protection plans with varying degrees of coverage. Depending on your vehicle and what it might need in terms of protection, one of these plans may be better for you and your budget.

• Platinum Coverage – The Platinum Coverage plan is Fidelity’s exclusionary protection plan. It covers nearly every component of the vehicle with the exception of some specific parts like the brakes and wear-and-tear elements.
• Gold Coverage – Fidelity Warranty Services’ Gold Coverage plan covers many parts of your vehicle, including the most essential. Things like the steering, electrical, and A/C systems are all covered with this plan.
• Powertrain Coverage – If you are looking to cover the most basic components of your vehicle, the Powertrain Coverage plan could be the right one for you. It includes only the most essential and the most expensive components such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle.

Customer Service and Online Reputation Review

Endurance Customer Reviews

One of the things that sets Endurance apart from other VSC providers is the company’s dedication to customer service. Many customers in reviews have strongly commended Endurance’s award-winning customer service team for providing top-notch service and always being willing to find a solution when a problem comes up. Endurance currently holds a high star rating on Trustpilot, with over 7,000 reviews in total, many of them specifically mentioning how helpful and knowledgeable the team was. Endurance also maintains an A- consumer rating from on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, though not officially accredited. If you are looking for a VSC provider that will be with you every step of the way and has a good track record with customers, Endurance is an excellent option.

Fidelity Warranty Reviews

While Fidelity Warranty Services has been around for decades, it seems that the company’s clients have had several issues with customer service and getting the repairs they need. Fidelity Warranty Services currently holds a 2.2/5-star rating on Consumer Affairs, with many customers expressing frustration at not being able to have their repairs covered when they were assured that they would be.

Some customers have even said that they couldn’t get a repair covered, even after providing extensive documentation with the help of the service manager at the shop where the repairs were done. These problems with communication could be a result of Fidelity Warranty Services not being a direct provider of coverage, which might be a dealbreaker for some customers. If you want to be sure that your VSC provider will cover the repairs that are supposed to be included in your plan, Fidelity Warranty Services may not be right for you.

Navigating the Claims Process

Endurance Warranty Claims

Endurance’s claims process is meant to be as easy as possible, with no hoops to jump through in order to get your covered repairs completed. When an issue arises with your vehicle, all you have to do is take it to the certified shop of your choice. Then, you can present your Endurance contract to the service manager and pay any applicable deductible. We’ll take it from there and work with the repair shop directly. As long as your repair is covered under your plan, you can get your vehicle fixed and back on the road.

In addition, Endurance has partnered with RepairPal to help you find certified repair shops and mechanics near you. The Endurance Mobile app also allows you to keep track of all your claims, view any pending claims, and contact our customer service directly.

Fidelity Warranty Claims

For the most part, when you get a VSC through Fidelity Warranty Services, you will get it through a dealership. This means that taking your vehicle to the dealership’s service center will be your best bet if you want to be sure that your claim will be accepted.

While Fidelity Warranty Services deals with outside certified shops, many customers have experienced problems with getting their claims approved when they go this route. If you do, make sure that you keep all your documentation and work with the service manager at the shop when submitting the claim so you can avoid any unnecessary delays from the company when getting the claim approved.

Exploring Additional Benefits and Perks

Endurance Benefits

When you get a VSC from Endurance, you also get a wide range of standard perks that can help you feel safe whenever you are on the road. Every Endurance customer gets 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, lockout services, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption protection, so you can get the help you need wherever you might be.

For a small activation fee, you can also get access to the Endurance Elite Benefits program. This includes extra perks like tire repair or replacement, key fob replacement, $1,000 toward total loss protection, and more. These additional benefits are there to give you peace of mind and the knowledge that you won’t be stranded if something goes wrong with your vehicle.

Fidelity Warranty Benefits

Fidelity Warranty Services’ plans also come with a fairly wide range of extra perks and benefits. Every Fidelity plan comes with up to $100 in towing coverage, up to $100 per day of trip interruption protection, and 24/7 towing services.

Fidelity also offers fluid replacement with covered repairs, and since the plans are offered at dealerships, the cost of the plan can be included in your vehicle’s financing. While there are certain limitations when you get coverage through a company that isn’t a direct provider, being able to roll the cost of coverage in with the cost of your vehicle has some advantages.

Get the Best Extended Car Warranty

Ensuring your car has top coverage is the best way to feel safe and secure behind the wheel. With a high-quality auto protection plan, you can be sure that your vehicle is always in good working order and that you can get repairs as soon as they come up. While you have a lot of choices for your auto protection, Endurance has the right mix of customer service, wide-ranging plan options, and extra benefits that can give you the confidence you need when you hit the road.

Endurance offers a range of different plans with coverage for everything from high-mileage cars to high-end luxury vehicles and even cars that other providers won’t cover, like Canadian Gray Market vehicles, vehicles with a salvage or rebuilt title, or cars used for commercial purposes like rideshare or delivery. This means that no matter what kind of budget or needs you have, you can find the perfect plan for your car and your specific driving habits.

You can take advantage of Endurance’s 30-day money-back guarantee! Call our top-tier customer service at (800) 253-8203 or request a FREE quote. You can also shop online to see your plan recommendations and price right away!

The Endurance Warranty blog is also your source for all things automotive, with more provider comparisons with CarShield and CARCHEX, repair facility reviews, how-tos, and information on mechanical breakdown insurance for California residents.