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Crash Course:
- Ford maintenance plans take care of services like brake pad replacements, tire rotations, and windshield wiper blade replacements.
- Drivers who follow Ford’s recommended service schedule will likely save money by purchasing a Ford maintenance plan.
- Get quotes from multiple Ford dealerships in your area to find the best rate for coverage.
A Ford maintenance plan can help you pay for the cost of routine services that keep your car in good condition and its warranty coverage valid. But since these plans come at a cost themselves, our research team wanted to figure out whether they’re worth their price.
We took an in-depth look at Ford maintenance plans to see what they cost, which parts they cover, what’s excluded, and whether they’re worth purchasing. You’ll also find alternative options for a maintenance plan for your Ford to compare with the automaker’s offering.
Ford Protect Premium Maintenance is the trade name for the automaker’s service plan. Those who buy coverage upfront will have most Ford maintenance costs covered for the duration of their contract. This includes preventive care, replacement of regular wear and tear parts, and multipoint inspections.
Under Ford’s official maintenance plan, all services will be performed at licensed repair facilities by factory-trained Ford mechanics. When replacement parts are needed, technicians will only use original equipment manufacturer (OEM) components. As a result, all work is backed 100% by the Ford Motor Company.
In the table below, you’ll find a few advantages and disadvantages of buying a Ford maintenance plan.
| Ford Premium Maintenance Plan Pros | Ford Premium Maintenance Plan Cons |
| Covers the cost of required services ahead of time | Limited to authorized Ford or Lincoln dealerships for services |
| Maintenance plan costs can be financed or rolled into your car payment | May not save money on maintenance services |
| Transferable to new owners and may add resale value |
While Ford doesn’t make the cost of its Protect Premium Maintenance plan public, our researchers found that Ford owners pay around $288 per year of coverage. However, we can confirm that all Ford Premium Maintenance plans come with a $0 deductible. That means when you use your Ford maintenance plan for covered services, you’ll pay nothing out of pocket.
Ford Maintenance Plan Price: Influencing Factors
Below, we list a number of factors that affect the price of the automaker’s maintenance plan:
- Ford model: Each Ford model has different maintenance needs and schedules, so the cost of a plan will vary depending on the vehicle. There may be different mile intervals between maintenance across models, which will be reflected in your service contract.
- Coverage terms: You can purchase coverage for anywhere from two up to eight years. We found that average costs per year tend to go down with longer coverage terms.
- Purchase location: Ford dealerships act as middlemen, selling Premium Maintenance plans and taking some of the profit. Certain dealerships charge more than others.
Ford Maintenance Plan Financing
You can roll the cost of a Premium Maintenance plan into your car payment. However, Ford offers 0% APR financing on its maintenance packages if you buy them separately. The automaker says in the Ford Premium Maintenance plan brochure that “everyone qualifies,” so the interest-free financing should even be an option for those with bad credit scores.
In general terms, the Ford Protect Premium Maintenance plan covers the routine maintenance needs outlined in your owner’s manual. The specific services your vehicle requires and the schedule on which it needs them depends on the model and year. However, your Ford maintenance plan should take care of those needs and be priced accordingly.
Covered repairs under the Ford maintenance plan typically include:
- Multipoint inspections
- Tire rotations
- Engine oil and oil filter changes
- Air filter changes
- Brake pad and lining replacements
- Shock absorber and strut repairs and replacements
- Spark plug replacements
- Clutch disc replacements
- Engine belt replacements
- Wiper blade replacements
- Engine belt, engine coolant hose, and clamp replacements
- Power steering and windshield washer fluid services
Maintenance plans for electric vehicles (EVs) are very different from those for cars with internal combustion engines. As a result, the price and coverage will be different for Ford EV maintenance plans.
Ford Maintenance Plan Benefits
Ford packages a few useful perks into its vehicle maintenance plans. One notable benefit is the coverage area – maintenance plans can be used at any Ford dealer or Lincoln dealer in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. This is uncommon in the auto industry and could come in handy for people who like to take their Ford vehicles on extended road trips.
Other Ford maintenance plan benefits include:
- Rental car coverage: Ford provides two days of car rentals while covered services are performed, up to $60 per day.
- Transferability: Maintenance plans from Ford transfer to the new owner after you sell your vehicle, which can add to its resale value.
Note that roadside assistance and towing services are not included as part of Ford maintenance plans.
Does Ford Maintenance Plan Cover Battery?
The Ford Protect Premium Maintenance plan does not cover your car or truck’s battery. The battery is not among the components included in the list of regular wear items.
Your car’s battery is instead covered under the Ford factory warranty. For gas-powered vehicles, battery coverage lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
The Ford maintenance plan isn’t unique in excluding coverage for your car’s battery. Most automakers won’t cover car batteries after the original warranty expires and even the best extended car warranty providers usually exclude them.
Is the Ford Maintenance Plan Worth It?
Ford Protect Premium Maintenance may be worth buying depending on your personal needs. Based on our research, there’s no guarantee that you’ll save money on the cost of scheduled maintenance.
However, you’ll need these services in order to keep your warranty in good standing, and buying a Ford maintenance plan can make it easier to pay for them. Since you can either roll coverage into your auto loan or finance the plan separately, it may offer peace of mind to those who don’t always have access to a few hundred dollars for service visits.
Ford Maintenance Plan Costs vs. Benefits
We found from owner-reported data that the average cost of a Ford maintenance plan is around $288 per year. Compared to paying for maintenance services out of pocket, you may save some money by buying a Ford Protect Premium Maintenance package.
At a minimum, the owner’s manual stipulates two oil and filter changes per year and two tire rotations annually. According to RepairPal, oil changes cost an average of $138 at licensed facilities while tire rotations come out to $40 each on average.
This means you’d pay an average of at least $356 per year just to stay on top of those two services. Since Ford maintenance plans also cover services like spark plug and brake pad replacements, you could potentially save more money by buying a package.
A Ford maintenance plan could be worth buying for some people, even if it doesn’t save on the cost of services. Prepaying for coverage, especially when it can be financed, means there’s no need to find extra cash when services are due. This can be a major benefit to people who’d prefer to pay for car maintenance needs ahead of time.
Ford Protect Premium Maintenance plans do require services to be performed at dealerships, which may have long wait times or be located far away. With perks like rental car reimbursement and the added value of transferable coverage, though, there are plenty of advantages to Ford maintenance plans.
Ford Coverage Plans: Extended Warranty Providers
A maintenance plan takes care of scheduled services, but you can also cover unexpected repair costs with a Ford extended warranty. If you’re considering extended coverage to take care of expensive repair bills on your Ford, we recommend checking out Endurance.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance earned the award for Best Overall in our 2024 warranty study with the industry’s highest overall score. As one of only a few direct providers, Endurance offers a simple and easy-to-navigate claims process. The company’s robust selection of coverage levels and competitive prices make it an option worth considering for any Ford owner.
Keep Reading: Endurance Warranty Review
Ford Maintenance Plans: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Ford maintenance plans:
What is a Ford basic maintenance plan?
A Ford maintenance plan is a service package that covers the cost of routine maintenance services as set out by your owner’s manual. It’s different from Ford Protect Extended Service Plans (Ford ESPs), which are similar to extended warranties and come in packages such as BaseCARE, PowertrainCARE, and PremiumCARE.
How much does a Ford Protect Premium Maintenance plan cost?
Using owner-reported data, we found that a Ford Protect Premium Maintenance plan costs around $288 per year on average. However, this cost can vary greatly depending on the model of your Ford, where you purchase coverage, and your coverage terms.
How long is a Ford maintenance plan?
You can purchase a Ford maintenance plan for anywhere from two to eight years. The company may have some restrictions for certain vehicles.
What is covered under a maintenance plan?
Maintenance plans typically cover services outlined in the maintenance schedule from the car manufacturer. These include oil changes, tire rotations, windshield wiper replacements, spark plug replacements, and more.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
