Zurich Extended Warranty Review

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We rate Zurich auto warranty 3.9 out of 5.0 stars due to its industry standing and coverage options.

Zurich Insurance Group is an established multinational bank with strong financials, but how good is a Zurich auto warranty? You may be offered an extended auto warranty through Zurich at your dealership, but it pays to do your research before signing on the dotted line.

This review will take an honest look at the Zurich auto warranty, considering industry standing, coverage, affordability, and customer reputation. There are several good options for extended vehicle service contracts, but the only way to find the best coverage for your vehicle and budget is to compare quotes from multiple providers. Use the tool below to get started with free, no-obligation quotes from several of the best extended car warranty companies.

Zurich Warranty Review

We rate Zurich 3.9 out of 5.0 stars due to its industry standing and coverage options. The company review was conducted using the same methodology our researchers use to deliver unbiased reviews of top providers to consumers.

Is Zurich Warranty Legit?

Zurich Insurance Group was founded in 1872 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, as its name suggests. The company mostly specializes in insurance products such as accident, builders risk, casualty, commercial fleet, cyber, management liability, pollution liability, and workers’ compensation insurance.

AM Best Zurich Rating

Zurich also offers consumer auto financial protection products like gap insurance, road hazard tire and wheel protection, dent repair coverage, prepaid maintenance contracts, and vehicle service contracts. Zurich has strong financial standing and is rated A+ by AM Best.

Is Zurich Extended Warranty Worth It?

To determine if an extended warranty is worth it or not, you should consider several factors, including the age, mileage, reliability, and cost of repairs for your vehicle, as well as the industry reputation, customer service satisfaction, and how easy it is to get quotes from the third-party warranty company.

While Zurich Insurance Group has been around for a long time, its primary focus is on insurance, not providing vehicle service contracts. Another big draw bag is that extended warranty quotes are not readily available. You must contact a participating dealership for a free quote. Compared to industry-leading third-party warranty providers, Zurich’s extended warranty plans offer less coverage for your vehicle’s critical parts.

Zurich Extended Warranty Reviews

Zurich North America is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it currently holds an A+ rating. There have been under 70 complaints filed against the company through the BBB in the last three years, which is low considering Zurich is a multi-billion-dollar insurance company. Most customer complaints do not mention Zurich warranty products but are instead related to insurance products and billing.

Positive Zurich Auto Warranty Reviews

Several commenters on the BBB have praised Zurich warranty services. The claims process has been described as smooth and efficient.

“The Ford dealer near me was familiar with Zurich [and] handled all the paperwork, did the repair, and Zurich paid the claim with no trouble. I didn’t have to do a thing aside from handing the dealer a copy of the contract.” – Jeremy T. via BBB

“The Zurich vehicle warranty is great. [My] claim was processed in a day, and I had my car back, fixed, in three days.” – Lance W. via BBB

Negative Zurich Auto Warranty Reviews

Not all customers are pleased with their Zurich auto warranty contracts. The company has a low BBB customer rating of 1.33 out of 5 stars. However, this rating is based on fewer than 100 customer reviews, which represents a very small portion of Zurich’s overall clientele.

Negative reviewers claim Zurich customer service is poor and report difficulty receiving reimbursement for claims that they felt were valid.

“My family broke down 500 miles from home. Being under warranty I called Zurich. It was a complete runaround. I was left stranded in a parking lot.” – Debra W. via BBB

“The rallying cry here is ‘deny, deny, deny.’ [Zurich will] find any loophole possible to deny the claim, even if it makes sense to pay the claim.” – Hal P. via BBB

Be sure to read any extended warranty contract carefully before making a purchase. Certain items and conditions are not covered, and it is important to know that before making a decision.

Zurich Extended Warranty Coverage

Zurich auto warranty contracts are agreements that Zurich will cover repair costs for covered parts that break down due to normal use. After your manufacturer’s warranty expires, an extended warranty from a company like Zurich can pick up where your factory coverage leaves off, providing long-term peace of mind.

Zurich Extended Warranty Plans

Zurich offers four extended warranty plans, each providing a different level of protection. Below is a table that compares the differences between each extended warranty plan.

The comprehensive plan is an exclusionary contract. This means that rather than listing the covered parts, the contract only lists those that aren’t. Examples of excluded components are:

• Bulbs
• Glass
• Hoses
• Lenses
• Shocks
• Wheels
• Upholstery
• Brake pads
• Spark plugs
• Interior trim
• Wiper blades
• Exhaust system
• Catalytic converter

Zurich Warranty Transfer

Are you considering buying a used car with a Zurich extended warranty, or are you curious if you purchase a Zurich warranty, will it transfer to a new owner? Don’t worry. Each Zurich auto warranty contract is transferable to a new owner and can be canceled at any time for a prorated refund.

Zurich Auto Warranty: Additional Benefits 

All Zurich vehicle protection plans include the following benefits in addition to component coverage:

• Rental car reimbursement: Reimbursement of $30 per day for a rental car while your vehicle is in the shop for covered repairs
• Trip interruption allowance: Reimbursement of $100 per day for meals and lodging expenses if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from your home
• Emergency roadside assistance: Reimbursement of $100 per occurrence for flat tire repair, fuel delivery, lockout services, battery jump-starts, towing, and winching

In addition to the plans mentioned above, Zurich also offers a contract called Rental Plus, which does not provide any component coverage but includes the rental car, trip interruption, and roadside assistance benefit limits.

Zurich Extended Warranty Claims

Zurich warranties function similarly to any other extended warranty on the market. When you experience a breakdown and need vehicle repairs, bring your vehicle to any mechanic or shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). You can also take your vehicle to a dealership. Provide the repair facility with your Zurich contract information and they will contact Zurich with the diagnosis.

If your repair is covered, Zurich will pay the repair shop directly, minus your deductible. If you are waiting on a claim approval, you can call or email Zurich to check your claim status.

Zurich Extended Warranty Cost

Extended car warranty costs depend on a number of factors, including your vehicle, coverage level, and coverage length. The dealership from which you purchase your Zurich auto warranty may also include a markup.

While Zurich does not advertise prices online, we were able to find several customer reports of costs ranging from $1,200 to $1,700. Depending on the coverage levels and contract lengths, these prices indicate Zurich auto warranty contracts may be relatively inexpensive for the industry. The typical extended auto warranty costs around $2,000 to $3,000 for five years of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. 

Zurich Warranty: Conclusion

Zurich auto warranty contracts and benefits are standard for the industry. As a large multinational insurance company, the chances that Zurich will go under and you’ll be left with a worthless contract are practically zero. While there have been some customer complaints about failure to meet claims, these are very few, considering the size of Zurich.

With any extended warranty provider, there will be denied claims for issues that aren’t covered. Based on customer reports online, Zurich may offer especially inexpensive contracts. If you’re considering an extended auto warranty, it may be worth requesting a quote from Zurich. However, other companies can provide better customer service and more extensive contracts, so be sure to compare the cost against other top providers.

Our Top Picks for Extended Warranty Coverage

Two well-known extended auto warranty providers we recommend are Endurance and CARCHEX. Both offer comprehensive coverage, even for high-mileage vehicles. If you’re considering a Zurich extended warranty, you should first compare your dealership’s offer against quotes from these two providers.

If you can’t choose between Endurance and CARCHEX, read our full Endurance vs. CARCHEX review.

Endurance: Best Overall

Endurance offers some of the most comprehensive extended auto warranty contracts in the industry. Plan options include:

• Supreme: An exclusionary bumper-to-bumper extended warranty
• Superior: High-level stated-component coverage for most vehicle parts
• Secure Plus: Provides enhanced powertrain coverage with a short waiting period
• Select Premier: Powertrain coverage that’s specially designed for high-mileage vehicles
• Secure: Provides basic powertrain warranty coverage for the engine, transmission, and transaxle
• EnduranceAdvantage^TM: Stated-component mechanical breakdown coverage as well as coverage for regular maintenance items such as tire rotations and oil changes

Endurance contract benefits are some of the most comprehensive in the industry. Along with rental car reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, and 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, you get a free year of the Endurance Elite membership, which includes perks like:

• Repair financing loans
• Key fob replacements
• Tire repairs and replacements
• Identity theft protection services
• $250 in vouchers to use on entertainment, shopping, and dining

To learn more, check out our complete Endurance warranty review.

CARCHEX: Best Reputation

CARCHEX is one of the oldest companies dedicated exclusively to car warranty contracts. To this day, it has one of the best reputations for customer service, with an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB. It’s also one of the best warranty companies for used cars, as it covers vehicles up to 250,000 miles.

CARCHEX has five levels of coverage:

• Titanium: Exclusionary coverage for almost all vehicle parts
• Platinum: High-level, stated-component coverage for most components
• Gold: Stated-component coverage designed for vehicles over 60,000 miles
• Silver: Enhanced powertrain coverage that includes protection for parts such as the air conditioning and engine cooling system
• Bronze: Basic powertrain coverage for the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axles, and related components

According to our cost research, CARCHEX plans cost around $100 to $200 a month. Learn more by reading our full CARCHEX review.

Zurich Auto Warranty: Frequently Asked Questions

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.