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The Volvo factory warranty isn’t long compared to other manufacturer warranties, so some drivers consider getting the Volvo extended warranty.
This guide will take a thorough look at what’s covered under the Volvo extended warranty and how much the extra coverage costs. We’ll also discuss some of the pros and cons of independent coverage.If you do decide to go through with an extended warranty – and that is not always the right decision – it pays to get quotes from multiple sources to make sure you’re getting a fair price. You can contact your local Volvo dealership to get pricing for the manufacturer’s extended warranty. To start getting free quotes from leading third-party providers, click below.
In this article:
Volvo extended warranty overview
How much does a Volvo extended warranty cost?
Do you need a Volvo extended warranty?
Pros and cons of independent warranty companies
Frequently asked questions
Volvo extended warranty overview
Volvo extended warranty plans offer coverage after the
factory warranty
expires. Called Volvo Increased Protection, these plans can protect vehicles for up to 6 years or 120,000 miles. Volvo owners can choose from three levels of mechanical breakdown coverage: VIP Platinum, VIP Gold and VIP Powertrain.
Volvo Extended Warranty
Warranty Terms*
Platinum
10 years/120,000 miles
Gold
10 years/120,000 miles
Powertrain
10 years/120,000 miles
*VIP plans cover cars up to six years after the four-year Volvo factory warranty expires, or until vehicles reach a total of 120,000 miles.
VIP Platinum
:Comprehensive exclusionary coverage that includes almost all mechanical vehicle parts, minus a short list of exclusions
VIP Gold
:Includes everything in the lower-tier VIP Powertrain coverage, as well as the brakes, air conditioning, electrical systems, and front and rear suspension
VIP Powertrain
:Repairs or replaces parts within the engine, transmission, drive axle, and hybrid and electric motor components
Deductibles for Volvo extended warranty coverage range from $0 to $250, although going with a lower deductible will likely raise the cost of your warranty. If you sell your car while it’s still under warranty, the coverage can be transferred to the subsequent owner for a transfer fee of $40.
What’s not covered?
Although Volvo’s extended warranty plans will repair or replace defective parts across the vehicle, not everything is covered. The VIP Platinum plan, for example, states the following parts are not covered by the manufacturer:
Catalytic converter
Air bags
Door handles
Heater and radiator hoses
Wheel alignment
Glass
Body panels
Routine maintenance
Damage from a collision, vandalism or theft
Abuse or neglect from the owner
Contract holders are also limited to service by manufacturer-approved repair facilities and Volvo dealerships. To see if a repair is covered under your Volvo extended warranty, refer to your contract or check with your local dealership.
Added benefits
All Volvo extended warranty plans come with a few added perks. These include:
Towing coverage
: Up to $75 per occurrence
Rental car reimbursement
: Up to $35 per day for a maximum of 10 days while your Volvo is in the shop for a covered repair
Trip interruption coverage
: Up to $100 per day for a maximum of five days if you’re over 100 miles from home when you break down
How much does a Volvo extended warranty cost?
As is the case for most car manufacturers, Volvo doesn’t list vehicle service contract prices on its website. However, the manufacturer does tell customers what factors go into determining the price of Volvo extended warranty coverage:
Volvo model
Current age and mileage of the vehicle
Coverage levels and warranty terms selected
Deductible amount
Our research experts found the cost of a Volvo extended warranty to be around $3,400 for Platinum coverage with a $0 deductible. We also saw some car owners report the cost of similar coverage at around $2,500 with a $250 deductible.
In comparison, we’ve found that independent warranty companies’ plans cost between $1,800 and $3,800 based on the vehicle and coverage level. We recommend getting quotes from the dealership and a few independent providers so you can find the best deal.
Do you need a Volvo extended warranty?
Before committing to an extended car warranty, you should review the overall reliability of your vehicle, how common repairs may impact your wallet and any existing warranty coverage you already have.
Volvo is known more for making
safe vehicles
than reliable ones. While the vehicle repair cost estimation site
RepairPal
gives Volvo a 3.5 out of 5.0 for reliability, it also ranks the automaker 17th out of 32 car brands for reliability. In J.D. Power’s
2021 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study
SM
, Volvo performed even more poorly, placing 26th out of 32 brands for overall dependability. Our team reached out to Volvo for a comment on these scores but did not receive a response.
When it comes to upkeep, RepairPal estimates the annual cost for Volvo maintenance and repairs to be $769 per year, which falls above the industry average of $652. So, how much can you expect to pay per breakdown? Owners have reported the following common repairs and costs:
Common Volvo repair
Average cost
*
Oxygen sensor replacement
$317 to $326
Strut assembly replacement
$2,436 to $2,520
Air conditioning evaporator replacement
$1,001 to $1,122
*Data from RepairPal
Paying for one of these repairs will fall on the car owner if the vehicle is no longer under warranty. You probably don’t need an extended warranty if you have the savings to cover expensive repairs out of pocket. That said, about 40% of Americans don’t have the funds to cover a
$400 emergency expense
, according to the Federal Reserve. A Volvo extended warranty can help you pay for potentially costly repairs over time if you can’t handle a surprise bill from a mechanic.
What coverage do you already have?
When deciding whether a Volvo extended warranty is the right decision for you, consider your factory coverage. All new Volvos leave the dealership with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which combines bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage and lasts for 4 years/50,000 miles.
Other major parts of the warranty include corrosion protection for 12 years/unlimited miles and roadside assistance for 4 years/unlimited miles.
If you buy a used car, it might be covered by a Volvo certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty, also called the Certified by Volvo warranty. To be eligible for CPO status, vehicles must have less than 80,000 miles on the odometer, pass a 170-point inspection and have a clean CARFAX vehicle history report.
CPO Volvos receive a 5-year/unlimited-mile warranty that starts from the vehicle’s original in-service date, effectively adding a year of coverage to the original factory warranty. Customers have the option of upgrading the coverage to 10 years, and Volvo will back repairs for the following systems:
Engine
Drive axles
Transmission
Steering
Suspension
Brakes
Electrical systems
Air conditioning
The Certified by Volvo warranty features a $0 deductible for covered repairs and is transferable to secondary owners at no cost. The warranty also gives drivers rental car, towing and travel coverage similar to the Volvo extended warranty.
Pros and cons of independent warranty companies
Independent extended car warranty companies can help drivers avoid costly repair bills and keep their cars on the road for longer with longer warranty terms, but in many cases, these can end up costing you more than simply paying for repairs out of pocket. That said, if you don’t have savings, these can give you peace of mind.
Independent warranty companies give drivers the option to buy coverage at almost any point in the vehicle’s life, not just before the factory warranty expires. Companies like Endurance offer vehicle protection plans that last over 200,000 miles, and customers get a wider network of repair facilities to choose from because they can go to a dealership or an independent repair shop.
Our research team has found that, in many cases, third-party providers offer coverage at lower prices than the manufacturer. This is because the manufacturer can roll the cost of an extended warranty into your vehicle financing if you purchase coverage when you buy a new car. Keep in mind that the price you pay will depend on the car and level of warranty coverage you choose.
There are a few downsides to going with an independent provider. Your vehicle is not guaranteed to be repaired with genuine parts, and you likely will not have access to factory-trained technicians unless you use your third-party coverage at a dealership repair shop.
The process for finding the best price on an extended warranty is similar to finding the best auto insurance: Identify your coverage needs and compare quotes from multiple companies. You can get a free quote from Volvo by contacting your local dealership. To get no-obligation quotes from the industry’s top warranty providers, click below.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying the Volvo extended warranty?
Whether the Volvo extended warranty is worth it depends on your vehicle and personal finances. Volvos have above-average maintenance and repair costs, so an extended warranty can be a smart choice for vehicle owners who want to avoid paying for repairs out of pocket.
How much is a Volvo extended warranty?
Like most automakers, Volvo doesn’t advertise the price of its extended warranty. However, it does say that vehicle model, age, mileage, coverage selection and deductible amount all influence the price of extended protection.
Can you purchase a Volvo extended warranty?
You can purchase a Volvo extended warranty from the dealer at any time prior to the expiration of the 4-year/50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty. If your factory warranty has expired, you can still get coverage from independent warranty companies like Endurance.
How much does an extended warranty usually cost?
The price of an extended warranty depends on the model, year and mileage of your vehicle, as well as the coverage terms and provider you choose. Our research has found independent providers are usually cheaper than manufacturer extended warranties, and coverage can cost between $1,800 and $3,800.
*Data accurate at time of publication.