Have you been offered an extended warranty along with your CarMax vehicle? Check out the details of the MaxCare warranty plan.
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Endurance is our first choice for extended warranties
Quick Facts Plan Coverage and Perks| Plan coverage includes | Endurance Elite perks™ |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary plan | One-year membership for free |
| Powertrain plan | Tire repair and replacement |
| Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage | Key fob replacement |
| Roadside assistance | Total loss protection |
| Towing | Collision discount |
| Rental car | $250 rewards voucher |
| Trip interruption coverage | Endurance Protect app |
The Gist:
You are probably familiar with CarMax as the nation’s largest used car dealership. When you buy one of its cars, the vehicle comes with a CarMax warranty. You then have the option to buy the CarMax extended service plan, which is called MaxCare ® . However, you won’t have much time to decide at the dealership if you want to buy coverage, so it’s smart to understand your options in advance.
We’ll get into the details of the CarMax warranty and compare it to other options you might have. There are many choices on the market for an extended car warranty, which can reduce your out-of-pocket costs for vehicle repairs. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies to help you in your search. It pays to get free quotes from multiple providers to find the best deal.
Our review team has spent hundreds of hours researching car warranty companies to help consumers choose the best coverage for their vehicles. Writers and editors evaluate each brand based on industry data and real customers’ experiences, meeting high editorial standards to keep readers informed.
Cons Only available at time of used car purchase No sample contracts online No trip interruption reimbursement
We rate CarMax’s warranty 3.9 out of 5.0 stars because of its excellent transparency and affordability. The CarMax MaxCare vehicle service contract might work for some drivers, but it’s difficult to compare quotes and other options ahead of time. By contrast, many reputable third-party extended warranty companies let you shop online, so you don’t have to feel pressure to buy something on the day you buy a used car.
| Reputation | 3.5 |
| Coverage | 3.6 |
| Cost | 4.5 |
| Transparency | 5.0 |
| Customer Experience | 3.4 |
| Overall Rating | 3.9 |
It’s a little tricky to get a feel for the customer experience with the MaxCare plan since most reviews focus on CarMax’s core business of selling used cars. Many people appreciate CarMax’s no-haggle business model, and the company gets positive reviews for customer service. Below are a few examples.
“CarMax was the only company that didn’t lie to me or misrepresent their vehicles. They were upfront about everything and gave me time to make my decision instead of calling, texting, and emailing me constantly.” – Helen A., BBB “The fuss over MaxCare is also not deserved. Try finding an extended warranty that allows you to cancel at any time and get a prorated amount back.” – Benjamin R., BBB
“I’m not sure if they no longer service vehicles or if they’re just busy? I paid for the warranty and need to set an appointment to make some major repairs covered under the warranty but can’t get through!” – Lyh, BBB
“This company has failed at every level. They sold us a lemon, did not offer help (even with the extended warranty they sold us) and failed at every turn from the local to the corporate level.” – Devon H., BBB
CarMax has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and it gets good reviews online for its used car buying process. However, CarMax MaxCare is only a small part of what the company does. It’s difficult to get a read on customer experience with the vehicle service contract since the company is much more focused on selling used cars.
CarMax has been around since 1993. The company operates 244 dealerships in 41 states, and you can buy a MaxCare warranty from any dealership.
CarMax offers extended vehicle protection through MaxCare, which is an optional plan available for purchase when you buy your car from CarMax. MaxCare benefits are administered by other warranty companies so while you can pay a lower deductible at a CarMax repair center, the dealership is not servicing your extended coverage. MaxCare is accepted at CarMax locations, RepairPal-certified service centers, or any repair shop in the U.S. or Canada licensed by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE ® ).
MaxCare covers the cost of repairs for certain vehicle components and systems. As an extended service plan, MaxCare takes effect after your CarMax limited used car warranty runs out. All CarMax vehicles come with a limited warranty that lasts for 90 days or 4,000 miles. This warranty guarantees coverage for the vehicle’s major systems, but you’ll have to go to a CarMax dealership to get the details. In the past, this 90-day warranty was a 30-day warranty in some states. If you buy MaxCare, coverage terms and pricing will vary.
Now, let’s talk about the details of what’s included with the MaxCare vehicle service contract. Here’s an overview of the program:
| Covered Systems | MaxCare covers parts in the engine, transmission, drivetrain, suspension, cooling system, climate control, electronics, electrical systems, and steering. |
| Repair Facilities | The plan is accepted at any ASE-certified service center. |
| Claims and Payment | MaxCare makes payments directly to the repair shop, so you don’t have to pay upfront and wait for reimbursement. |
| Roadside Assistance | All plans come with 24/7 roadside assistance, which covers things like towing, battery jump-starts, flat tire service, and fuel delivery. |
| Rental Car Reimbursement | CarMax MaxCare will reimburse you up to $40 per day for seven days in the case of a covered repair. |
Unlike many other vehicle service contracts, CarMax only offers one coverage tier. CarMax describes the MaxCare warranty as covering any part unless it is listed under exclusions. A vehicle service contract with exclusionary coverage is similar to a manufacturer’s bumper-to-bumper factory warranty but every plan carries a distinct list of exclusions, often found in a sample contract. Unfortunately, there aren’t any sample MaxCare contracts online. You’ll get to read a contract if you decide to buy the plan, but we suggest you take your time and go through it carefully. You can choose between a wide range of mileage and year limits for MaxCare, which may be dependent on the specific vehicle you’re buying. Compared to a manufacturer’s certified pre-owned warranty or extended vehicle service contract, the MaxCare plan is more limited and offers fewer perks. For more extensive coverage options, you’d need to purchase factory-backed warranties or shop with a reputable third-party provider.
To have future repairs covered under warranty, you’ll need to keep up with factory-recommended interval maintenance on your vehicle. The repair shop can request copies of your service history to make sure repairs paid for under warranty aren’t caused by lack of regular maintenance.
If you tamper with the odometer, stop paying your bill, or if your car is declared a total loss, the warranty isn’t any good.
Since you can only buy a MaxCare plan along with a used car from CarMax, prices aren’t listed online. You’ll have to go to a dealership to find out what a CarMax warranty costs on the vehicle you’re considering.
Since we can’t give you an exact CarMax extended warranty cost here, we’ll let you know what you should look for. According to our research, a full-coverage plan similar to the one you might get from CarMax is about $484 per year.
So, if you are presented with a CarMax warranty cost of $1,000 for two years of coverage, that price is about average. On the other hand, if the CarMax warranty costs $3,000 for three years, that’s pretty expensive ($1,000 per year).
The cost is usually affected by the year, mileage, make, and model of the car. A five-year plan for a car with 20,000 miles would cost less than the same coverage for a car with 80,000 miles, since the likelihood of repairs increases with mileage. There are other factors that affect the cost of your warranty plan, as shown in the graphic below:
Deductibles vary, but you can receive $50 off your deductible if you visit a CarMax or RepairPal service center. That can make your out-of-pocket expense for vehicle repairs as low as $0.
The only way to purchase a MaxCare plan is to get one at the same time you buy a used car from CarMax. You can choose to roll the cost of the service contract in with your car payment.
After that, you’ll deal with a third-party company for claims and car repairs. If you’ve never had a vehicle service contract before, the main thing to keep in mind is you can’t just give your car to the mechanic and tell them to get started on the work.
They have to call your contract administrator for authorization. You also might have to authorize a teardown diagnosis, which MaxCare won’t cover unless the repair is covered.
You can transfer the CarMax extended warranty if you sell your car. Usually, there’s a small fee of about $50, however having a transferable warranty can often add value to your car.
If you cancel MaxCare, you’ll be eligible for a prorated or partial refund based on your vehicle’s mileage. The plan administrator may also charge a cancellation fee. If you financed the cost of your extended vehicle service contract, any refund amount will be applied to the balance of your loan with CarMax.
CarMax is great for people who value low prices and company transparency. MaxCare, the company’s extended vehicle service plan, can help with the cost of major car repairs for the length of time you purchased coverage and it offers additional perks like roadside assistance. We gave CarMax 3.9 out of 5.0 stars and believe it can perfectly fit your needs as an extended warranty plan. It’s wise to shop around, however, to find the best deal. Check out some other car warranty companies below.
Two companies we think you should check out are Endurance and Carchex. Both have extended auto warranty experts who know the ins and outs of the contracts and can help you find the best option.
We chose Endurance for Best Plan Offerings because it’s a direct warranty provider and its vehicle service contracts come with many perks. Endurance administers claims and handles every part of the repair process. In business for more than 15 years, the company offers six levels of coverage and a wide range of deductible options.
We gave Endurance 4.5 out of 5.0 stars in our review. To get a free quote from Endurance, click below.
