Is a Ford Extended Service Plan Right for You?

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Is a Ford extended service plan the best way to protect your Ford in 2021? This article will take a look into the coverage details and costs of a Ford extended warranty to help you decide if the manufacturer has the right plan for your vehicle.

The most effective way to find affordable, comprehensive extended warranty coverage is to familiarize yourself with the best extended car warranty providers and compare quotes between companies. You can start by getting a quote from Endurance, our top recommended provider, above.

If you face a faulty transmission, engine leak, air conditioning malfunction, or a number of other component failures, an extended service plan could help you pay for costly repairs.

When using an extended service plan, you will only have to pay a deductible (usually $0, $50, or $100) for a covered repair. If you pick a reputable extended car warranty company, the provider will pay your mechanic directly instead of having you front repair costs and then wait to be reimbursed.

A Ford extended service plan covers your vehicle for up to 8 years or 150,000 miles. Coverage ranges from basic protection for the powertrain to a comprehensive bumper-to-bumper plan. Ford’s extended service plan must be purchased before your factory warranty expires.

All Ford Motor Company cars and trucks come with a New Vehicle Limited Warranty that provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for 3 years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. You have the option to extend your warranty with a Ford extended service plan.

Ford ESPs come in four levels of coverage:

*Component is partially covered.

With these plans, you can choose a deductible of $0, $50, $100, or $200.

All Ford extended service plans have detailed sample contracts online, which is a good indication that Ford is a trustworthy company. Transparency is an important quality of an extended car warranty company.

When it comes time to file a claim, you don’t want to realize your provider has hidden fees or coverage exceptions noted in the fine print of your contract. Being able to thoroughly examine a sample contract before you even reach out for a quote can save you from these unpleasant surprises down the line.

Each Ford ESP is also 100-percent transferable, which could make your car more attractive to potential buyers if you decide to sell your car. Ford’s website does not indicate that you will need to pay a fee to transfer coverage, but read your contract carefully to be sure.

While the benefits mentioned above are average for the car warranty industry, Ford ESPs stand out due to the fact that they also cover normal wear and tear. Most other extended warranties only cover defects in materials and/or workmanship and do not cover wear-and-tear parts.

According to RepairPal, the average annual cost of maintaining a Ford is $775, which is high compared to the $652 average across all makes. Keep in mind that repair costs for your vehicle will vary depending on its model, age, mileage, location, and the repair shop you choose.

Fords are also less reliable than the average vehicle. In RepairPal’s 2020 Reliability Rating, Ford received 3.5 out of 5.0 stars, ranking 21st out of 32 car brands. Additionally, 15 percent of Ford repairs are considered “severe,” which is higher than the 12-percent industry average.

For the most popular Ford in America—the Ford F-150—commonly reported repairs and average repair costs are as follows, according to RepairPal:

You must purchase a Ford ESP within the limits of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles. If you wait until your New Vehicle Limited Warranty expires, you could face a lapse in coverage, and the opportunity to buy a Ford ESP warranty will no longer be available to you.

If you decide that a Ford extended service plan is right for you, contact your local Ford dealership and speak with a customer service representative to see which plan your vehicle qualifies for.

Our research indicates that the average cost of a bumper-to-bumper extended car warranty is between $300 and $1,000 per year of coverage. If the price of your Ford extended warranty falls within this range, then you can rest assured you’re paying a good price for extended warranty protection.

We got quotes from top third-party extended car warranty providers for a 2017 Ford Explorer with 45,000 miles on it in North Carolina. This vehicle’s mileage exceeds the term limit for Ford’s New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage, so it would not be eligible for a Ford extended service plan.

Here are the bumper-to-bumper warranty quotes we received for the Ford:

Each of these plans comes with a $100 deductible. This means whether you need your transmission replaced or your air conditioning fixed, you’ll only pay $100 if it's covered under your contract, and your extended warranty provider will take care of the rest.

The cost of your own Ford extended warranty will vary depending on your car’s model, age, mileage, pre-existing conditions, the deductible you choose, and your location.

Like Ford, all of these third-party providers have sample contracts online, which bodes well for each company’s transparency.

Ford’s extended service plan will cover your vehicle for up to 8 years or 150,000 miles. There are multiple levels of coverage and Premium Maintenance coverage for oil changes, tire rotations, and factory-required maintenance—which is relatively unique in the industry.

Ford extended service plans from the dealership have average coverage terms compared to third-party warranties, and it’s unfortunate that the Ford ESPs can’t be purchased after a vehicle’s factory warranty expires. Additionally, many third-party providers offer full refunds if customers cancel within 30 days of purchasing, but Ford has a cancellation fee that it deducts from the refund.

Overall, our research indicates that you can find competitive coverage for your Ford from a third-party extended warranty provider.

Start comparing free, personalized quotes for your vehicle below.