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Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.
An extended car warranty is protection from the vehicle manufacturer against mechanical breakdowns. This term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe coverage from third-party providers, which offer similar protection plans called vehicle service contracts. CARCHEX is a vehicle service contract provider.
Once the manufacturer’s warranty expires on your Lexus, you could be hit with inconvenient and costly repair bills. To avoid expensive costs and stay covered after the Lexus factory warranty expires, you can protect your vehicle with a Lexus extended vehicle protection plan.
What Does a Lexus Warranty Cover?
All Lexus cars are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty that gives exclusionary coverage to drivers for a few years.
Here’s what a basic Lexus factory warranty covers:
- 48-month/50,000-mile basic warranty, or the Lexus bumper-to-bumper warranty, which covers repairs and adjustments for defects in parts and workmanship supplied by Lexus.
- Wheel alignment and balancing are only covered for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Batteries for non-hybrid vehicles are protected under this warranty.
- 72-month/70,000-mile Lexus powertrain warranty, which covers major systems like the engine, transmission, transaxle, and front- and rear-wheel drive systems that are original to the vehicle.
- 72-month/unlimited mileage corrosion perforation warranty, which covers repairs and replacements for original body panels that rust through.
- 12 month/unlimited mileage parts warranty, which covers repairs and replacements for faulty parts.
- 8-year/100,000-mile hybrid warranty, which covers the hybrid control module (power management control module), hybrid battery control module (battery voltage sensor), and inverter with converter.
Repairs Caused by These Situations Are Not Included in a Lexus Warranty:
Improper repairs |
Abuse or negligence |
Water contamination |
---|---|---|
Fire |
Environmental damage, |
Deterioration caused by |
Theft |
Accidents |
For more details see your Lexus warranty booklet from the dealer. When purchasing a new car, it’s important to read the warranty for yourself to know exactly what is and isn’t covered.
Why Do I Need a Lexus Extended Warranty?
Recent Lexus vehicles are recognized for their reliability. In 2023, Consumer Reports named Lexus one of their top five brands. J.D. Power also named Lexus the most reliable carmaker of 2024, and labeled several Lexus models some of the most dependable when compared to other vehicles:
- 2024 Lexus IS—Compact Premium Car
- 2024 Lexus NX—Compact Premium SUV
- 2024 Lexus ES—Midsize Premium Car
- 2024 Lexus RX—Midsize Premium SUV
Even though a Lexus is a relatively stable car, it is not unlikely that it will experience a variety of issues over time.
Common Lexus Issues and Repair Costs
Below are some cost estimates for specific component replacements on a Lexus NX350, according to RepairPal:
Ignition coil replacements: |
Engine Oil pan replacement: |
Valve cover gasket replacement: |
---|---|---|
Steering knuckle replacement: |
Oxygen sensor replacement: |
Eventually, your basic factory warranty will expire, leaving you with expensive repair costs for these vehicle parts. With an extended protection plan, your Lexus will be covered and you won’t have to worry about pricey repairs. If your Lexus is used, check out our list of the best extended vehicle service contract companies for used cars here.
What Is Covered by an Extended Vehicle Service Contract?
An extended protection plan will cover your vehicle after your manufacturer’s warranty expires. This is a smart investment because it ensures that your vehicle will be protected even though you are not covered by the manufacturer. It’s a way to protect yourself against expensive car repair costs. Instead of paying a repair facility out of pocket, you pay a consistent, low payment to your extended protection plan provider each month.
There are two types of extended vehicle service contracts:
- Exclusionary: Commonly referred to as a bumper-to-bumper warranty, an exclusionary contract will list the items that are not covered. Typically, these items include oil changes, tires, batteries, and regular maintenance. If your contract does not mention a part, then it will be covered under the contract.
- Inclusionary: These contracts come with a list of exclusions and a list of what is covered under the contract. If a part breaks and is mentioned in the contract, a claim for this repair will be paid. A powertrain warranty could be considered an inclusionary plan.
Spencer Proctor, Customer Retention Coordinator at CARCHEX, explains what’s covered by an extended vehicle service contract:
Lexus Extended Warranty Coverage
After your Lexus new car warranty expires, the dealership offers vehicle service agreements for new, L/Certified (the Lexus certified pre-owned program), or used vehicles through Lexus Financial Services.
There are three plans available for new and used Lexus vehicles:
- Lexus Extra Care Platinum: As the most comprehensive protection, this is a Lexus bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers most parts of your vehicle.
- Lexus Extra Care Gold: This coverage level includes more components than the powertrain warranty but less than Platinum plan.
- Lexus Extra Care Powertrain: This Lexus powertrain warranty includes the engine, transmission, front- and rear-wheel drive systems, and related parts.
If you have a L/Certified vehicle, your Lexus extended warranty option is called the Lexus Extra Care L/Certified Plan. This includes protection for eligible components and covers the cost of mechanical breakdowns.
All Lexus protection plans include:
- 24/7 roadside assistance and reimbursements for car rentals, meals, and lodging.
- Coverage terms based on your mileage and how long you plan to keep your Lexus.
- Repairs made at its nationwide service network, performed by Lexus factory-trained technicians.
In addition, Lexus extended vehicle protection plans are transferable at no cost. However, the manufacturer warranty can only be transferred once from the original owner to a private party.
How To Get the Best Extended Coverage for Lexus Vehicles
In order to keep your Lexus safe after the end of your factory warranty, invest in extended coverage. Whether you’re considering purchasing an extended warranty from the manufacturer or getting third-party coverage through a vehicle service plan, there are a few factors you should consider:
- Make sure you can use a certain mechanic. Always read the fine print in an extended vehicle protection plan. Nearly all factory warranties, require that you take your car to a specific repair shop. Failure to do so can mean that you’re not covered, and in some cases, that you void your coverage.
- Make sure there’s a guarantee. If the service contract provider is not willing to stand behind its product, then neither should you. Make sure the company offers some sort of money-back guarantee in the event that you’re not satisfied.
- Make sure you never have to pay out of pocket. The best protection plan companies will pay claims directly to the repair facility, so you never have to foot the bill and wait around for reimbursement.
- Make sure the provider is backed by insurance. The most reputable companies back their contracts with an insurance provider.
- Find a company that’s highly reviewed. Do the right research to ensure customers are satisfied and that auto experts endorse the provider.
See how CARCHEX compares to other third-party vehicle protection plan companies.
CARCHEX |
AutoAssure |
Concord Auto Protect |
Endurance |
|
---|---|---|---|---|
Years in Business |
25 |
14 |
11 |
18 |
Instant Quote |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
BBB Accreditation |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
BBB Rating |
A+ |
C+ |
F |
A- |
BBB Complaints Closed |
164 |
71 |
314 |
3,034 |
Partnerships/ |
CARFAX, RepairPal, Edmunds.com, Autoblog, SiriusXM, Vehicle Protection Association, and Goss’ Garage. |
Vehicle Protection Association, Dun & Bradstreet |
Consumer Affairs |
Courtney Hansen, Katie Osborne, Vehicle Protection Association |
Protection Plans from CARCHEX
CARCHEX gives you the option to choose from five levels of extended coverage to cover your new, used, or certified pre-owned Lexus. The chart below outlines our coverage levels (Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care) and the different protection plans categorized within them.
Here’s what one customer had to say about the affordable vehicle protection plans at CARCHEX:
“I have a very expensive vehicle and in case of a much needed repair, I didn’t want it to be out of my pocket. I searched all [vehicle service contract] companies and noticed that CARCHEX had a better plan and quality of what I needed for this particular truck. The sales rep was also great.”
CARCHEX Vehicle Service Contract Benefits
CARCHEX is committed to providing the best customer service and coverage options on the market. With our extended vehicle protection plans, you’re entitled to:
- A Customized, Free Quote: When you call, you’ll receive an instant quote tailored to your budget, driving habits, car, and other factors.
- Flexible Payment Options: We offer affordable and flexible low monthly payment options that fit your needs. The average monthly coverage cost of a CARCHEX vehicle protection plan for a Lexus is just $149.99.*
- Large Repair Shop Selection: With thousands of repair facilities to choose from, you’ll be able to find a mechanic you trust.
- Plan Extras: Get added benefits like coverage for roadside assistance, a rental car, towing, gas delivery, and trip interruption benefits.
- Hassle-Free Claims: We pay claims directly to the service provider, so you never have to wait around for reimbursement.
- Exceptional Customer Service: We boast an A+ score from the Better Business Bureau and our motto is Customer Experience Above All.
- 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: CARCHEX is proud to stand behind our product. If you’re not completely satisfied with your coverage, we’ll issue a refund within 30 days.
What’s more, we have partnerships and endorsements from industry leaders, including DMV.org, CARFAX, The Motoring Club, Kelley Blue Book, and more.
*Figure accurate as of April 2024. Monthly payments will vary per plan’s payment policy. Individual pricing is subject to change based on the combination of make, model, year, and mileage as well as coverage level and term length.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources:
Lexus:
https://www.lexus.com/warranty
Lexus:
https://volvornt.harte-hanks.com/manuals/2020/Volvo_Wty_Manual_2020_CC_05-14-19.pdf
AutoWeek:
https://autoweek.com/article/car-news/lexus-toyota-top-latest-consumer-reports-reliability-survey
J.D. Power:
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/estimator/lexus/nx350
Lexus Financial Services:
https://www.lexusfinancial.com/us/en/vehicle_protection_plan/vehicle_service_agreements.html
Better Business Bureau:
https://www.bbb.org/us/md/hunt-valley/profile/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-0011-23015869
Thoroughly Reviewed:
https://thoroughlyreviewed.com/car-warranty/extended-car-warranty-company-reviews/
Motor Week:
http://www.motorweek.org/features/goss_garage/