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.
Any plans offered by CARCHEX are not extended warranties, but are often referred to by consumers as such. CARCHEX vehicle service contracts (also called “protection plans”) operate similarly to extended warranties and provide repair coverage for mechanical breakdowns after factory warranties expire.
It’s good to understand your coverage plan options for a Volvo extended warranty or service plan and how you can get the best plan for your vehicle and driving needs. Read on to discover the differences between your basic factory Volvo warranty and the manufacturer’s extended warranty, as well as why getting a third-party protection plan from CARCHEX may be a smart option for Volvo owners.
Volvo Extended Warranty Plans
Volvo dealerships refer to Volvo extended warranties as Volvo Increased Protection (VIP) plans. These plans are available in three coverage levels up to seven years or 150,000 miles (whichever comes first) and can be purchased at any time, even if your original warranty is still valid. Deductibles range from $0 to $250. The table below goes into the coverage details of each plan.
VIP Platinum |
This is the most comprehensive Volvo extended warranty plan, as it includes everything covered in the lower levels, plus additional components. Platinum is an exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage with a short list of non-covered parts. The plan doesn’t cover maintenance services or the following:
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|---|---|
VIP Gold |
The VIP Gold plan includes everything in the VIP Powertrain, plus additional components from the following parts and systems:
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VIP Powertrain |
As its name suggests, this plan covers your Volvo’s powertrain, including the:
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What Benefits Come with the VIP Plans?
As with most extended service contracts, there are special perks that apply. For the Volvo extended warranty, these include:
- Direct payment to Volvo dealerships—The participating dealership will be paid directly by Volvo, and you won’t have to wait for reimbursement.
- Improved resale value—This plan is fully transferable to subsequent buyers, adding more value to your Volvo once it’s time to trade it in or sell it outright.
- Alternate transportation reimbursement—If your Volvo is at the local dealership for repairs, you can get reimbursed for rental cars, rideshare service, or public transportation for up to $40 per day and up to 10 days total.
- Towing service—You can get reimbursed for towing services up to $100 per mechanical breakdown.
- Travel expense reimbursement—If your Volvo breaks down more than 100 miles from home, you can be reimbursed up to $500 per breakdown for food and lodging expenses.
- Fluid coverage—In conjunction with covered repairs, this replaces oils, lubricants, greases, and other necessary fluids in your Volvo.
Service Contracts for Certified Volvos
If you own a Certified by Volvo vehicle (the brand’s version of a certified pre-owned, or CPO, program), a Certified by Volvo Service Contract has a few key differences:
- Deductibles range from $0 to $100.
- Terms up to 10 years are available through the VIP Platinum plan.
- Rental car reimbursement is up to $100 per day.
How Much Does the Volvo Extended Warranty Cost?
The cost of a Volvo extended warranty from the dealer is determined by:
- The vehicle’s model, age, and mileage
- Your chosen deductible
- The coverage level you select
An older car with higher mileage is probably more expensive to cover since it’s more likely to need repairs. Also, a higher coverage level is going to be more expensive.
Keep in mind that if you finance your extended car warranty through the dealership, it could be rolled in with your car payments. That means you could be paying interest on your extended warranty.
What’s Included in a Volvo Warranty?
When you purchase a new Volvo car from the dealership, the manufacturer’s warranty covers repairs and replacements for most parts of the car during the initial ownership period. Here is what’s included in a typical factory Volvo warranty:
- New Vehicle Limited Warranty (4 years/50,000 miles)—This warranty covers repairs due to defects in materials or workmanship or parts supplied by Volvo. Essentially, any repairs needed as a result of flaws in the manufacturing process will be covered.
- Powertrain Warranty (4 years/50,000 miles)—This warranty covers the car’s major parts like the transmission, engine, and drive system supplied by Volvo.
- Volvo Lifetime Parts & Labor Warranty—This warranty covers a long list of parts that are covered if installed at an authorized Volvo dealer, such as batteries, brake pads, timing belts, filters, wiper blades, spark plugs, and more. Keep in mind that it doesn’t cover accessories, wear items, or consumables, and isn’t transferable.
- Corrosion Warranty (12 years/unlimited miles)—This warranty covers your Volvo’s sheet metal if it rusts or corrodes through and creates holes.
- Emissions Warranties—Depending on your state, these warranties range from 2 years/24,000 miles to 8 years/80,000 miles.
- Manufacturer’s Recommended Maintenance—This warranty covers regular maintenance at the 10,000-mile, 20,000-mile, and 30,000-mile marks, or up to 36,000 miles.
- Roadside Assistance Warranty (up to 4 years)—This warranty offers emergency roadside assistance, trip interruption services, and rental cars.
Your factory warranty period will eventually end, and you’ll be stuck paying for numerous repairs that cost hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars if your car isn’t covered by a Volvo extended warranty.
Is a Volvo Extended Warranty Worth It?
Determining whether it’s worth getting an extended warranty or vehicle service contract for your Volvo really boils down to how reliable that Volvo is—in other words, how likely it may break down over time.
While many consider Volvo to be one of the most reliable brands, certain industry experts say otherwise. In its 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, for example, J.D. Power ranked Volvo in 24th place out of 29 auto manufacturer brands for reliability. Volvo had a reported 245 mechanical problems per 100 vehicles, which was above the industry average of 190 problems.
RepairPal* doesn’t have a super positive view of Volvo’s reliability either, ranking in 17th place out of 32 auto brands.
*RepairPal is a trusted automotive repair and maintenance research site.
How Much Does It Cost to Repair and Maintain Volvos?
Overall, the average cost of annual repairs and maintenance for the Volvo brand is $769, according to RepairPal, but this average varies between models. The average repair cost across all brands is $652. When thinking of getting extended coverage, it’s good to research how much your own particular model may cost, and whether you’re comfortable paying that out of pocket or not.
Below are the average repair and maintenance costs per year for certain Volvo models:
- Volvo 940: $467 per year
- Volvo XC90: $851 per year
- Volvo V40: $547 per year
- Volvo V60: $1,057 per year
- Volvo S90: $522 per year
It’s also good to consider how repair costs for different car parts can be. The table below shows the average costs to replace different components in Volvos by model:
Volvo Model |
Car Part/System Replacement |
Repair Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
S60 |
$216–$241 |
|
S80 |
$597–$720 |
|
C70 |
$602–$638 |
|
V70 |
$759–$801 |
|
S60 |
$2,113–$2,354 |
|
XC40 |
$2,266–$2,349 |
While four years may seem like a long time to be covered, keep in mind that more repairs will be needed as vehicles age and experience wear and tear.
Extended Volvo Protection Benefits with CARCHEX
When you purchase a vehicle service contract* for your Volvo from CARCHEX, you get access to these excellent benefits that are more affordable and flexible than what you’d get from the dealer:
- Free Direct Quote: Get a quote quickly and easily and speak to a protection plan specialist about coverage options right away.
- Great Customer Service: Our promise to you is Customer Experience Above All, so we provide you with the information necessary to pick the best warranty. In fact, we boast an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
- Affordable Payment Plans: Our plans don’t have to have a deductible, and we offer low monthly payments, so our customers don’t need to worry about being able to afford hefty lump sums.
- Direct Payments: Instead of you footing the bill and waiting for reimbursement, CARCHEX pays your selected auto shop up front.
- Your Own Repair Facility: Instead of being limited to the Volvo dealership to repair your car, you have the flexibility to choose your repair facility, mechanic, and parts.
- No-Haggle, Low-Price, Everyday Guarantee™: We promise to give you the lowest price up front instead of making you haggle over the phone.
- Extended Auto Warranty Benefits: CARCHEX offers extras like 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and towing services. Ask your customer service representative about how you can get these benefits with your coverage.
- 30-Day Money–Back Guarantee: We back our product and services with a customer satisfaction guarantee.
*Any plans offered by CARCHEX are not extended warranties, but are often referred to by consumers as such. CARCHEX vehicle service contracts (also called “protection plans”) operate similarly to extended warranties and provide repair coverage for mechanical breakdowns after factory warranties expire.
Get an Extended Vehicle Protection Plan with CARCHEX
We believe in giving plenty of options to our customers, so we offer five different levels of Extended Vehicle Protection Plans: Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care. Within each level, you have the opportunity to customize your extended coverage plan for your Volvo. The table below highlights the major coverage details of each plan:
CARCHEX Coverage Level |
Description |
|---|---|
Titanium |
This covers all components of the vehicle except a small list of exclusions outlined in the contract. |
Platinum |
As the highest level of stated-component coverage*, this service plan covers hundreds of components across all major systems in the car. |
Powertrain Plus |
This mid-tier level covers the powertrain of your vehicle and adds on some major systems and parts, such as the A/C, and the electrical, cooling, and fuel systems. |
Powertrain |
One of the cheaper plans, the CARCHEX Powertrain plan will cover your car’s most vital and expensive components, such as the engine, transmission, drive axle, and transfer unit. |
Extra Care |
Working outside of the powertrain of your vehicle, Extra Care provides protection for other components and systems, such as steering, suspension, and the electrical and braking systems. |
*Stated-component coverage refers to any car warranty or vehicle service contract that states everything it covers within the contract—so if you don’t see the car part listed, it isn’t covered. This is in contrast to exclusionary coverage, which only lists the vehicle components it doesn’t cover in the contract.
Each plan is backed by an industry leader. Because these providers are all competing for your business, CARCHEX is able to secure you an affordable price.
Sources:
J.D. Power:
https://www.jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2024-us-vehicle-dependability-study-vds
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/reliability/volvo
RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/volvo
Better Business Bureau:
https://www.bbb.org/us/md/hunt-valley/profile/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-0011-23015869