Gold Standard Warranty

A warranty from Gold Standard Automotive Network seems like the best of both worlds: It covers auto repairs as well as routine maintenance. But is it too good to be true? Below, we’ll review the company’s reputation, coverage, and customer service ratings to find out.

Our team of experts has reviewed plans from across the industry to find the best extended car warranty available. To see how our top choices stack up against Gold Standard Automotive Network, get a few free, personalized quotes.

At the end of the day, Gold Standard Automotive Network is a good company. Judging from customer reviews, it pays for repairs and maintenance covered by its plans. Gold Standard Automotive Network works to resolve any complaints that come up on the BBB, as well. However, you should check that your contract has coverage limits that work for you if you decide to purchase a plan from this provider.

Gold Standard Automotive Network (GSAN) sells vehicle service contracts that include maintenance coverage. Prepaid maintenance coverage is less common in the world of extended warranties, since most plans usually only cover mechanical breakdowns.

The company is based in Draper, Utah, and has been around for about 15 years. It has great reviews on both the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Google for the most part.

Gold Standard Automotive Network offers plans mainly through participating dealerships and agents. Prospective customers can contact the company online and get connected with a dealer in their area that sells plans. Gold Standard Automotive Network products are underwritten and administered by Auto Night Motor Club and other affiliates.

Looking at Gold Standard Automotive Network coverage is a bit like staring down a large restaurant buffet. There are many options, so let’s break it down. We’ll start with the repair coverage and then move on to maintenance benefits.

Repair Coverage

Gold Standard Automotive Network offers six types of coverage that range from powertrain to exclusionary coverage.

• Gold: This is Gold Standard’s exclusionary plan, which is comparable to an original manufacturer’s warranty. It covers any factory-installed part unless the part is specifically excluded. It doesn’t cover damage from corrosion, lack of maintenance, accidents, or the environment.
• Silver: This plan provides coverage for more parts than the lower-tier Bronze plan in the cooling, electrical, fuel, and brake systems. It also covers the intake manifold gasket.
• Bronze: This plan covers the same items from the lower-tier Powertrain 10K Plus plan, but it doesn’t list a maximum term.
• Powertrain 10K Plus: This plan adds coverage for more cooling, suspension, and fuel system components. It also covers the cruise control switches and actuator, and it boosts maintenance coverage limits for certain items. The maximum term is seven years.
• Powertrain 10K: This plan includes everything from the lower-tier Powertrain contracts plus more air conditioning, transmission, and electrical components. It also adds coverage for steering, suspension, and brakes. The maximum term is seven years.
• Powertrain: Short powertrain contracts up to two years cover the engine, transmission, turbocharger, drive axle, cooling, and fuel tank. Longer contracts up to seven years add coverage for the air conditioning, fuel system, seals/gaskets, and minimal electrical parts. This plan does not come with rental car coverage.

Other exclusions common to all Gold Standard Automotive Network plans include:

• Maintenance items not specifically listed
• Wear and tear
• Cosmetic damage
• Recalls
• Components that haven’t failed or worn beyond manufacturer tolerances
• Air or water leaks

Interestingly, GSAN does offer an option for salvage title vehicles, which is very rare in the industry.

Maintenance Benefits

All contracts come with maintenance services, which include:

• Three oil and filter changes per year ($32 per oil change and $45 per oil/filter change)
• Brake pads ($85)
• Brake shoes ($135)
• Annual tire rotation ($30 per year)
• New battery ($100)
• Annual alignment check ($20 per year)
• Annual engine diagnostic ($40 per year)
• Front wiper blades ($20)
• State safety inspections ($50)
• 30,000-mile service ($20)
• 60,000-mile service ($40)
• 90,000-mile service ($60)
• Cooling system maintenance ($50)

That’s a lot of maintenance coverage. Let’s say you bought a seven-year plan from the company. Theoretically, Gold Standard Automotive Network would provide almost $2,000 in maintenance if you used every included service over that time.

Gold Standard Automotive Network Extras

Besides the maintenance items we covered above, Gold Standard Automotive Network plans come with the following perks:

• 24/7 roadside assistance
• $500 reimbursement for auto insurance deductible
• Rental car reimbursement ($35 per day for up to five days)
• $2,000 benefit toward vehicle replacement at the selling dealership in the case of a total loss

Gold Standard Automotive Network Downsides

There is a downside to being able to get coverage for any type of car from any year. Some contracts will inevitably skimp on coverage. One driver who reviewed Gold Standard Automotive Network on the BBB said their plan had the following maximum limits:

• $1,600 transmission repair maximum
• $2,400 engine repair maximum
• $1,200 transfer case maximum

All extended warranties have some type of maximum limit. Most companies use the value of your car, and others set additional limits like $10,000 or $15,000. However, the limits listed above are low compared to other providers, especially since there are specific amounts for different systems.

The driver had encountered a transmission repair in excess of $1,600 and was surprised the limit was so low. According to RepairPal, an entire transmission replacement can cost over $5,000.

It’s not hard to imagine an engine repair worth more than $2,400, either. The company’s own brochure says an engine overhaul can cost $4,800. It’s always important to read the fine print to avoid surprises like these.

Vehicle service contract prices are affected by your car’s make, model, and mileage. The higher the mileage, the higher the price for coverage because cars generally need more maintenance and repairs as time goes on.

A couple of reviewers on the BBB listed prices they paid for Gold Standard Automotive Network plans. Keep in mind these are not full quotes, and you will probably find different prices if you get a quote yourself.

The first reviewer had a 2002 Acura with 82,000 miles, which they purchased in 2020. They bought a three-year GSAN plan for $2,295. That works out to a price of $765 per year of coverage.

The second reviewer bought a 3-year/30,000-mile plan for $2,700 but didn’t give any information on their vehicle. That plan had a price of $900 per year of coverage.

In our research, we found the top extended warranty companies price their plans between $350 and $650 per year of coverage. We’d consider the prices from GSAN a bit high. However, it’s important to note that your price will vary on a variety of different factors, which can be seen in the graphic below.

Gold Standard Automotive Network doesn’t have a quote form on its website. The main way to purchase a plan is to go through an agent at a dealership. If you come across one of the company’s plans the next time you buy a car, make sure you have enough time to read through the contract before purchase.

If you experience a breakdown while you have a Gold Standard plan, the first thing to do is to get your car towed to a licensed repair shop. You can go to any licensed repair facility in the U.S. or Canada. Next, you need to file a claim and connect Gold Standard Automotive Network to the repair shop. All car repairs must be authorized before any work can be done. The company pays repairs directly to the shop.

Be aware that Gold Standard Automotive Network is not responsible for any delays due to scheduling or parts not being in stock at the shop. The company will only cover rental car costs for actual hours of mechanical labor.

Gold Standard’s website doesn’t list a money-back guarantee. Plans are transferable and may require a small fee.

Gold Standard Automotive Network has an A+ rating from the BBB. It has a high customer rating of 4.08 stars, as well. The company has 4.4 stars from Google reviews.

Most positive reviews are about claims being handled quickly and smoothly, though there are a few complaints about the claims process. Here are some examples:

“I was able to get my car worked on without any hassle. Speaking to everyone in customer service has been great. I’m so happy I purchased this plan.”
– Danielle S., BBB

“My daughter’s Jeep had an issue. The dealer was able to get approval quickly and the whole process from drop off to approval to repair and pick up took one day.”
– Scott, BBB

“ I just want my van fixed and returned to me. Two months is way too long to wait for a repair.”
– Ole O., BBB

The main drawback to Gold Standard Automotive Network is that you have to purchase a plan at a dealership. In contrast, there are many reputable providers that offer extended warranties online and over the phone. Buying an extended warranty is a big decision, so you should look at as many quotes and plans as you can. Compare different quotes from top providers to find the best price.

Endurance: 4.6 Stars

After comparing plans from many leading providers, we recognized Endurance for having the Best Coverage overall. Endurance administers its own plans, so you don’t have to work with a middleman when you call to make a claim. The company has a 4.4-star rating from reviews on Trustpilot.

Endurance offers six plans that can cover new vehicles as well as old models with more than 200,000 miles. Plans also come with 1 year free of Elite Benefits, which includes 24/7 roadside assistance, total loss protection, tire repair/replacement, and more.

Get a free, personalized quote from Endurance below.

Protect My Car: 4.4 Stars

If you want to have peace of mind that regular maintenance is covered, Protect My Car is another reputable provider to check out. The company has a 4.02-star rating from customer reviews on the BBB and 4.4 stars from reviews on Trustpilot.

Protect My Car offers three standard vehicle service agreements and three Ambassador Maintenance Plans, which cover oil changes and tire rotations. You can compare vehicle warranty plans from Protect My Car by getting a quick online quote.

How We Rate Warranty Providers

Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of extended auto warranty providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:

• Reputation: It’s important that an extended car warranty company is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.

• Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits like roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.

• Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.

• Transparency: Our team evaluates the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
• Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.