Zurich Warranty Review

The next time you visit a dealer to purchase a used car, they might present you with a Zurich warranty. The problem is, you might not have much time to decide if it’s a good deal in the heat of the moment.

Our Zurich auto warranty review dives into the details of this provider so that you can be a more informed car buyer. We’ve reviewed several of the best extended auto warranty companies on the market and encourage you to call around and get quotes from multiple providers to find the plan that fits your budget.

All of these companies have multiple payment choices. Compare quotes from leading extended warranty providers to find the best option.

Zurich North America has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with accreditation. It has two stars from customer reviews on the BBB, though the BBB tends to attract more negative reviews than positive ones.

From what we could tell, there aren’t any glaring customer service issues, which is good. We’ll give a few example reviews here.

Positive Zurich Reviews

“The warranty covered everything in full and paid for itself! I am 100% fully satisfied!”

– Matt M., BBB

“The process was streamlined and very easy. Brought my car to the dealer, they fixed it, I received it back the next day and only had to pay a $100 deductible.”

– Quincy C., BBB

Negative Zurich Reviews

“Terrible misleading company! Avoid their car service contracts like the plague. Their paperwork and pamphlets that come with the contract are misleading and I would have never bought the warranty if I would have known that. Stay away. Go with someone else. Now I am out $1,200…”

– Chandler S., BBB

“Bought an extended warranty from [a] GM dealer. Will not cover two inches of rain water in it.”

– Frank G., BBB

This second review seems to be about a common issue: many drivers expect certain things to be covered under the Zurich warranty when they actually aren’t. However, the misunderstanding may result from going through the coverage quickly at a dealership.

Based in Switzerland, Zurich offers a huge range of car insurance, automotive and financial products for businesses and consumers. Its subsidiary Zurich North American Insurance Company sells extended warranty plans exclusively through several dealerships in the United States. Here are a few quick facts about the insurance company:

• Coverage applies to most vehicles less than 15 years old and fewer than 150,000 miles.
• Drivers can visit any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) for repairs.
• Plans are cancellable and transferable.

Zurich warranty coverage options range from basic to high-level and come with a few perks. The plans may require a small deductible, usually between $0 to $200, though the exact choices aren’t listed online. The three main extended warranty plans are Powertrain, Standard, and Comprehensive. Here are the details on coverage:

Zurich’s extended Powertrain warranty coverage will repair basic parts that are expensive to fix. The Standard plan adds coverage for more essential systems, and Zurich’s Comprehensive plan is similar to a factory warranty.

These are the plans currently listed on Zurich’s website. We also found older dealership brochures detailing a Preferred plan that fits in between Standard and Comprehensive. This plan may still be available from some dealers, and more plans may not be listed online.

Another thing to know is that Zurich offers vehicle service contracts for motorcycles and other power sports vehicles. Not every company will cover specialty vehicles.

Zurich Warranty Benefits

One thing that sets Zurich extended auto warranties apart from other options is that you can go to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs. When you buy an extended warranty from a manufacturer, you’ll have to return to your dealer for vehicle repairs. With a Zurich warranty, you aren’t tied to a specific shop or network of shops.

Each plan also comes with the following perks:

• Emergency roadside assistance: Covers towing, spare tire installation, fluid delivery, jump-starts and lockout services
• Rental car reimbursement: Pays rental car costs up to a limit in the case of a covered repair
• Trip interruption: Reimburses lodging and food costs for three days up to a certain amount if your car is disabled because of a covered repair more than 100 miles from home

Zurich Extended Warranty Claims Process

If your check engine light comes on, or if your car breaks down, the first step is to take it to any ASE-certified mechanic. Show them your coverage booklet and give them the claims number for Zurich so they can verify that the part is covered and receive an authorization number.

Once Zurich authorizes the repair, the shop will move ahead with the job. The mechanic will give you an invoice after the repair, which you will forward to Zurich to officially file a claim. You’ll pay a deductible, and Zurich will pay the repair facility directly for the work. You might also have to pay for non-covered parts if those need to be repaired at the same time.

Downsides to Zurich Auto Warranties

While it can be convenient to purchase an extended warranty at a dealership, the fact that dealers only offer the Zurich warranty is a limitation.

As an example, let’s say you’re in the process of purchasing a used car. You take it for a test drive, look at the service history, and feel good about the vehicle. Next, you sit down with the salesperson, and they tell you about the Zurich auto warranty. If you haven’t heard of third-party warranty plans, you might think Zurich was your only option.

You might feel a bit of pressure to buy the warranty right there, and the salesperson will probably encourage you to sign the deal instead of leaving to research the warranty company.

The salesperson will have a brochure detailing the Zurich extended warranty options for you to compare them, but that’s not the same as calling around and comparing different warranty companies. That would not be easy to do at the dealership when you’re in the middle of signing papers.

Zurich has a huge menu of auto products besides vehicle service contracts. These include:

• Zurich Shield Warranty
• Select Care Plan
• Guaranteed Auto Protection (GAP)
• Road Hazard Tire and Wheel
• Prepaid Maintenance
• Environmental Protection Plan
• Universal Security Guard
• Premier Dent Repair Coverage
• Key Protection
• Simoniz GlassCoat
• Windshield Repair

If an item can wear out or break, Zurich offers some coverage.

Prices aren’t available online for Zurich warranty plans. Instead, you need to contact a dealer to get an exact price for your situation. Extended warranty costs are usually based on your car, its condition, and the length of coverage you want.

Our research found some example prices drivers give on different Zurich extended warranty forum threads. One driver was quoted $3,338 for a 10-year/120,000-mile Comprehensive plan in 2019. Another was quoted $2,612 for a 10-year/85,000-mile Comprehensive plan in 2017. Remember that these are single cases, and you will probably find different prices.

So, are Zurich warranties any good? Well, it seems like the company has a good range of coverage options and pays for covered vehicle repairs. However, plans are a bit expensive and only available from dealerships, which is a limitation. Overall, we rate Zurich at 6.7 out of 10.0.

If you are happy with the price and coverage you find from a dealer, a Zurich warranty could be worth it. But it’s always a good idea to look at other warranty options. There’s no requirement that you purchase a Zurich warranty on the day you buy your car, anyway, so you can always go back to the dealer and add a plan.

Our review team found that a few other companies should be at your list for extended warranties. CarShield, the most popular extended coverage provider, offers six plan types and covers up to 300,000 miles. CARCHEX and Endurance are two more reputable companies that pay claims directly and allow drivers to visit any ASE-certified mechanic.

All of these companies have multiple payment choices. Compare quotes from leading extended warranty providers to find the best option.

Zurich Warranty: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions on Zurich warranty

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:

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

*Data accurate at time of publication.