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GWC Warranty Overview

Our GWC warranty review rates the provider 3.9 out of 5.0 for providing a variety of warranty plan options and affordable coverage. Learn more about the company.

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By:
Brogan Woodburn
By: Brogan Woodburn Senior Writer

Brogan is a Motor1.com Senior Writer based in Central Oregon. He produces in-depth auto product guides on topics spanning from auto warranties and insurance to tips on how to sell a car.

Last Updated 01/16/2024

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

  • GWC Warranty offers a range of comprehensive and stated-component coverage plans through local car dealerships.
  • One benefit of GWC Warranty plans is that they don’t require a waiting period before coverage begins, which is rare in the industry.
  • The company receives mixed customer service reviews, with some contract holders reporting issues like claims not being paid fully.

When shopping for a used car from a dealer in your area, you may come across an extended car warranty company called GWC Warranty. In this article, we take a close look at GWC Warranty reviews, coverage options, the claims process, and more. Read on to learn how GWC stacks up against the best extended car warranty providers in the industry.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.3/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Cost: 4.6/5.0
Transparency: 4.8/5.0
Customer Service: 4.3/5.0
idée Endurance is our top pick for extended warranties.
  • Best Coverage
  • Maximum Mileage: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Money-Back Guarantee: 30 days for full refund
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Coverage Options: 6 plans including maintenance option
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Exclusionary plan One-year membership for free
Powertrain plan Tire repair and replacement
Maintenance coverage with Endurance Advantage Key fob replacement
Roadside assistance Total loss protection
Towing Collision discount
Rental car $250 rewards voucher
Trip interruption coverage Endurance Protect app


Our GWC Warranty Overview And Methodology

Overall, we rate GWC Warranty 3.9 out of 5.0. Below, you can see how we rated the company in different categories. GWC’s score of 3.9 is slightly under the industry average of 4.0 for all providers we’ve reviewed.

How We Rated Endurance Warranty

To give you the most up-to-date information, we update our review standards several times each year. Learn how our warranty research contributed to GWC Warranty’s review scores in the following main categories:

Industry Standing

We give GWC 4.3 out of 5.0 stars in this category due to its 29 years in business, positive rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and various industry awards. The company was named a Recommended Best Buy for Independent Dealers by Motor Trend® and was named to Auto Remarketing’s Power 300 for four straight years.

The average industry standing across all providers was 4.1 out of 5.0. This puts GWC Warranty above the average of 44 providers in this category.

Coverage

GWC Warranty earns a 4.2-star coverage rating from our team. The company offers a range of exclusionary and stated-component coverage plans through local dealerships, and available plans may vary based on the dealer you visit. Its plans also include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage. 

The average coverage rating of all the providers in our review is 4.0 stars.

Cost

We give GWC Warranty a 3.8 out of 5.0-star rating for cost, which falls below the average rating in our review of 4.2 stars. The cost of a vehicle service contract from GWC Warranty is highly variable as plans are only available through dealerships. What you pay for GWC Warranty plan will depend on several factors such as your vehicle type, your car’s mileage, and the coverage level you select.

Transparency

Our team uses pretty simple criteria when it comes to transparency. If a warranty provider offers a money-back guarantee and allows you to view sample contracts on coverage plan pages, we give the company a high transparency rating. GWC does provide sample contracts but doesn’t list any information about a money-back guarantee, so it earns 3.5 out of 5.0 stars, which is the average of all the providers we’ve reviewed.

Customer Service

GWC Warranty earns a 3.5-star customer service rating from our team. This is due in part to its mixed customer reviews on sites like the BBB. Additionally, the company lacks convenient features like online quote capabilities, a mobile app, and more. It does offer an online chat feature, however, which can make interacting with the provider a simpler process.

The average customer service score of all providers we rated is 3.7.

Is A GWC Extended Warranty Worth It?

GWC Warranty is a vehicle service contract provider based in Norcross, Georgia. It advertises itself as providing easy-to-understand, hassle-free contracts through its slogan: “No worries, just drive.”

GWC Warranty plans are sold through local dealers and backed by the American Bankers Insurance Company, which has an A+ rating for financial strength from AM Best. Since its founding, GWC Warranty says it has paid out over $3.5 billion in claims.

GWC Warranty Pros And Cons

GWC Warranty Pros And Cons

Pros Day-one, mile-one coverage Multiple coverage options Backed by an AM Best A-rated insurance company Strong industry reputation
Cons Low reimbursement rates Many customers complain about claims denial

GWC Extended Warranty Coverage

GWC offers two types of extended auto warranty coverage for new and used vehicles: exclusionary coverage and stated-component coverage. Contract terms can last up to 200,000 miles, which is relatively high for the industry.

For used cars, GWC Warranty contracts include Day-One, Mile-One coverage. Most extended warranty providers have a coverage waiting period of 30 days and 1,000 miles, but with GWC, coverage begins as soon as you sign your contract. For new cars, coverage can be set to begin as soon as the factory warranty expires.

All GWC contracts are transferable and cancelable, though cancellation details vary by dealership and contract.

GWC Exclusionary Coverage

Exclusionary coverage means that all vehicle components are covered except for a list of exceptions specifically stated in the contract. This type of extended coverage is similar to a manufacturer’s bumper-to-bumper warranty and covers nearly all parts of your vehicle.

Items that are typically excluded in this type of coverage are:

  • Wear-and-tear items such as brake pads, shoes, wiper blades, and clutch linings
  • Upholstery and interior hinges and handles
  • Exterior trim and body items
  • Bulbs and fuses
  • Damage caused by neglect, improper use, vandalism, or an accident

GWC Stated-Component Coverage

Unlike exclusionary contracts, stated-component coverage contracts list all parts that are covered under warranty. GWC Warranty offers a stated-component powertrain warranty that covers only the engine, transmission, drive axles, and transfer case. 

GWC Warranty Extras

Included with all GWC extended warranty contracts are the following benefits:

  • 24-hour roadside assistance
  • Rental car reimbursement
  • Trip interruption reimbursement

These benefits come standard with most vehicle service contracts, including plans from manufacturers, dealers, and third-party companies.


How Much Does A GWC Extended Warranty Cost?

The cost of an extended auto warranty depends on your car’s make, model, year, mileage, and the type of GWC Warranty coverage you want. Because of this variability and the fact that you can only purchase coverage through local dealerships, cost information for the company’s plans is hard to come by without getting a quote directly from your dealer.

In January 2024, our team surveyed extended warranty contract holders and were able to connect with four GWC contract holders. Two of those drivers reported paying under $1,000 for coverage, one reported paying between $1,000 and $2,000, and one reported paying between $2,000 and $3,000. This is a very limited sample size, so it’s tough to draw any conclusions. But these consumers’ experiences lead us to believe that GWC may fall within or below the industry average.

To give you an idea of what you might pay for extended warranty coverage across the industry, our team mystery shopped with more than 40 independent extended warranty providers and found average monthly rates to be between $120 and $135. The total price of a warranty depends on many factors but averages around $3,000, according to our research.

With a warranty from a company like GWC, you will benefit from just one monthly payment if you buy the service contract from the dealer and roll the cost into your auto loan. However, note that this could increase your extended warranty cost because you will pay interest on the contract. Most independent warranty companies offer zero-interest financing.

What Affects GWC Warranty Costs

There are a number of other factors that will affect your GWC extended warranty cost as well. 

These include:

  • Vehicle type, age, and mileage: If you own a more expensive vehicle or an older model, it will be more expensive to cover.
  • Coverage level: The more parts your contract covers, the more expensive it will be.
  • Coverage length: Longer contracts typically cost more.
  • Deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your premium will be.

How To Get A Quote And File A Claim

GWC Warranty does not sell contracts directly to customers, so you can only get a quote and purchase a GWC extended warranty through a participating dealership.

Filing A Claim With GWC Warranty

Once you are a customer, you can quickly look up your own coverage details and nearby repair facilities on the GWC Warranty website.

If you experience a mechanical breakdown, take your vehicle to any repair shop certified by the National Center for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). Next, have the licensed repair facility call GWC to initiate the claims process. GWC must approve your claim before any repair work begins.

If your claim is approved, GWC will pay the repair facility directly.


GWC Warranty Customer Reviews

GWC Warranty reviews are somewhat mixed. The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) with accreditation. When we evaluated GWC Warranty last year, it didn’t have accreditation, so this is a good sign. It has received just over 100 complaints in the last 3 years, which is low considering the volume of customers it has. However, GWC Warranty’s BBB customer review score is very low, at 1.1 out of 5.0 stars – though this is relatively standard in the extended warranty industry.

Positive GWC Warranty reviews focused on the overall value the contract provided for covered repairs and the company’s good customer service. According to negative GWC Warranty reviews, some customers encountered low reimbursement rates for their mechanic’s labor fees. In some cases, GWC did not pay the entire bill for a covered repair.

Our team frequently conducts consumer surveys to better understand satisfaction with extended warranties. In a recent January 2024 survey, we were able to connect with a few GWC contract holders. Here’s what the drivers of a Chevy Tahoe and Ford Fusion had to say, respectively:

“Very satisfied. It has come in handy a few times… We had a transmission issue that was resolved through [use] of our warranty.”

“Overall I would say good [and] wasn’t hard to use when needed. [I submitted a claim] and they had it handled in no time. I was pretty happy with how it all went down.”


GWC Warranty: Bottom Line

GWC Warranty is a legitimate extended warranty provider with a solid industry standing. However, aside from its Day-One, Mile-One coverage, not much about the provider puts it ahead of the pack. Coverage options are standard, and because contracts are sold through independent dealers, costs may fluctuate greatly depending on location.

Finally, GWC Warranty reviews are not very promising. Many customer complaints have noted that GWC reimbursement rates are not in line with average prices and the company is quick to deny any claims to customers who don’t save their maintenance receipts.


Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties

GWC Warranty isn’t your only option for extended warranty coverage. We recommend drivers consider contracts with Endurance, Carchex, and Olive. In order to find the best price for an extended warranty, you should reach out for quotes from multiple providers.

Endurance

Endurance is our top choice for an extended car warranty. It offers high-level customer service, bumper-to-bumper contracts, and some of the best benefits of any provider. All Endurance contracts include a free year of enrollment in the Endurance Elite Benefits program, which gives motorists perks like:

  • 24/7 roadside assistance
  • Key fob replacement
  • Two tire repairs or replacements
  • Total loss protection
  • Collision discount

Learn more about Endurance by reading our full Endurance warranty review, and reach out for a free quote by clicking below.

Carchex

Carchex is a longstanding leader in the extended car warranty industry. It has partnerships with noted experts like Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book. The company has been around for over 20 years and has steadily built a reputation for quality customer service, which is important in an extended warranty provider.

To learn more about Carchex coverage plans, benefits, and costs, read our full Carchex review. Or, see how much a Carchex contract would cost for your vehicle by clicking below for a free quote.

Olive

Olive is an upstart extended warranty company hoping to pull the industry into the modern era. The provider’s chief calling card is its simplicity. 

Its digital-first interface simplifies the process of filing a claim, while below-average rates make payments easier to bear. Add on Olive’s lack of a waiting period before filing a claim, and the company appears ready to shake up the extended auto warranty space.

Best Value 4.4/5

There’s no waiting period for coverage with this extended warranty company.


GWC Warranty: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about GWC Warranty:

What does the GWC Warranty cover?

GWC Warranty offers a variety of coverage options, including an exclusionary plan that covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions.

Is GWC Warranty legit?

GWC Warranty is a legitimate company that sells extended service plans at dealerships across the country. To date, it has paid out over $3.5 billion in claims.

What is the phone number for GWC Warranty claim?

You can file a claim with GWC Warranty by calling 800-482-7357 and dialing extension 199 for the claims department.