Should You Buy a Ram Extended Warranty? | Autance

What IS Included

The basics of the extended warranty try to replicate the main coverage you get with the factory warranty from a Ram dealership. The automaker’s vehicle protection plans offer a lot in terms of factory defect coverage with a few extra perks, like roadside assistance, included in the package.

Basic Coverage

The primary coverage of the Ram extended service contract keeps most of the parts covered on a vehicle, just like the original bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. The extended warranty actually comes in two separate Mopar Vehicle Protection Plans: Maximum Care and Added Care Plus.  

For a basic powertrain-like warranty, the Added Care Plus plan lasts up to eight years (minimum five years) and 60,000, 75,000, 85,000, 100,000, or 125,000 miles beyond the original warranty. This warranty plan uses genuine Mopar replacement parts and services done by technicians who are certified on vehicles like the Ram truck (and older models of the Dodge Ram). 

As an inclusionary warranty, the Added Care Plus lists the parts it covers. These parts include major drivetrain components like the engine, transmission, rear-wheel/front-wheel/all-wheel drive systems, steering, brakes, electrical, and more. 

Ram gives drivers the option to expand the number of parts covered with its premium plan. The Maximum Care plan lasts two to eight years and 60,000 or 125,000 miles and includes almost everything on a vehicle. In fact, the only things it doesn’t cover tend to be wear items (i.e. brake pads and tires), body and paint items, and routine maintenance services. 

Extras

Ram includes a number of extra perks that can help you save money when issues arise during a trip or vacation. Most of these services only apply in particular conditions, like being a minimum distance of 100 miles away from home, so it helps to look up the particulars of the coverage for the complete information.

Both warranty plan options include a basic trip interruption program that offers roadside assistance like towing, rental car reimbursement, and basic food and lodging support while the vehicle is getting fixed (if the work must be done overnight and the issue is caused by a factory defect).

The major thing to note is that these extra perks expire around the 100,000-mile mark. This means the additional services will end sooner than the extended warranty itself if you go past 100,000 miles while your vehicle is covered by the extended warranty. 

What’s NOT Included

Given the average warranty costs of the Ram service contracts, it helps to know what’s not included in the warranty coverage so you aren’t surprised in a worst-case scenario.

General Maintenance Costs

Many drivers naturally assume that a standard factory or extended warranty will help them save money on maintenance costs that are periodically needed to keep the vehicle running. Unfortunately, this is usually not the case unless the warranty includes a basic maintenance plan.

The Ram extended warranty plans provide minimal support for factory-recommended maintenance. While it does use genuine replacement parts, this is usually done when unexpected issues arise. Therefore, you will likely have to pay out-of-pocket for routine service. 

Incidental and Accidental Damage

If your Ram vehicle is damaged from bad weather, vandalism, or normal wear and tear, you won’t get much support from the factory or extended warranties. Ram follows the standard warranty procedure of covering issues it causes due to poor workmanship or faulty materials. Other types of damage, on the other hand, will need to be covered by a third-party provider with the right comprehensive coverage or auto insurance. 

The Good

Ram takes a slightly different approach with its warranty coverage compared to most automakers, which is what we like. Offering two primary warranty plans with a number of time and mileage length options means there is more potential for customization when buying a plan for the first time. This is somewhat rare for automakers that tend to offer just a single expansion plan for the factory warranty.

Offering an extended powertrain or comprehensive warranty gives owners the ability to select which component coverage is best for their particular vehicle. Since all vehicles are different in what they need, this makes it easier to tailor the extended warranty without sacrificing too much in terms of extra perks. 

This is also where the Ram coverage shines: additional services, like roadside assistance and trip interruption protection. Since these extras are offered with both warranty plans, you won’t have to make the ultimate decision just based on which plan gives you some extra value while traveling on the road. 

The Bad

The major thing we dislike with the Ram extended warranty is how the automaker has structured its eligibility and service caps. Basically, the automaker has decreased the overall value by setting up some pretty strict vehicle eligibility limits. In order to get coverage, you can only add the extended warranty if the original powertrain coverage is still in effect. Otherwise, you’re out of luck.

There are also a few services that end more quickly than the main bulk of the extended warranty. As mentioned before, the main roadside assistance and trip interruption program, for example, will end 20,000 miles before the maximum range of the main warranty options. 

Takeaway Value

While it has its limitations, Ram’s extended warranty offers a lot of potential value depending on the specific terms and plans you choose. The amount of customization, alone, is worth checking out the details of coverage if you really want to be sure you get the right warranty for your vehicle as it ages.