If you’re searching for information on CNA National Warranty (CNA) plans, chances are you’ve already been offered or even bought a plan from a dealership salesperson touting its benefits. So you might ask, is everything you’ve been told true? Is CNA as good as they say it is?
The provider offers a wide array of vehicle protection options, but its plans are only available through dealerships. This makes it difficult to shop for CNA warranty plans or compare its many coverages. In fact, CNA doesn’t advertise directly to consumers at all. Instead, it takes the role of an industry supplier.
Coverage might vary by dealer, too, but CNA keeps information like this close to the chest, so we can’t know that for sure. We also don’t have access to CNA’s contracts, so carefully read the fine print if you’re interested in a CNA plan you’ve been offered — regardless of whether you’ve been in your dealership’s financing room for hours already and the salesperson is impatiently clicking their pen.
If you’re willing to jump through a few additional hoops in your extended warranty shopping experience, you’ll find that CNA offers long-term protection for all vehicle types — even electric vehicles (EVs) — and offers a host of optional safeguards to maximize policy effectiveness. Find out if it’s a fit for you as we discuss coverage, cost and how it compares to some of the best extended car warranty companies in the industry.
Our thoughts on CNA National Warranty
CNA National Warranty vehicle service contracts come in a variety of coverage amounts and lengths and may be specialized for the car you drive, whether it’s a new EV or a certified pre-owned (CPO) car. Every CNA plan also includes benefits like towing and emergency roadside assistance, offering additional peace of mind when you’re far from home.
For its flagship warranty, you can choose from four levels of coverage — from basic powertrain protection to exclusionary plans that cover every vehicle component that isn’t specifically listed on the policy.
| Category | CNA National Rating | Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
| Overall rating | 4.2 | 4.1 |
| Market standing | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| Coverage | 4.9 | 4.2 |
| Cost | 3.7 | 4.0 |
| Trustworthiness | 3.8 | 4.0 |
| Customer service | 4.2 | 4.0 |
What we like about CNA National Warranty
CNA National Warranty offers all the coverage options you’d expect from a major warranty provider. The company also features numerous add-ons that give drivers extra peace of mind, such as guaranteed asset protection (GAP), which covers the difference between your car’s worth and how much you owe on it in the event of a total loss.
We also like CNA’s long history and strong reputation in the extended auto warranty industry. Based in Scottsdale, Arizona, CNA National Warranty Corporation was founded in 1982 and has been a partner of the American International Automobile Dealers Association since 1995.
CNA National Warranty has an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The company has also won many Dealers’ Choice Awards from Auto Dealer Today magazine.
What we don’t like about CNA National Warranty
CNA vehicle service contracts are difficult to shop for since they are available only through participating auto dealerships. When we secret shopped the brand online, we found it easy to get overwhelmed by the many plans and optional protections scattered across its website.
Because CNA’s plans might vary among dealerships, CNA doesn’t offer specific plan details or pricing information online. This makes it difficult for consumers to gauge the value of the product and compare it with other providers without first learning about it at your local dealership.
You’ll generally interact face-to-face with a salesperson early on whether you’re looking to protect a car you already own or you’re freshly exhausted from a long vehicle purchase process. This makes it easier to agree to terms you don’t fully understand or agree with simply to exit a potentially high-pressure situation or to justify the time and effort you’ve invested so far.
Compare top auto warranty companies
CNA National Warranty didn’t meet our standards to become a top-rated auto warranty provider, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t provide value for certain needs and situations. If you want to skip to our top recommendations, check out our top-rated warranty providers below:
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Max Mileage | BBB Rating | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90–$115 | 200,000 | N/A | |||
| $82–$112 | 150,000 | N/A | |||
| $130–$150 | 250,000 | N/A | |||
| N/A | 250,000 | N/A | |||
| $120–$140 | 300,000 | A | |||
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Company | Rating | Monthly Cost | Max Mileage | BBB Rating | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| $90–$115 | 200,000 | N/A | |||
| $82–$112 | 150,000 | N/A | |||
| $130–$150 | 250,000 | N/A | |||
| N/A | 250,000 | N/A | |||
| $120–$140 | 300,000 | A | |||
| N/A | N/A | N/A |
On July 31, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that CarShield must pay $10 million to resolve charges that its advertisements and telemarketing for vehicle service contracts have been deceptive and misleading. FTC also claims that CarShield deceptively represented that all repairs were covered under a plan, consumers were entitled to a rental car at no cost and consumers could use the repair facility of their choice. In response, CarShield released a statement indicating that its marketing efforts now include additional details about its plans and coverage, including a link to its sample contracts so consumers can review plans in full before buying. USA TODAY Homefront is reviewing this information and will reevaluate our CarShield scores within the coming weeks.
What does CNA National Warranty cover?
It’s tough to define CNA warranty coverage because its plans are sold through dealerships and the options you have available to you may vary depending on your car’s make and model, your protection needs and the dealership you go to. To give you an idea of what to expect, these are the basic categories of CNA’s auto warranty options:
- Z2 Service Contract: This is the heart of CNA’s warranty coverage with four levels of auto protection to choose from. Plans range from basic powertrain coverage that protects the engine, transmission and drive axles to comprehensive coverage that mimics a factory warranty.
- EV Service Contract: A recent introduction to CNA’s converge options, this EV service contract specializes exclusively in battery-powered EVs. It comes in four coverage tiers: Standard Protect, Premier Protect, Elite Protect and Elite Protect with Battery.
- Term Protect Service Contract: This plan is part service contract and part maintenance plan with many different lengths and coverage types.
- Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP): This optional protection covers some or all of the difference between the actual value of your vehicle and what you owe on it in the event of a covered total loss from accident or theft. GAP waivers are addendums to automotive loans, so you must take this coverage during the financing transaction when you purchase your car through your dealership.
- Certified Warranty: CNA works with some dealers to create custom warranty plans for CPO vehicles. Coverage and term lengths vary by dealership. You can purchase additional CNA service contracts to “wrap around” your certified warranty.
- Lifetime Limited Powertrain Warranty and Wrap: Your dealer may offer a lifetime limited powertrain warranty. If so, this wrap coverage enhances that protection by covering additional elements of your car’s powertrain for as long as you own it.
CNA also offers a suite of ancillary products that can help protect your car’s interior and exterior. These products are designed to maintain your vehicle’s aesthetics, have no deductible if you file a claim and are transferable to the next owner. They include the following options:
- Interior and exterior protection
- Paintless dent repair
- Rust inhibitor and undercoating protection
- Theft deterrent
- Tire and wheel
- Windshield protection
CNA National Warranty added benefits
CNA offers the following benefits with all four levels of its Z2 Service Contracts:
- Rental car reimbursement (when your vehicle is receiving covered repairs)
- Travel and lodging reimbursement (for covered mechanical breakdowns more than 100 miles from home)
- Roadside assistance (including towing reimbursement)
- Repair shop flexibility (along with your dealership, thousands of repair facilities in the U.S. and Canada honor CNA warranties)
The Term Protect Service Contract includes the above benefits and adds limp-along assistance for EVs. This involves delivering a mobile charge to your electric vehicle if your battery is too depleted to continue driving. This EV-specific benefit isn’t mentioned on the EV Service Contract page of CNA’s website, which is another example of how haphazard and cluttered it feels to gather basic information about the provider’s plans.
CNA National Warranty exclusions
Exclusions from a CNA National Warranty plan depend on the dealership and specific coverage level. In general, wear-and-tear components like brake pads, wiper blades and tires will not be covered by CNA warranties.
CNA National Warranty terms and conditions
You’ll need to visit a dealership that sells CNA warranties to get specific terms and conditions of the company’s plans. Generally speaking, the provider offers a host of options regarding how much coverage you need and how long you want your vehicle protected.
How much does CNA National Warranty cost?
The only way to know how much a CNA National Warranty plan will cost you is to get a quote through your dealer. There is no online quote tool or pricing information on CNA’s website since it doesn’t market to the general public.
In general, the cost of an auto warranty depends on a variety of factors, such as your vehicle’s age and mileage. The older your car or the more miles it has, the more likely it is to need costly repairs.
Use these criteria to estimate the price of a CNA National Warranty vehicle service contract if you haven’t already received figures from your dealer:
- Coverage level: Exclusionary plans that offer bumper-to-bumper coverage (similar to a manufacturer’s warranty) cost more than basic powertrain warranty plans.
- Deductible: The higher your deductible, the lower your monthly payments will be, and vice versa. Be sure to consider how much you can pay out of pocket before selecting your plan’s deductible.
- Vehicle make and mode: Cars with high average repair costs or low reliability ratings have higher warranty costs.
If you do have dealership pricing information, we urge you to compare it to quotes from other reputable providers to better understand the value of the CNA plan. To give you a ballpark estimate, we got quotes from the top extended warranty companies. We found the average total cost for an extended warranty across different levels of plans is $2,845.
Customer thoughts on CNA National Warranty
CNA National Warranty appears to be generally well-liked by its customers, earning mostly positive customer reviews online. It’s rated well on Google Reviews at 3.8 out of 5.0 stars based on over 670 reviews, which is a good score in this industry.
Positive CNA National warranty reviews mention fast claims processing and payment, which is a good sign when it comes to finding a reliable and reputable extended car warranty provider. Customer complaints about the provider often revolve around repairs that weren’t covered, which is why it’s essential to carefully read the service contract before purchasing a plan.
Final take: CNA National Warranty offers myriad vehicle protection options, but only through dealerships
CNA National Warranty vehicle service contracts are only available through dealerships, so it’s tough to get a clear idea of coverage options or costs unless you negotiate a plan when purchasing or servicing your vehicle — making this a very reactive purchasing process.
The upside is that the provider has good customer reviews and an A+ from BBB, so you can explore CNA extended warranties with the confidence of fellow motorists’ past experiences. You may find that your auto dealer can match you with a plan that’s perfectly suited to your driving habits and protection needs.
However, we don’t recommend buying a vehicle service contract before getting at least three quotes.
Our rating methodology for auto warranty companies
At Homefront, we analyze, rate and rank top vehicle service contract providers to help you discover the right one for your needs. The best automotive service contract companies offer transparency, affordability and expansive coverage options, among other qualities.
We rate companies using our objective scoring methodology. We assess brands on factors that are important to consumers like you — including cost, coverage, market standing, trustworthiness and customer experience. After scoring companies on a 100-point scale, we simplify final scores into the 5-star ratings you see in our content.
BBB and Google scores are accurate as of March 2024.
Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.
Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.
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