The NCWC Inc Extended Auto Warranty Buyers Guide

NCWC Inc is as far as we can tell, a New Jersey company that the claims to have helped consumers with high quality vehicle service plans for nearly two decades.

Looking at their website, there’s not much more information than that on the homepage, so you might be wanting to see a bit more before investing in an extended auto warranty.

That’s where we’ll step in.

In our complete buyer’s guide, we’ll take a look at the warranty options available, analyze their coverage, and give you an idea of how much you can expect their warranty options to cost.

What Is An Extended Auto Warranty?

An extended auto warranty is a protection plan for your car that pays for mechanical breakdowns.

For example, if your transmission decides to fail due to a manufacturing defect, an extended warranty plan will step in and pay for the cost of repairs instead of you having to pay out of pocket.

There are different levels of coverage that you can buy. Basic coverage is better known as powertrain coverage. There’s also bumper-to-bumper coverage, which is the most comprehensive.

Of course, more coverage is more expensive, which is something you’ll have to weight while deciding on an auto warranty.

Extended auto warranties typically cover:

• The Engine
• The Transmission
• The Drivetrain

More comprehensive coverage can also cover:

• Turbo Charger
• Transfer Case
• Front/Rear Suspension
• Fuel
• Cooling
• Air Conditioning
• Electronics
• Steering

How Does An Extended Warranty Work?

The first step to picking an extended warranty is choosing the level of coverage you need.

After you sign up, you’ll usually have to go through a check to make sure your check engine light isn’t on. Them, you’ll have to go through an exclusionary period before your benefits activate.

Normally this is 15-30 days, or 1,000 miles (whoever comes first). For the NCWC, the agreement comes into effect 31 days & 1,000 miles from the original mileage at the time the contract was signed.

Once your benefits are active, you’re good to go.

If you experience a mechanical breakdown on the road, you call the roadside assistance number on your policy.

Most extended warranty companies include towing as a part of your plan.

Your car will then be towed to a mechanic.

Before you authorize any repairs, you’ll need to call the claims number on your policy, otherwise your repairs will not be covered, according to NCWC’s

The claims agent will then work with your mechanic and will either give you the okay to authorize the repair, or they’ll authorize it themselves.

Once the repair is authorized, all you’ll have to do is pay your deductible, which is almost always $100 dollars. Your extended warranty will pay the rest, almost always paying the mechanic directly.

Then you drive the car off the lot.

NCWC Inc Plans

NCWC Inc has 4 primary plans. They’re listed here from least comprehensive to most comprehensive.

1: Engine Coverage

The most basic coverage, NCWC states that this coverage level is ideal for older vehicles. This is their lowest priced package, covering only certain components of the engine.

The maximum liability for this contract is equal to the value of your car, according to the National Auto Dealer’s Association.

This plan comes with a $100 dollar deductible and can be transferred once the entire contract has been paid, along with a $100 dollar transfer fee.

It covers:

• All internally lubricated parts of the engine
• Pistons/Piston Rings/Piston Pins
• Crankshaft and main bearings
• Connecting rods and bearings
• Camshaft and Camshaft Bearings
• Timing Chain and gears
• Intake and exhaust values
• Engine block and engine heads
• Oil pump
• Several other components

This will probably be good for:

Older vehicles, premium vehicles with more expensive engines. BMWs, the ever-reliable Land Rovers, and more accessible sports cars like Porsches.

Considering how expensive an engine repair can be ($12,000+) for a Land Rover, having engine coverage can be a bargain if you’re planning on driving your as it gets up there in years.

2: Powertrain Coverage

The powertrain coverage is a step up from the engine coverage. The powertrain policy gives you coverage on some of the most expensive to repair components of your vehicle. This coverage level is similar to your manufacturer’s powertrain warranty.

The maximum liability for this contract is the vehicle’s value according to the Auto Dealers Association standards, or $15,000 dollars, whichever is greater.

This plan also includes a $100 dollar deductible and can be transferred once the entire contract has been paid. A $100 dollar transfer fee will apply.

It covers:

• All internally lubricated parts of the engine (everything the engine policy covers)
• Transmission (Either automatic or manual)
• Drive Axles
• Optional: Turbocharger
• Optional: 4×4/All-Wheel Drive

This will probably be good for: Older vehicles with expensive parts. High market brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Land Rover will probably benefit the most.

3: Enhanced Powertrain Coverage

The enhanced powertrain coverage is everything covered by the powertrain policy plus the addition of:

• Electrical
• Air Conditioning
• Brakes
• Steering

The maximum liability for this contract is the vehicle’s value according to the Auto Dealers Association standards.

This plan also includes a $100 dollar deductible and can be transferred once the entire contract has been paid. A $100 dollar transfer fee will apply.

This will probably be good for: Older vehicles with expensive parts. High market brands like BMW, Mercedes, and Land Rover will probably benefit the most.

4: Select Coverage

The Select Plan is a more comprehensive warranty that covers most of the systems in your vehicle. This policy is comparable to our Supreme policy here at Protect My Car.

The maximum liability for this contract is the vehicle’s value according to the Auto Dealers Association standards, which is troubling if true. This has negative implications for older vehicles.

This plan also includes a $100 dollar deductible and can be transferred once the entire contract has been paid. A $100 dollar transfer fee will apply.

It covers:

• Engine (Gas, Diesel, and Rotary)
• Turbo Charger
• Transmission (Auto and Manual)
• Transaxle
• Transfer Unit
• Drive Axels and Steering
• Front and Rear Suspension
• Brakes
• Air Conditioning
• Cooling and Fuel
• Electronics
• High Tech
• Audio visual/GPS

What it doesn’t cover:

• Carburetor
• Catalytic Converter
• CV Joint Boots
• Body panels, body sheet metal
• Tires, Wheels and Rims
• Battery
• Shock Absorbers
• Clutch Assembly/Friction Clutch
• Disc and pressure plate
• Throw out bearing
• Manual and hydraulic linkages
• Distributor cap and rotor
• Seatbelts

Other Policy Benefits:

Car Rental: In the event of a covered failure (depending on your contract), NCWC will pay or reimburse for rental expenses for renting a car.

You’ll get up $30 dollars per day, for a maximum of $150 dollars per incident. This does not include coverage for delays from parts not being on hand.

Towing and Roadside Assistance:

If your car encounters difficulties and needs towing, you’ll be reimbursed up to $50 dollars per tow to an authorized mechanic.

Travel Expenses:

In the event of an authorized failure that occurs more than 100 miles from home, NCWC will reimburse you up to $75 dollars per day for up to 3 days for motel/restaurant expenses.

Lost Key/Lockout (Select Only):

If your car’s keys are lost, broken, or you’re accidentally locked out, you’ll be reimbursed for up to $35 dollars for licensed repair services.

What Are Your Responsibilities?

Just like with any extended warranty, in order for your contract to remain valid you’ll need to maintain your car in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule.

If you fail to keep up with your regularly scheduled repairs, your warranty may be voided. You’ll also need to use the recommended fluids in your manual.

You’re responsible for taking immediate corrective action if you discover and oil or lubricant leaks. Finally, you’ll need to do everything in your power to prevent further damage to your vehicle if it breaks down.

Taking action to prevent further damage will help you avoid voiding your warranty.

What Will Void Your Warranty:

Again, you can get yourself into trouble if you void your warranty prior to a claim.

We’ve already mentioned that not following your maintenance schedule will void your warranty, but it’s not the only thing that will make your contract void.

Here’s what’ll void your warranty:

1: Failure to obtain authorization before starting repairs.

If you don’t notify NCWC before you start repairs, your claim may be denied. All extended warranty companies work directly with the mechanic through their claims department, and NCWC is no different.

2: Not using the proper quality grade of lubricants, coolants, and gasoline.

Your car’s maintenance schedule has recommended fluid types. Use only these during your fluid changes, and keep receipts on hand in order to show that you have used the correct fluids.

3: Altering the odometer

This is self-explanatory, but any change in the odometer that’s not legitimate will void your warranty. If your odometer is damaged, you’re required to repair it at your expense.  

4: Altering the VIN

Any attempts to alter, tamper with, or change your VIN will result in your warranty being voided.

5: Driving a vehicle you know is damaged

If you cause further damage to your car by driving it when you know it needs to be fixed (check engine light, rattling noise, etc) your claim may be denied. Take action to protect your car when it’s damaged.

6: Failures caused by modifications

If your car is damaged by an authorized modification or alteration, you will not be covered.

7: If Your Vehicle Is Damaged By An Act Of Nature

Fires, storms, flooding, landslides, and similar acts of nature are not covered under the NCWC extended warranty

8: Accidents and Vandalism

If you get into an accident, or your car is vandalized, traditional insurance is more likely to apply. NCWC’s extended warranty will not cover damage from either of these.

9: If Your Vehicle is Declared A Total Loss

If insurance writes your vehicle off as a total loss, your warranty is automatically voided even if you decide to fix your car.

We’ve previously written an article about extended warranty options for salvage and branded titles, which you can read about here.

10: If Your Vehicle Is Repossessed

If you can’t keep up with your bills and your car is repossessed, your warranty is automatically canceled.

11: If You Fall Behind On Payments

If you fail to pay more than 1-2 payments in a timely manner, your extended warranty contract may be canceled.

How Much Does The NCWC Inc Extended Warranty Cost?

NCWC is not a direct provider of their contracts. Their contracts are financed through a 3^rd party financing company, which means their contacts are going to be more expensive then a direct warranty provider like Protect My Car or Endurance, which are the only two direct warranty providers in the United States.

A direct warranty provider does not have to pay another company to take on your contract, which means that we can pass on the savings to you as a customer

Here’s what you’ll be looking at as a ballpark estimate for each plan, based on our knowledge of extended warranties. Please note, these are just our estimates, and not actual prices. You will need to contact NCWC for a warranty quote and an exact price!

Engine: $30-60 dollars a month

Powertrain: $60-90 dollars a month

Powertrain Enhanced: $90-120 dollars a month

Select: $140-180+ dollars per month

How To Cancel The NCWC Inc Extended Warranty

To cancel NCWC Inc’s Extended Warranty, you’ll need to give what’s known as the notice of cancellation.

To get a notice of cancellation, you’ll first need to give certified odometer reading, similar to what you’d give if you were selling your car.

You’ll also need to send over the make and model of the vehicle, as well as your service agreement number. NCWC requests that any cancellations be done in writing, and that all cancellations be mailed to: Palmer Administrative Services, Inc., Drawer 223 Allenhurst, NJ 07711.

You may also call customer service, which can make it easier on you to cancel.

Their number is: 800-599-9557 x500

What Will I Be Refunded If I Cancel?

If you cancel within 30 days of your purchase and you have no claims outstanding, you’ll be refunded the full value of what you’ve paid.

However, you will still have to pay a $75 dollar cancellation fee, unless you live in a state where extended warranties cannot charge a fee to cancel. Check your locals laws to see if this is the case.

If you cancel after the 30 days, the math becomes a little more complicated.

So bear with us for a second.

The amount given for any refund is the purchase price of the service agreement, multiplied by the greater of:

1: The total mileage used, versus the total mileage of the contract.

2: The faction obtained by dividing the number of months covered under the service contract.

OR

The longer you use your extended warranty and the more claims you make, the less you should expect to get back.

NCWC Inc Extended Warranty Reviews

It was difficult to find independent reviews for NCWC Inc, which is usually not the case with a large, established extended warranty company.

The only reviews we were able to find was for Dealer Services, which operates NCWC Inc. Their BBB rating is an A+ (but you shouldn’t judge based on that).

More concerning, however, is the 1.1/5.0 star average customer review. Common complaints include:

• Calling when on the do not call list.
• Using spoofed/fake local calling prefixes.
• Not answering valid questions
• Misrepresenting themselves as a dealer extended warranty
• Rude or unhelpful customer service representatives

Now I bet you’re wondering: how can a company have an A+ BBB rating, but a 1.1/5.0 star review score?

The BBB is a business. To get an A+ on the BBB, you’ll need to pay for it. BBB doesn’t want to tell you this as someone looking for legitimate reviews, but the highest possible score you can get is an A without paying.

This tells us that NCWC Inc has paid for their rating, which many companies do.

We advise that anyone reading ratings from websites like Trustpilot, BBB, and Consumer Affairs read the independent reviews, and not pay attention to the overall website score, which can be bought.

Is NCWC Right For You?

At least to us, NCWC warranties seem best for someone who wants very basic coverage, on just the engine, or the powertrain components of your vehicle, as this very basic coverage is less than what we offer with Driveline, our most basic policy.

However, we have a few reservations.

For one, it’s very difficult to find reviews on NCWC Inc. While this doesn’t mean they’re not a legitimate warranty provider, the inability to find independent reviews means you’ll have to take potentially biased information as your only source.

Whereas with Protect My Car, we have great ratings across the board, and they’re in no short supply.

• BBB Review Score: 4.8 Stars/5 Stars
• TrustPilot Review Score: 3.9 Stars/5 Stars
• Consumer Affairs: 4/5

There’s also the direct warranty provider issue. A direct warranty provider will be easier to work with, because the claims can be paid by the same company you bought the policy from. This means your claims will be paid faster, you won’t be transferred endlessly, and you’ll know that we’re with you from quote to claim.

The last issue we have is with the coverage itself. If you’re looking for comprehensive car care, the Select package from NCWC will leave you wanting more, considering it doesn’t include expensive repairs, such as the carburetor and the catalytic converter.

Beyond that, if you’re considering an extended car warranty, we advise you to do your research.

However, it’s been our experience that you’ll get a better price, and have a better customer service experience if you stick with a direct warranty provider like Protect My Car or Endurance.

Get A Quote From The Best Direct Warranty Provider

If you want to get a quote with us today and see how easy getting an extended warranty can be, we’ve just released our new online quoting portal.

There’s no phone call needed, simply enter your information and get a free quote instantly.

Better yet, you can purchase your policy without needing to make a phone call.

5 minutes to extended car warranty protection you can count on.

Just click here to visit PMCquote, our online quoting tool that will get you your price with no phone call, in less than 5 minutes.