Liberty Bell Extended Warranty Review

Liberty Bell offers a wide rage of extended car warranties to protect everything from your powertrain to your GPS with three different coverage options. It has a fantastic reputation for providing good customer service and covers a wide range of vehicles with more covered makes than other warranty companies.

Pros and Cons

What is Covered by Liberty Bell Plans

Liberty Bell has three plans that specifically list out exactly what is covered. It’s easy to see, for example, what they mean when they say the engine is covered so you’re not surprised when some parts of the engine are covered while other parts are out-of-pocket.

Its contracts also have a section that calls out specific items that are not covered under any plan. This includes general wear and tear items like brake pads, but it also includes some pricier components with catalytic converters, airbags, and hybrid batteries completely excluded.

The table below shows the 10 most expensive car repairs and their average costs. It also shows which of those repairs are covered by which Liberty Bell plans.

(*)Seals and gaskets are covered only in conjunction with repair of covered parts.

Which Liberty Bell Plan is Right for Me?

Additional Benefits Included in All Liberty Bell Plans

Every plan offered by Liberty Bell includes the following benefits:

• Roadside Assistance - includes one flat tire change per year, $100 per occurrence for towing to the nearest repair facility, $50 for three days for emergency trip interruption when you’re more than 100 miles from home, $40 for a jump start or fuel delivery, and up to $20 for lockout assistance.
• Rental Car Reimbursement - covers $35 per day for up to six days.

Platinum Plan From Liberty Bell

The Platinum Plan is the most affordable plan from Liberty Bell with the fewest items covered, but the good news is those items are the ones that people worry about the most.

Engine

• Cylinder block
• Cylinder heads/heads if damage by internally lubricated parts
• Internally lubricated parts including: pistons, piston rings and piston pins, crankshaft and main bearings, connecting rods and rod bearings, camshaft, camshaft bearings, push-rods, rocker arms, rocker arm shafts, rocker arm pivots, valves, valve springs, lifters, followers, oil pump, timing chain
• Harmonic balancer
• Valve covers
• Timing cover
• Oil pan if damaged by internally lubricated parts
• Vacuum pump

Transmission

• Internally lubricated parts
• Torque converter
• Vacuum Modulator
• Transmission case
• Transfer case
• Transmission mounts
• Transmission pan if damaged by internally lubricated parts

Cooling System

• Radiator
• Radiator fan blade and motor
• Water pump
• Fan clutch
• Seals and gaskets

Electrical

• Alternator
• Voltage Regulator
• Distributor
• Starter motor
• Starter solenoid

Drive Axle

• Housings and cover if damage by internally lubricated parts
• Internally lubricated parts including: universal joints and yokes, constant velocity shaft or joint or both, drive shaft center bearings, axle shafts, front propeller shafts

Brakes

• Non-ABS master cylinder
• Power booster
• Calipers
• Wheel cylinders
• Proportioning valve
• Backing plate
• Spring
• Self-adjusters

4x4/AWD

• Differential assembly and transfer case including: drive chain, drive chain gears, planetary gears, ring shift forks, oil pump output shaft, main shaft washers, 4-wheel drive actuator

Platinum Plus Plan from Liberty Bell

There is exactly one addition to the list for the Platinum Plus Plan and that addition is steering. It includes coverage for:

• Steering box and rack and pinion unit and all their internal lubricated parts including: power steering pump and cylinder, main and intermediate steering shafts and couplings, tie rod ends and drag link, pit-man arm, idler arm

Platinum Prime Plan from Liberty Bell

This is the premium offer from Liberty Bell and covers everything in the Platinum Plus plan PLUS:

Air Conditioner/ Heating

Condenser Compressor Compressor clutch Accumulator A/C high/low pressure compressor cutoff switch and blower motor Seals and gaskets

Fuel System

• Fuel Pump
• Metal fuel internally lubricated parts including: Waste-gate, Vanes, Shafts and bearings, Seals and gaskets

ABS

• Wheel speed sensors
• Hydraulic pump/motor assembly
• Pressure modulator valve/isolation dump valve
• Accumulator
• Seals and gaskets
• ABS master cylinder
• Hydro boost and electronic control processor
• Seals and gaskets

Suspension

• Upper and lower control arms
• Control arm shafts and bushings
• Lower torsion/tension arms
• Stabilizer end linkage
• Bushings
• Ball joints
• Wheel hub assemblies
• Seals and gaskets

Super/Turbocharger

• All internal parts
• Housing if damaged by failure of an internally lubricated moving part
• Super/turbocharger mount gaskets during replacements
• Seals and gaskets

Hi-Tech

• Ignition management controls including modules and sensors
• Ignition coils
• Fuel injectors
• Front wiper motor
• Power window motors
• Power door lock actuators
• Power antenna for AM/FM radios
• Electronic level control compressor
• Window regulator
• Power window switches
• Door lock switches
• Ambient temperature sensors
• Horn
• Crankshaft position sensor
• Factory installed GPS navigation module/processor
• Factory installed rear monitoring camera
• Convertible top motor
• Sunroof motor
• Keyless entry module excluding keys and fobs

Differential Assembly

• Front and rear differential housing if caused by internally lubricated component
• Axle shaft
• Ring and pinion
• Bearings
• Spider carrier gears and bearings
• Seals and gaskets

Seals and Gaskets

• Seals and gaskets are covered only in conjunction with a repair of replacement of above covered parts. Minor loss of fluid or seepage is considered normal and is not eligible for coverage.

How Much Does a Liberty Bell Warranty Cost?

It’d be nice if we could give you a firm number, but that’s pretty much impossible. Your warranty cost depends on where you live, your car, how many miles are on the odometer, and even whether you choose to pay as a lump sum or in monthly installments. There are also a variety of terms with 2-year to 5-year options, a choice of mileage limits, and various deductibles that again depend on your vehicle.

We received quotes for the following 2014 model year cars with 100,000 miles on the odometer. Consider these figures a guideline, but do not expect exactly the same quotes for your vehicle.

How to File a Liberty Bell Claim?

Before any repairs are done, you must call Liberty Bell and file a claim. You also must use either a licensed repair facility or ASE certified technician to do the work in order for it to be covered. Liberty Bell will pay them directly.

You should keep receipts for reimbursable expenses that you need to pay for right away. This includes things like car rental charges, lodging, or meals for which Liberty Bell may reimburse you.

Is My Car Eligible for a Liberty Bell Warranty?

Most vehicles are eligible for a Liberty Bell warranty, but there are restrictions that may exclude your vehicle from coverage. When you call for a quote, the representative will ask questions to determine if your car is eligible so you’ll know right away whether or not they can offer a warranty. Liberty Bell does not provide coverage for the following:

• Commercial Vehicles: This includes any vehicle used for farming, ranching, service or repair, delivery of goods, and taxi services including ride hailing.
• Restricted Titles: If your vehicle has a restricted title which includes salvage theft, total loss, flood damage, or parts only titles, then it is not eligible for coverage.
• High Mileage: There’s a mileage cap of 140,000 miles for those seeking new coverage.
• Warranty Violations: If any work has been down that voided the manufacturer’s initial warranty coverage, then a Liberty Bell extended warranty is not available.
• Vehicle Age: Plans are not available for vehicles older than the 2000 model year.
• California Residents: Liberty Bell does not offer coverage in this state.

Most Common Reasons Why Liberty Bell Claims Are Rejected?

Components not a part of coverage: Cars are complicated with lots of parts, which can make it confusing to understand what is and is not covered. Although there is a comprehensive list easily viewed on the Liberty Bell site, sometimes claims are filed for parts that aren’t a part of the warranty coverage, which results in a denial of the claim. Be sure you understand what is and is not covered when you purchase your warranty. Read the warranty carefully.

Pre-existing conditions: There is a waiting period before repairs are covered. If you have problems during the waiting period, which has both a number of days and mileage stipulation that varies, then Liberty Bell will not pay the claim. Make sure you are very clear on when the warranty coverage begins and the limitations of how old a problem can be and still be covered by your warranty.

Positive Reviews

“I was skeptical at first with extended warranty companies. After getting quotes from a few companies, I ended up purchasing a policy with Liberty Bell Auto Protect. The Liberty Bell has very detailed coverage plans and their prices are hard to beat. But the most significant difference and advantage from other companies are that they have an in-house claims department. They do not outsource the claims process. That alone convinced me to go with Liberty Bell Auto. So far, very happy with their sign up process.” - Jennifer, Trustpilot

“When my AC unit on the truck needed to be replaced, I dropped my truck off at the local dealer and one phone call was made by the dealer & everything was taken care of. Highly recommend Liberty Bell Auto Protect.. This Company is Great!” - Romelia, FindReviews

“This is the best car warranty company. I like their prices and customer service. Got a warranty from them for my Mercedes. They offered me zero deductible and free rim and tire package. Thank you Liberty.” - Chad N., BestCompany

Negative Reviews

“Purchased the Platinum Prime for my vehicle, took my car to the dealership to be diagnosed. The dealership pointed out the issue and asked if I had an extended warranty on the car. The dealership called Liberty Bell Auto, explained the issue, and Liberty Bell denied the repair, claiming it was apart of the wear and tear.” - John A., FindReviews

“Buyer Beware! They refuse to pay for a covered item "because it doesn't meet their guideline." They tried to pass it off as a "wear and tear" item. How do you maintain an alternator? It either works or it doesn't.” - Ronna P, BestCompany

Should You Get a Liberty Bell Extended Warranty?

The decision to get an extended warranty is one that very much depends on you and your car. If you’re a worrier and the thought of an unexpected repair bill keeps you up at night, then the peace of mind offered by an extended warranty may be worth the price. Instead of having to cough up a chunk of change for repairs as they happen, you can simply budget the cost of the extended warranty.

An extended warranty is also a good call if your car doesn’t have a great reliability record. If the make or model has a bad reputation for quality, then there’s a good chance you’ll end up saving money in the end by paying for the extended warranty.

The downside to an extended warranty is that you may be paying for something you never use. A new car is already covered by a warranty with many going until lengthy milestones of up to 100,000 miles and five years depending on the components. If you won’t be hitting those milestones anytime soon, then an extended warranty isn’t worth the cost.

Also, be cautious of any calls out of the blue offering an extended car warranty as they are very often scams. Instead, do your own research and choose a provider that has a good reputation you can trust.

Our Methodology For Best Warranty Providers

Car Talk has spent the last year doing a deep dive into the warranties industry for the benefit of our readership and long-time listeners. Our process for deciding on the best warranty companies for the year was exceptionally thorough, involving in-depth research and our unique secret shopper initiative. We compiled over 50 data points across all reviewed companies to refine and inform our selection process. Car Talk reviewed the following important criteria for each company:

• Consumer Satisfaction: Cross referencing multiple trusted resources to pull our fair and balanced customer reviews.

• Cost: Utilizing our secret shopper initiative, we got comparable quotes across all companies so we can validly compare pricing.

• Coverage and Offerings: Our research team delved into the coverage and offerings for each company, comparing what is available, including extras and discounts.

• Official Ratings: We consulted a wide range of verified review sites to extrapolate a ratings score for each.