First Automotive Warranty Review (2021)

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First Automotive Warranty Review

In Our Opinion:

A First Automotive warranty may be a good investment, but there aren’t many details about plans online. You’ll need to contact an authorized dealer to get more information before you decide.

Industry Standing:

Coverage:

Affordability:

Customer Service:

Pros:

Lifetime warranty coverage available

Extensive coverage options to choose from

A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Emergency roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage benefits

Cons:

Plans only sold through dealerships

Not much specific contract information available online

3.5

While First Automotive does not sell vehicle protection plans directly to consumers, First extended warranty products can be purchased from participating dealerships across the U.S. Practically every car dealer sells extended vehicle service contracts, and a First Automotive warranty may be available at your local dealership.

In this article, we’ll take a look at First Automotive warranty coverage options, customer reviews, costs, and more.

Our review team has researched the best extended car warranty companies in the industry. To see how First Automotive compares with some of the leading names in extended vehicle service contracts, start getting free quotes from our top recommended providers below.

Top Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks. 

Best Overall	Best for Older Vehicles	Best Prices
Endurance	CARCHEX	CarShield
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(866) 254-0205	(800) 563-2761

First Automotive Extended Warranty: What You Need to Know

First Automotive contracts are sold by SouthwestRe, which also sells service contracts under the names PowerRev and ProTrek. SouthwestRe is a subsidiary of Industrial Alliance (iA) Financial group and has been in business for over 30 years.

Today, First Automotive has an A+ rating from the BBB, which is a good sign that it uses sound business practices and communicates well with its customers.

First Automotive Warranty Coverage

First Automotive offers a wide variety of coverage options for vehicles of all ages. Plans range from basic powertrain warranties to exclusionary coverage. There is also a lifetime warranty offered, which is particularly unique and not something that is offered by many competitors.

First Automotive Warranty	Vehicle Eligibility	Coverage Details	Term Length
Standard VSC	New vehicles up to 4 years/60,000 miles and used vehicles up to 12 years/125,000 miles	Not specified	Not specified
Enhanced Care	New vehicles up to 1 year/7,500 miles	Covers all mechanical and electrical components, as well as wear-and-tear items like brake pads, batteries, headlamps, belts, and hoses	24 months/24,000 miles or 60 months/60,000 miles
Xtended Care	Vehicles up to 20 years/200,000 miles	Four sub-levels of coverage but details not specified on the First Automotive warranty website	Not specified
Powertrain Wrap	New vehicles up to 1 year/12,000 miles and used vehicles up to 4 years/50,000 miles	Coverage for items not covered by the manufacturer’s powertrain warranty	Not specified
5-Year/ 100,000-Mile Protection	Vehicles up to 15 years/150,000 miles	Powertrain coverage (Engine Plus plan) or advanced coverage (High-Tech plan)	Not specified
3-Year/ 100,000-Mile Protection	Vehicles up to 15 years/150,000 miles	Covers the engine, transmission, and transfer case components	Not specified
Lifetime Powertrain Limited Warranty	New vehicles up to 1 year/12,000 miles and used vehicles up to 10 years/100,000 miles	Covers powertrain components and requires that the covered vehicle be returned to the selling dealer once every five years for a complimentary powertrain inspection	Lifetime of your vehicle
Limited Warranty	Vehicles up to 20 years/200,000 miles	Covers all internal lubricated parts of the engine, transmission, transfer case, and differential	Not specified

 

As you can see, there is much information missing on the First Automotive warranty website, so you’ll need to take a look at sample contracts and get more details from your dealership before deciding to purchase a First extended warranty.

All plans come with the following benefits:

• Rental car reimbursement
• Trip interruption reimbursement
• Emergency roadside assistance

First Automotive also sells the following additional coverage packages:

• Theft protection
• Key replacement
• Appearance protection
• Dent and ding protection
• Expanded tire and wheel protection

First Automotive Warranty Cost

To give you an idea of First Automotive warranty costs, we researched what other customers have paid.

One driver reported paying $3,000 for a five-year/60,000-mile warranty on a 2014 Chevy Silverado. Another customer paid $1,978 for a five-year/100,000-mile warranty on a 2011 Buick Lacrosse CXS. These are standard prices for the industry, though it is hard to compare against competitors without more information such as coverage level and vehicle mileage.

First Automotive warranty products are sold exclusively through dealerships, so the final price may be negotiable. Additionally, the cost of your extended warranty will depend on a number of factors, including your vehicle make, model, age, and mileage. Your location may also influence the final price of your First extended warranty.

First Automotive Warranty Reviews

First Automotive is accredited and holds an A+ rating from the BBB. The company has received just over 20 complaints in the past three years, which is a relatively low number. Customer complaints typically involve slow claims servicing and coverage gaps. These sorts of complaints are typical for an extended car warranty company.

How Do First Automotive Warranties Work?

If you experience a breakdown, call First Automotive at 505-881-2244 or 877-881-2244. A customer service representative can walk you through the next steps. Most minor vehicle repairs will be able to be quickly taken care of by a certified repair shop.

More complex repairs involving the failure of major components such as the engine or transmission may be more involved. In some cases, a First Automotive employee may need to conduct an inspection to decide whether to approve a repair or replacement. This process can take between three and seven days.

Final Thoughts: First Automotive Warranty

A First extended warranty may not be a bad option for your vehicle, but you’ll need to get more information from a dealership to decide for sure. Coverage options are comprehensive, and there are plans for both high- and low-mileage vehicles. However, additional protections such as dent repair and appearance plans can be skipped.

Overall, we rate First Automotive 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. This score was determined based on the following categories:

Overall Star Rating	3.5
Reputation	3.5
Coverage	4.0
Price	3.0
Customer Experience	3.0

 

Because First Automotive extended warranty contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, it is hard to know exactly what the final cost of a contract may be. Some plans offered through First Automotive may not be available at your dealership.

Our Top Picks for Extended Warranty Coverage

If you are interested in car warranties with extensive coverage options, a First Automotive warranty isn’t the only choice out there. Our research team compiled information on every major warranty company on the market. With this data, we were able to rate and rank the best extended warranty providers. Two companies we recommend based on this research are CARCHEX and CarShield.

CARCHEX: 5.0 Stars

CARCHEX has a well-known reputation for its great customer service, which is just one reason the company has remained a leader in the industry for over 20 years. CARCHEX offers 24-hour customer support and a live chat feature on its website, and it has hundreds of positive reviews online.

CARCHEX extended warranty contracts are also some of the lowest-priced on the market. When we asked CARCHEX for a quote on a Titanium plan (the highest level of coverage) for a 2018 Honda Civic, we were offered the following terms:

• Term Length: 7 years/150,000 miles
• Financing: $2,423.50 upfront
• Deductible: $100.00
• Total Cost: $2,423.50
• Price Per Year of Coverage: $367.71

CARCHEX is a reliable company with a strong history of paying customer claims. To learn more, read our complete CARCHEX review and get a free, personalized quote from CARCHEX below.

Best for Older Vehicles

Get Quote (866) 254-0205 Top-rated provider with unmatched customer service and affordable coverage

CarShield: 4.5 Stars

CarShield has some of the lowest-cost contracts in the industry. When we asked Carshield for a quote for New Car Diamond coverage (the highest level of coverage) for a 2018 Honda Civic, we were offered the following terms:

• Term Length: 5 years/70,000 miles
• Financing: $88.78 for 18 months
• Down Payment: $295.00
• Deductible: $100.00
• Total Cost: $1,708.03
• Price Per Year of Coverage: $341.60

CarShield customers also have access to excellent customer benefits, such as:

• Rental car reimbursement: There is a maximum reimbursement of $40 per day up to $160 per occurrence.
• Roadside assistance: This benefit includes towing, emergency tire service, lockout service, battery service, and fuel delivery service. It reimburses you up to $400 per contract term.
• Trip interruption reimbursement: If your vehicle becomes inoperable more than 100 miles from your home, this coverage provides reimbursement for meals and lodging at $40 per day up to $160 per occurrence.

Read our CarShield review for more information on the company, and reach out for your own CarShield quote below.

Best Prices

Get Quote (800) 563-2761 Well-known provider that offers great coverage with great pricing

Original article: First Automotive Warranty Review (2021)

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History repeats itself: A Canadian XR750 returns home

Most of the customs we drool over on these pages have little or no history. They’re usually modified after a few mundane years of weekend riding—or transported straight from the showroom floor to the workshop, in the back of a van.

Occasionally, though, we happen across a machine with a decades-long backstory. Like this street legal Harley XR750 tracker from Quebec, Canada, which houses a tuned Sportster engine in an XR750 frame.

Builder Costa Mouzouris originally created the street tracker over 25 years ago. “I built it for a customer in 1995,” he says. “I lost track of it, and then found it in a classified ad about 20 years later, still in original condition. I bought it back, and refreshed it this year with new paint and cast wheels.”

Costa had every reason to keep an eye out for this Harley, because it had history even before he rebuilt it: “The frame is a genuine 1972 XR750 item,” he says. “It was raced in the mid 70s to early 80s by a French Canadian rider.”

By the time Costa got his hands on it, the frame was damaged—probably after several crashes. And even worse, the steering neck was no longer in line with the rest of the tubing. So Costa had to cut off part of the top tube and the front down tubes. New chrome-moly tubing and a steering neck were TIG welded in place, and arranged so that a slightly taller Evo engine would fit the frame.

The engine also came from a crash victim: this time, a 1986 Sportster XLH883.

Costa bored the V-twin out to 1,200 cc, and fitted Harley pistons. The cylinder heads were modified for twin spark plugs, and a Dyna single-fire ignition and Andrews V2 Sportster cams (with more duration and lift) were installed. The carburetor is the famed S&S Super G.

“The goal was to have good power, but in a reliable package,” says Costa. “The crank was balanced, and the engine runs remarkably smooth for a rigid-mount four speed.”

The XR750 was originally built with a handmade high-mounted two-into-one exhaust, but the previous owner swapped it out for the SuperTrapp now on the bike. Unfortunately the original exhaust has been lost.

It wasn’t all plain sailing on the mechanical side, though. Costa had to modify the left-hand crankcase, because the nub where the alternator wire exits interfered with the XR frame swingarm pivot.

The oil tank is handmade from T-6061 aluminum plate, made to mimic the XR750 oil tank, but also now houses the battery.

For the rest, Costa wanted to keep things simple, especially when replacing parts. The electrics, brakes and front end are all standard Harley fitments but the shocks are Konis, which are more period correct than most modern units.

The gas tank is from a Sportster, but the eagle-eyed will notice that it’s shallower than stock and has been shortened by an inch at the front. The new tailpiece was a much simpler operation—it’s an aftermarket item designed for the XR750.

One of the first mods Costa made when the bike returned was the rims. “I installed the tubeless cast aluminum Harley wheels,” he says. “The front is a 19-inch, and the rear is an 18—from a late-1970s Sportster. I’m not sure I like the cast wheels, but I still have the original spoke wheels and will probably alternate between the two.”

We often wonder what becomes of the bikes we’ve featured. Some of them pop up on social media years down the track; others disappear without trace. We have a feeling there’s another half century of life left in this one.

Costa Mouzouris Instagram

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Do Parents Drive Differently Alone Than With Children? Here Is What The Data Says

A recent study sheds light on how parents drive alone versus when they are with their children. The National Safety Council (NSC), Cumberland Valley Volunteer Firemen’s Association, and the Emergency Responder Safety Institute conducted the study for Distracted Driving Awareness Month (April). The survey featured 1,000 adults age 25 and above who regularly drive with children.

Key Findings

Alone

Perhaps not surprisingly, the study found that parents drive differently when their children are in the vehicle. For example, while driving alone, parents were more likely to look away from the road to adjust different settings on the infotainment screen, like climate, audio, or navigation. About one-third say they will read a text, while more than half admit to regularly or occasionally talking on the phone while driving alone.

“In today’s electronic digital age, it seems impossible for some to resist answering phone calls, responding to text messages, or checking social media,” said Jim Flegel, Special First Lieutenant and Traffic Safety Specialist with the Michigan State Police. “Sending or reading a text message takes an average of about five seconds, which is enough to travel the length of a football field at 55 mph.”

With Children

However, when children are present, the study finds that nearly all (98 percent) adjust their driving behavior. In other words, parents are far less likely to pay attention to or be distracted by technology when their children are in the vehicle. Survey respondents overwhelmingly say they will ignore their phones and neglect popular connectivity features like navigation and music streaming if their children are with them.

“The harsh reality is that thousands lose their lives each year in crashes where distracted driving plays a role,” explained Lorraine Martin, President and CEO of the National Safety Council. “We should all drive as though we have a loved one in our car on every trip, every time.”

“Even just a brief moment of distraction can mean the difference between life and death,” Flegel added.

Do Age & Maturity Matter?

This study from NSC and its partners suggests a driver’s age and maturity play a role. Based on the data presented here, the average parent becomes more conscious as they have passengers. Contrast that to a recent study from The Governors Highway Safety Association and the Ford Motor Company Fund that determined risk factors for teenagers, such as speeding, increase exponentially with each additional vehicle occupant. According to that study, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for 16- and 17-year-olds is about three times the rate for drivers 20 and above.

A Growing Concern

Parents also shared their concern that speeding, distraction, and driver fatigue have increased to the point where roads are less safe than before the pandemic. The latest preliminary data, taken in November, confirms that survey participants are not imagining things. Even with less overall traffic, 2020 was, according to the data, a difficult year on American roadways. “It is tragic that in the U.S., we took cars off the roads and didn’t reap any safety benefits,” Martin said. “These data points expose our lack of an effective roadway safety culture.”

Although exasperated by the pandemic, there is evidence suggesting parents have always been worried about other drivers’ actions and how that impacts their children’s safety. A 2019 study from Harris Poll on behalf of Volvo Car USA, which mirrors this most recent survey from NSC and its partners, revealed several key points: first, that parents are unsure about which car seats are the best; that daily stress levels are higher than in years past, which affects how a person operates a vehicle; and that when they became parents, their view of driving changed dramatically (which reinforces the earlier observation about age and maturity).

“We have heard from new parents that they often felt overwhelmed with the information at hand when their first child is born,” said Jim Nichols, Product, Technology & Brand Communications Senior Manager for Volvo Car USA, when the study was initially released. “It’s also interesting that as cars have become safer over the years, parents feel that the road is now less safe than before.”

Making a Commitment

Survey respondents also shared their top deterrents when it comes to distracted driving. Being personally involved in a crash, having a “near miss” with another car, and losing a loved one in an accident were among the most common. However, the top deterrent was when a child tells a parent they feel scared because the parent is looking at their phone.

“Remember your children are watching and will be influenced by your driving decisions when they begin driving,” Flegel said. “The Michigan State Police urge all drivers to make the responsible decision: put your phone away and focus all your attention on driving.”

More Information

A full PDF version of this latest study, including additional findings not listed in this article, is available here from the NSC and its partners. Similarly, the NSC and its partners also offer a number of helpful resources on safe driving at work and in the community.  

Carl Anthony is Managing Editor of Automoblog and a member of the Midwest Automotive Media Association and the Society of Automotive Historians. He serves on the board of directors for the Ally Jolie Baldwin Foundation, is a past president of Detroit Working Writers, and a loyal Detroit Lions fan.

*This article originally appeared on AutoVision News. It has been republished with permission. 

Original article: Do Parents Drive Differently Alone Than With Children? Here Is What The Data Says

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