How to Get a Refund on an Extended Warranty You Don't Need
Americans spend over $40 billion annually on extended warranties — and Consumer Reports found that only 25% of purchasers ever file a claim. For those who do, the average payout is less than the warranty cost. If you bought an extended warranty you no longer want (or never wanted), getting your money back is usually straightforward.
This guide covers how to cancel extended warranties from every major provider and maximize your refund.
When You Can Get a Full Refund
Most extended warranties have a full-refund cancellation window:
| Provider | Full Refund Window | After Window |
|---|---|---|
| Best Buy (Geek Squad) | 60 days | Prorated refund |
| Apple Care+ | 60 days | Prorated minus claims |
| Costco Allstate Protection | 60 days | Prorated |
| Walmart Protection Plans | 60 days | Prorated |
| Amazon Extended Warranty | 30 days | Prorated |
| Car Dealer Extended Warranty | 30-60 days (varies) | Prorated |
| Home Appliance Warranties | 30-60 days | Prorated |
| Home Warranty (American Home Shield, etc.) | 30 days | Monthly — just cancel |
How to Cancel Each Type
Best Buy Geek Squad Protection Plans
Phone: 1-800-433-5778 In-store: Any Best Buy Customer Service desk Online: Sign into BestBuy.com > Orders > Protection Plan > Cancel
Refund calculation:
- Within 60 days: Full refund minus any claims paid
- After 60 days: Prorated by remaining months of coverage
- Refund to original payment method within 7-10 days
AppleCare+
Online: Go to mysupport.apple.com > select device > subscription settings Phone: 1-800-275-2273
Refund calculation:
- Within 60 days: Full refund minus $25 or the value of any service received
- After 60 days: Prorated refund minus services used
- Monthly AppleCare+: Simply cancel (effective at end of billing cycle)
Car Dealer Extended Warranties
Contact: The warranty company directly (name on your warranty contract — e.g., Fidelity, EasyCare, Zurich, MOPAR)
How to cancel:
- Write a cancellation letter to the warranty company
- Include: your name, warranty contract number, vehicle VIN, and mileage
- Send via certified mail
- Follow up with your lender to verify the refund is applied to your loan
Refund calculation:
- Within 30-60 days: Full refund (varies by state and contract)
- After window: Prorated by time/mileage remaining
- Some charge a $50 cancellation fee
Important: If financed, the refund goes to your loan balance (not directly to you). This reduces your principal and total interest paid.
Amazon Protection Plans (Asurion)
Online: Amazon > Orders > find the protection plan > Contact us Phone: Contact Asurion (the warranty provider) directly
Refund: Full within 30 days, prorated after.
Costco Allstate Protection Plans
Phone: 1-877-968-5844 Online: Through the Allstate Protection Plans website
Refund: Full within 60 days of purchase.
Walmart Protection Plans (Allstate)
Phone: 1-877-968-6391 Online: Through Walmart Protection Plan portal
Refund: Full within 60 days, prorated after.
Home Warranty Companies (American Home Shield, etc.)
- These are usually month-to-month or annual with cancellation provisions
- Annual plans: prorated refund minus cancellation fee ($25-75)
- Monthly plans: cancel with 30-day notice, no refund of current month
- AHS specifically: 30-day full refund window, then prorated minus services
When to Keep Your Extended Warranty
Despite the general advice to cancel, warranties make sense for:
- Known unreliable products: Some laptops, certain appliance brands with high failure rates
- Expensive repairs: If a single repair would cost 50%+ of the warranty price
- Electronics you depend on for work: The convenience of fast replacement has real value
- Vehicles past manufacturer warranty: Especially with turbo engines, hybrid batteries, or known issues
Decision framework: If the expected repair cost × probability of failure > warranty cost, keep it.
How to Avoid Pressure at Point of Sale
Retail associates earn commissions on warranty sales. Decline with:
"No thank you, I'm not interested in the protection plan today."
If they persist:
"I've already made my decision. Please proceed with the checkout."
You're never obligated to explain why you're declining.
Getting a Refund After Making a Claim
If you've used your warranty (made a claim) and now want to cancel:
- You can still cancel, but the claim cost is subtracted from your refund
- If the claim exceeded the remaining prorated value, you may get nothing back
- Still worth requesting — sometimes math works in your favor
Quick Checklist
- [ ] Located warranty contract and identified the provider company
- [ ] Checked if within full-refund cancellation window
- [ ] Contacted warranty company directly (not the retailer)
- [ ] Sent cancellation request in writing
- [ ] Confirmed refund amount and timeline
- [ ] Verified refund was applied to loan (if auto warranty was financed)
- [ ] Set calendar reminder to verify credit appears on statement
Bottom Line
Most extended warranties can be canceled for a full or prorated refund — you're never permanently stuck with one. The refund process is typically simple: contact the warranty company, state you want to cancel, and the refund processes within 7-30 days. If you bought a warranty under pressure and regret it, cancel within the full-refund window (usually 30-60 days) for your entire money back.
Sources
- Consumer Reports Extended Warranty Analysis: https://www.consumerreports.org/extended-warranties/
- FTC Extended Warranty Tips: https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/service-contracts-and-extended-warranties
