Phone scams

Is the 'car warranty expired' call a scam?

Quick answer

Yes. The 'extended car warranty' robocall is almost always a scam. Even when a real extended warranty is offered, it's often a high-pressure sales scam that takes money for coverage that will never pay claims. The robocallers don't know what car you own — they just call millions of numbers hoping someone bites.

Red flags to look for

1
Robocall starts with 'this is your final notice about your vehicle's warranty'
2
Has no idea what car you own — and avoids saying it
3
Press 1 to speak with a 'specialist'
4
Demands payment by credit card on the call
5
Refuses to send paperwork before payment
6
Claims to be from 'your dealership' or 'the manufacturer'

Real examples

Robocall

This is your final notice. Our records indicate your vehicle's warranty has expired or is about to expire. Press 1 now to speak with a specialist and extend your coverage.

Likely Scam

Real car manufacturers and dealerships don't robocall about warranty status. This is a sales scam designed to extract credit card details under pressure for a worthless 'service contract.'

What to do

Hang up. Do not press any number — pressing 1 confirms your number and triggers more calls.
If you want a real extended warranty, contact your dealership or manufacturer directly.
Register your number on the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov (though scammers ignore it).
Report the call at donotcall.gov/report.
Use your phone's built-in call blocking (iPhone: Settings > Phone > Silence Unknown Callers).

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Why scammers use this approach

Auto-dialing technology makes mass calls almost free. Even a 0.1% conversion rate on millions of calls is profitable. Many victims are older adults who once had a real extended warranty and find the script plausible.

Frequently asked questions

Are any extended car warranties legit?

Yes — bought directly from a manufacturer or a reputable third party at the time of purchase. But no real provider cold-calls customers via robocall.

How do I stop the calls?

Honestly, you mostly can't. Block individual numbers, use 'Silence Unknown Callers' on iPhone, and use a call-screening app. Robocallers spoof numbers, so blocking is whack-a-mole.