Empire Auto Protect vs Subaru Added Security: 2026 Comparison
Key Takeaways
- Empire Auto Protect covers repairs at any ASE-licensed shop nationwide; Subaru Added Security requires Subaru dealership service.
- Subaru Added Security must generally be purchased before the 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty expires; Empire covers Subarus at any age or mileage.
- Empire plans start at $69 per month with $0 to $200 deductibles and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
- Subaru Added Security tops out around 10 years/100,000 miles; Empire can keep covering a Subaru well past that point.
- For most Subaru owners — especially used and high-mileage — Empire is the more flexible choice in 2026.
Comparing Empire Auto Protect vs Subaru Added Security comes down to flexibility versus factory branding. Subaru Added Security is Subaru of America’s own extended service agreement, sold through Subaru dealers and honored at Subaru dealerships. Empire Auto Protect is a national broker whose plans work at any ASE-licensed shop, cover vehicles of nearly any age or mileage, and start at $69 per month. If you own a newer Subaru and never plan to leave the dealership, Added Security is a credible factory option — but for most owners, Empire delivers broader coverage choices, more shop freedom, and protection that does not expire at 100,000 miles.
Quick Verdict: Which Is Better in 2026?
Empire Auto Protect is the better option for most Subaru owners in 2026 because it offers plan flexibility, any-shop acceptance, and coverage for used and high-mileage vehicles that Subaru’s factory program cannot match. Empire Auto Protect wins this comparison for the majority of Subaru drivers.
| Feature | Empire Auto Protect | Subaru Added Security |
|---|---|---|
| Repair locations | Any ASE-licensed shop or dealership nationwide | Subaru dealerships |
| When you can buy | Anytime — new, used, or high-mileage | Generally while factory warranty is still active |
| Vehicles covered | All makes, including every Subaru model | Subaru vehicles only |
| Maximum term | Multi-year options, renewable past 100k miles | Up to 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Deductible | $0 to $200 options | Varies by plan purchased |
| Starting price | From $69/month | Set by dealer; varies |
| Money-back guarantee | 30 days, pro-rated refunds after | Cancellation terms vary by contract/state |
About Empire Auto Protect
Empire Auto Protect is a vehicle service contract broker that matches drivers to plans from multiple established administrators rather than selling a single product line. That broker model is the company’s core advantage: its administrator network has covered 400,000+ vehicles and paid $100M+ in claims, and Empire holds a 5.0-star Google rating across 3,600+ reviews. Licensed agents design coverage around the specific vehicle — a leased 2025 Outback and a 2015 Forester with 130,000 miles get different plans at different prices. Every contract includes 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car options, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
About Subaru Added Security
Subaru Added Security is the factory-backed extended service agreement offered by Subaru of America and sold through Subaru dealerships. It comes in two main levels — Gold Plus, a near-exclusionary plan covering most vehicle systems, and Classic, which covers a defined list of major components. Repairs are performed at Subaru dealers using genuine Subaru parts, and terms run as long as 10 years or 100,000 miles from the original in-service date. It is a legitimate, factory-standard product; its limitations are structural — it only exists for Subarus, is generally purchased while the factory warranty is still active, and keeps you inside the dealership network for service.
Coverage Differences That Matter
The coverage difference that matters most is where and when you can use it. Empire plans follow the car — any ASE-licensed shop, any state, at any point in the vehicle’s life. Added Security follows the dealership — excellent if you live near one and trust its service department, limiting if you do not.
- Shop choice: Empire is honored at any ASE-licensed mechanic; Added Security repairs happen at Subaru dealers.
- Purchase window: Empire covers Subarus bought used, out of warranty, or past 100,000 miles — the exact vehicles Added Security generally cannot enroll.
- Plan breadth: Subaru offers two levels; Empire’s administrator network offers a spectrum from powertrain to full exclusionary, plus hybrid and high-mileage options.
- Factory parts: Added Security uses genuine Subaru parts at dealers — a real plus. Empire counters with the freedom to choose a trusted independent shop, where OEM parts can still be requested.
For background on how Subaru factory coverage works before any extended plan kicks in, see our Subaru extended warranty guide.
What Do Subaru Repairs Actually Cost?
Subaru repairs that land after the factory warranty are exactly the ones an extended plan exists for. A CVT transmission replacement on an Outback or Forester can run $4,000 to $7,000, head gasket work on older boxer engines commonly falls between $1,500 and $2,500, and a wheel bearing replacement runs $300 to $600 per corner. Data aggregators like RepairPal track similar ranges nationally. Subarus are dependable, but AWD drivetrains and CVTs are not cheap when they do fail — and owners who keep their cars past 100,000 miles (which is exactly what Subaru owners are famous for) age out of Added Security at the moment the risk curve rises. Empire’s plans are built for that second half of the vehicle’s life; owners of the Subaru Outback in particular tend to keep their vehicles well past the decade mark.
Claims Process Compared
The claims process differs mainly in who you hand the keys to. With Empire, you take the vehicle to any ASE-licensed shop, the shop diagnoses the failure, and the administrator authorizes and pays the shop directly — with 24/7 live phone support if questions come up. With Added Security, you bring the vehicle to a Subaru dealership and the dealer handles the claim internally. Both processes are legitimate; Empire’s simply works in more places, which matters on a road trip or in a town without a Subaru dealer.
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Pricing Comparison
Pricing for the two programs is structured differently: Empire publishes entry pricing from $69 per month, while Subaru Added Security pricing is set at the dealership and varies by model, term, and dealer — Subaru does not publish standard national rates. Empire Auto Protect starts at $69 per month with deductible options from $0 to $200. Because Empire is a broker, agents can quote several administrators and terms side by side, then adjust deductible and coverage level to hit a monthly budget. With a dealer-sold plan, negotiation is possible but you are negotiating one product from one seller. Whichever direction you lean, get both quotes in writing — our guide to extended car warranty costs in 2026 shows the ranges a fair quote should fall within.
Who Is Each Plan Best For?
Empire Auto Protect is best for the broad majority of Subaru owners: anyone with a used Subaru, a Subaru past its factory warranty, a high-mileage Outback or Forester, drivers far from a dealership, and anyone who wants coverage tailored to a budget. Subaru Added Security fits one narrower profile well: the owner of a new Subaru, still under factory warranty, who services exclusively at one Subaru dealership and wants factory branding above all else. If you fall anywhere outside that profile, Empire’s flexibility wins on the merits — a conclusion consistent with our 2026 rankings of the best extended car warranty companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Empire Auto Protect better than Subaru Added Security?
For most Subaru owners, yes. Empire Auto Protect offers coverage at any ASE-licensed shop, plans for used and high-mileage Subarus, $0 to $200 deductibles, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. Subaru Added Security is a solid factory product, but it is limited to Subaru dealerships and generally must be bought while the factory warranty is active.
Can I buy Subaru Added Security after my factory warranty expires?
Generally, no — Added Security is designed to be purchased while the vehicle is still within its factory warranty period. That is a key reason out-of-warranty Subaru owners turn to Empire Auto Protect, which enrolls vehicles regardless of age or mileage, including well past 100,000 miles.
Does Empire Auto Protect cover Subaru vehicles?
Yes. Empire covers every Subaru model — Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, Ascent, Impreza, WRX, and more — including AWD drivetrain components, CVT transmissions, and boxer engines. Coverage works at any ASE-licensed shop, and plans start at $69 per month.
Where can I get repairs with Subaru Added Security?
Added Security repairs are performed at Subaru dealerships using genuine Subaru parts. That guarantees factory service standards but ties you to dealer locations and scheduling — a constraint worth weighing if the nearest dealer is a long drive away.
What happens if I sell my Subaru?
Both programs address resale, but terms differ by contract. Empire Auto Protect plans are transferable to a private buyer, which can raise resale value, and unused coverage can be refunded pro-rata after the 30-day full-refund window. Check your specific contract terms in either case.
The Bottom Line
Subaru Added Security is a respectable factory program with genuine parts and dealer service behind it. But for 2026, Empire Auto Protect is the stronger choice for most Subaru drivers: it covers Subarus new and old, works at any ASE-licensed shop in the country, offers plans across multiple administrators at multiple price points, and stands behind everything with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Flexibility is what you are really buying in an extended warranty — and flexibility is where Empire wins.
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By the Empire Auto Protect Team | Updated August 2026
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