CNA National Warranty: What It Covers, How Claims Work, and What Owners Say
You may have been handed a CNA National contract in the finance office and never heard of the company. CNA National is a large administrator of vehicle service contracts and limited warranties, but it sells almost entirely through dealerships and credit unions. This guide covers what a CNA warranty actually includes, how to file a claim, how to cancel, and whether the reviews support the hype.
Quick Answer
A CNA warranty comes from CNA National, a vehicle service contract and F&I (finance and insurance) provider based in Scottsdale, Arizona. It is part of CNA Financial, which says it has more than 125 years of experience and over $68B in assets. You can’t buy a CNA contract directly. You get one through a participating dealer. Claims are submitted by the repair shop, not by you. Reviews are mixed, and coverage depends heavily on the specific contract you were sold.
CNA National at a Glance
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Sold by | Participating dealerships only (no direct sales) |
| Products | Vehicle service contracts, limited warranties, GAP, ancillary |
| Claims phone | (800) 345-0191 |
| Claims hours | Mon-Fri 8 AM-8 PM ET; Sat 9 AM-5 PM ET |
| Who files claims | Your dealer or repair facility, before repairs begin |
| Headquarters | Scottsdale, Arizona |
| Parent company | CNA Financial (125+ years, $68B+ in assets) |
Who Is CNA National?
CNA National has operated in the vehicle service contract industry for over 40 years, and the company says its goal is to be the best in the industry rather than the biggest. Its parent company, CNA, is a major U.S. insurer. The company administers contracts that dealers sell, and contract paperwork often names the dealer or a related service-contract provider as the obligor. That’s why the brand on your contract may not match what you expected.
If you thought you were buying a different brand’s plan, check the paperwork. One GM truck owner on a forum described finding a CNA National contract in their deal when they expected a GM-branded plan.
What CNA National Offers
CNA National’s F&I product suite has four main parts:
- Vehicle service contracts (VSCs): The core product. It includes VSC Care for gas and hybrid vehicles, a dedicated EV contract (EVSC), and Term Protect for short-term owners and lessees. Term Protect covers breakdowns and some maintenance, and it’s available for new vehicles and all fuel types except hydrogen.
- Warranty Wraps: Stated-term (time or mileage) coverage that adds to a warranty the vehicle already comes with.
- Limited warranties: Short-term, long-term and powertrain-style warranty programs that dealers can attach to vehicles, including certified and lifetime limited powertrain programs.
- GAP and ancillary products: Guaranteed asset protection waivers that help cover a loan balance if the car is totaled or stolen, plus products that protect a vehicle’s value and appearance.
A note on plan names: Tier names vary by dealer and program, and the names you’ll see in a given contract may differ from what you read online. Go by the coverage section of your own contract, not a third-party plan list.
What Many CNA Contracts Include
Many CNA-administered contracts include reimbursement for towing, roadside assistance, travel and lodging, and a rental car. The limits differ by contract. One reviewer complained that rental coverage ended after seven days, so read the Expense Reimbursement section of yours.
Some contracts also include:
- Transfer Guarantee: You can transfer the remaining coverage to a private buyer before the contract expires.
- Future Contract Guarantee: You may be able to buy another contract before the current one ends. CNA says you can’t simply renew a contract.
How to Buy or Get a Quote
You can’t buy a CNA warranty from the company. Contracts are sold at participating dealerships, usually in the finance office when you buy a new or used vehicle. CNA doesn’t publish prices online, so the price is whatever the dealer quotes.
To ask about participating dealers or services, call CNA National at (800) 345-0191, Monday to Friday 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern.
Two cost points to know:
- Prices vary by vehicle, term, deductible and dealer markup, so get quotes from more than one dealer.
- If you roll the contract into your auto loan, you pay interest on it, which raises the total cost.
How to File a CNA Warranty Claim
Claims are submitted by the dealership or repair facility, by phone or through CNA’s claims portal. You don’t file them yourself. CNA National must be contacted before repair work is completed.
- Take the vehicle to a repair facility. Use your selling dealer or any licensed repair facility in the U.S.
- Give the advisor your information. Share your contract number and the last six digits of your VIN.
- Have the shop call CNA National first. The shop needs authorization before any repair work begins.
- Pay your deductible. CNA pays the facility directly or reimburses you, depending on the shop, minus your contract deductible.
Tip: Don’t authorize teardown or repairs until the shop has talked to CNA. Disputes tend to start when work begins before approval. One shop reported that claims processing needed to be modernized, and an owner reported a claim stuck for about 55 days after a teardown. Those are individual complaints, not proof of a pattern, but they show why the sequence matters.
CNA says that in 2024 it handled an average of about 96,600 calls a month and processed over 437,000 claims.
How to Cancel a CNA Warranty
Cancellations are initiated and managed by the issuing dealership, not by CNA. Start with the dealer’s finance department.
- Check your contract for a free-look or full-refund window. One buyer reported a 60-day full-refund window in their contract, but terms differ.
- Ask about a prorated refund if you’re past that window.
- If you paid off your loan early or sold the car, ask the dealer or lender to cancel. Refunds can take weeks, and some complaints involve long waits.
Is CNA National Legit?
CNA National is a real, established provider backed by a major insurer. That’s different from saying every customer has a good experience. Public ratings are split:
- One review site notes an A+ BBB accreditation but a 3.29 out of 5 customer review score, with relatively few complaints over three years.
- ConsumerAffairs describes customer experiences as mixed and says claims handling often depends on the dealership that sold the warranty.
- Birdeye lists a 3.7 star rating across 1,064 reviews.
- Smaller complaint sites such as ComplaintsBoard show much lower scores, but those samples are small and self-selected.
Positive reviewers talk about covered repairs like a transfer case or catastrophic engine failure. Negative ones focus on claim delays, denials, rental limits, refunds and cancellations. Reddit users report mixed experiences too, with outcomes depending on the fine print.
The takeaway: Your CNA warranty experience will depend on your contract’s exclusions, your repair shop, and your dealer’s handling of cancellations. It is less about the CNA brand itself.
Before You Sign
- Ask for the full contract, not a brochure, and read the exclusions and the “covered components” list.
- Confirm the deductible, the claim authorization process and any waiting period.
- Check rental, towing and roadside limits.
- Confirm whether you can transfer the contract and whether a cancellation refund is full or prorated.
- Make sure it doesn’t duplicate your manufacturer’s warranty. Manufacturer coverage takes priority over a service contract.
- Compare the price with other providers before agreeing.
Comparing a CNA warranty with other dealer-sold plans? See our used car warranty guide for how these contracts work, plus our Route 66 warranty and ASC Warranty guides for two similar dealer-channel options.
CNA Warranty FAQ
Can I buy a CNA warranty directly?
No. It’s sold through participating dealerships and similar partners, usually at the time of vehicle purchase.
What is the CNA National phone number?
(800) 345-0191. Hours are Monday to Friday 8 AM to 8 PM Eastern and Saturday 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern.
Who files the claim?
The dealership or repair facility submits it by phone or through CNA’s claims portal. The shop must contact CNA before repairs are completed.
Where can I take my car for repairs?
Your selling dealer or any licensed repair facility in the U.S.
How do I cancel a CNA warranty?
Contact the dealership that issued the contract. Cancellations are initiated and managed by the dealer.
Does CNA cover rental cars and towing?
Many contracts do, with limits. Check your contract’s Expense Reimbursement section.
Can I transfer my CNA contract?
Yes, if your contract includes Transfer Guarantee, you can transfer the remaining coverage to a private buyer before it expires.
Does CNA cover electric vehicles?
CNA National offers an EV-specific service contract (EVSC) designed around electric vehicle components.
Related Warranty Guides
Check the Latest Official Manufacturer Warranty Before You File
Warranty coverage periods, required proof-of-purchase documents, eligible defect categories, and claim handling times vary by region, model, and authorized seller. Always check the official manufacturer’s latest support portal before filing a claim to confirm your product's eligibility.