Are extended warranties worth it?

Wirecutter does the math most shoppers don’t: across the typical extended warranty or protection plan, you’re usually better off declining and self-insuring, because the odds and cost of repair rarely justify the premium.

The catch is knowing what you’re already entitled to before you pay for more. Many buyers purchase redundant protection plans while forgetting the manufacturer warranty, credit-card purchase protection, or a home warranty they already hold. OwnWise sorts that out: it tracks the coverage you actually have, tells you whether a given breakdown should be covered, and — when something fails — estimates the real repair cost so you can judge it against any plan.

Decline the upsell with confidence, and lean on the coverage you’re already paying for.