Medium riskPhone & Voice

Auto Warranty Robocall Scam

This scam uses robocalls claiming your car's warranty is expiring, pressuring you to 'renew' bogus or overpriced vehicle cover and hand over card and personal details.

Quick verdict

Risk level
Medium risk
Scam type
Robocall (warranty)
Main red flag
A robocall about your car's expiring warranty urging you to press a key or pay now.
What to do first
Hang up. Check any genuine warranty with your dealer or insurer directly.

What this scam usually looks like

This scam uses robocalls claiming your car's warranty is expiring, pressuring you to 'renew' bogus or overpriced vehicle cover and hand over card and personal details.

Phone and voice scams, known as vishing, use live callers and robocalls to impersonate banks, retailers, agencies, and tech support. The call is a doorway to remote access, one-time codes, or moving money, and phone contact carries some of the highest reported losses.

The single clearest warning sign to remember is this: A robocall about your car's expiring warranty urging you to press a key or pay now. Hang up. Check any genuine warranty with your dealer or insurer directly.

Not sure this matches what you received? Compare it with the Extended Warranty Scam or the Prize Robocall Scam, browse the Phone & Voice Scams guides, or paste the exact message into our free scam checker.

By the numbers

Highest median loss
phone calls are the contact method with the highest reported median loss to fraud
Source: US Federal Trade Commission
$2.7B
reported lost to imposter scams in the US in 2023
Source: US Federal Trade Commission

Example message pattern

Example pattern, not a real report
Example pattern: 'We've been trying to reach you about your car's extended warranty. Press 1 now to renew before coverage ends.'

This is a fictional, anonymised example used to illustrate the pattern. It is not a verified real message, and any names are used only to show how the scam typically reads.

Why this is a red flag: A robocall about your car's expiring warranty urging you to press a key or pay now.

Red flags to watch for

  • A robocall about a warranty you cannot verify
  • Pressure to press a key or pay immediately
  • Vague details that do not match your vehicle
  • Requests for card and personal details
  • A caller who avoids your direct questions

What to do

  • Hang up on warranty robocalls
  • Check any genuine warranty with your dealer or insurer directly
  • Do not press keys, which can flag your number for more calls
  • Report the call and block the number

If you already clicked or replied

  • If you shared card details, contact your bank to flag your card
  • Watch for unexpected or recurring charges
  • Cancel any 'cover' you were signed up to
  • Keep records and report it

What not to do

  • Do not press keys to speak to an agent
  • Do not share card or vehicle details
  • Do not pay to 'renew' cover on a cold call

Similar scams

Medium risk Online Shopping

Extended Warranty Scam

Calls, robocalls, texts, or mailers claim your product or vehicle warranty is expiring and pressure you to buy an overpriced or worthless 'extended warranty', using urgency to collect card and personal details.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Phone & Voice

Prize Robocall Scam

In this scam, a robocall or live call says you have won a prize, holiday, or cash, then asks for a fee, card details, or personal information to 'release' winnings that do not exist.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team
Medium risk Text Message

Vehicle Recall Text Scam

This scam texts that your vehicle has an urgent safety recall and links you to 'book a repair' or confirm details, leading to a fake page that collects your personal and payment information.

Created by Scam or Safe Editorial Team

Frequently asked questions

How do they know about my car?
Usually they do not. These robocalls are sent in bulk with generic warranty claims, hoping the message fits your situation.
Is pressing 1 harmful?
It connects you to a scammer and flags your number as active, often leading to more calls. Hang up instead of pressing any key.
I gave card details. What now?
Contact your bank to flag your card, cancel any cover you were signed up to, and watch for recurring charges.
How do I check my real warranty?
Contact your dealer or insurer using official details, not the number or prompts from the robocall.

Last reviewed June 2026 · Written & reviewed by the

Disclaimer: This page provides educational information only to help you recognise common scam patterns. It is not legal, financial, cybersecurity, or law enforcement advice, and it does not confirm whether any specific message, company, or person is genuine or fraudulent. When in doubt, contact the official organisation directly and report concerns to your local authorities.