Are extended appliance warranties worth it?
Sometimes, but the contract only adds value if it covers meaningful risks beyond the included warranty at a price that beats the repair risk you are transferring.
What you need to know
An extended appliance warranty is really a service contract: you pay now to transfer some future repair risk. The FTC says to compare the contract with the warranty already included, check deductibles and service fees, understand exclusions and reimbursement limits, and identify who is actually responsible for claims. If the appliance is unlikely to need an expensive covered repair, the contract can cost more than the risk it removes. If a repair would be financially disruptive, predictable coverage may still have value. The contract details matter more than the “peace of mind” pitch.
What the manufacturer warranty already covers
Contract price + deductibles/fees versus plausible repair cost
Not every failure, part or service event is covered