CarShield reviews conducted by our researchers rated the provider with a score of 9.0 out of 10 with the distinction of Most Affordable Coverage in 2022.
Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.
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| CarShield Pros | CarShield Cons |
|---|---|
| Makes direct payments to repair facilities | Negative BBB rating |
| Roadside assistance included | Rental car reimbursement only comes with some plans |
| Most service contracts can transfer to new vehicle owner | Many complaints about advertising practices |
| Coverage plans up to 300,000 miles |
| Our Rating for CarShield | 9.0 / 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 8.5 |
| Coverage | 9.5 |
| Warranty Cost | 10.0 |
| Transparency | 8.5 |
| Customer Experience | 8.5 |
Affiliate Disclosure
CarShield Rating: Most Affordable
We rate CarShield extended car warranties 9.0 out of 10.0 with the distinction of Most Affordable Car Warranty. CarShield has a wide coverage range, quality high-mileage coverage, and flexible payment plans.
The best extended car warranty companies have great reputations and prices, but they also have comprehensive coverage and transparent business practices. By taking a look at each of these areas and examining CarShield reviews from real customers, we’ll show you how CarShield vehicle protection plans stack up to the competition.
CarShield Overview
With six coverage plans, low or no deductibles, and several budget-friendly payment options, CarShield is our choice for Most Affordable extended car warranty. CarShield was founded in 2005. In addition to a wide offering of six service contract options that includes specialized plans for ATVs, Motorcycles, and RVs, CarShield provides around the clock roadside assistance, rental vehicles, and towing services. Flexible monthly plans are also available to fit your needs.
Having paid a billion+ dollars in claims and covered over a million vehicles, CarShield has been a major name in the industry for over 16 years. CarShield has numerous celebrity endorsements and has been featured on TBS, CNN, HGTV, and ESPN.
The company is not a direct provider of vehicle service contracts but instead markets plans offered by other providers such as American Auto Shield.
How Good Is CarShield?
The most beneficial thing about CarShield is its wide range of affordable coverage offerings. CarShield excels with its month-to-month options, used coverage, Spanish contracts, and specialized plans. Additionally, CarShield’s powertrain protection is an industry rarity because it covers more than many manufacturer warranties.
- CarShield Cost Reviews: Click here to check out our complete guide to CarShield cost, where we review the prices of the industry’s most affordable warranty company.
- CarShield Coverage Reviews: While the customer experience on carshield.com is average, the company makes up for it with flexible coverage options, which allow you to be more likely to choose the most appropriate coverage level. Also, CarShield’s loose eligibility rules and specialty coverage options means they’ll cover many vehicles the competition won’t.
- CarShield Customer Service Reviews: While the coverage is good, CarShield cuts corners on customer service. One of the most frustrating parts for customers is dealing with CarShield claims. Also, the sample contracts on CarShield’s website can be confusing for people unfamiliar with warranties.
- carShield.com Reviews: CarShield’s app has a smooth online payment system, allowing you to manage your CarShield account online. All in all, while CarShield could improve their in-person customer service, the experience on carshield.com rates average.
Is CarShield Good or Bad?
We didn’t give CarShield a 9.0 rating and recognize it the Most Affordable Extended Car Warranty for nothing. For some, it isn’t difficult to get past all the negative CarShield reviews online. The fact is, CarShield provides solid coverage and flexibility that more than makes up for areas where the company is lacking.
CarShield Cost
Based on quotes received by our researchers in our CarShield cost guide, the prices of CarShield plans range from $99 to around $129 per month. On average, most CarShield customers can expect to pay closer to the $100 per month range due to discounts. Additionally, CarShield customers can also expect to pay around $100 for deductibles and $200 for a down payment. In general, these costs are among the most affordable in the industry.
For any warranty plan, the cost for your specific coverage will depend on factors like the make model and age of your vehicle, where you live, your driving history, and the level of coverage you seek. To receive the lowest costs, we recommend getting quotes from at least three providers. Getting a quote from CarShield is easy, as you can connect with the company either by filling out an online form or by phone. If you get an online quote, a CarShield representative will contact you by phone in order to speak with you about your options.
CarShield Coverage
CarShield extended warranty coverage ranges from covering essential components to bumper to bumper coverage. CarShield provides a more comprehensive coverage than a standard OEM warranty. With a mileage limit of 300,000, CarShield coverage can benefit vehicles ranging from new automobiles to high-mileage used cars. Most cars, trucks, SUVs and crossovers.
Because everyone has different needs, CarShield offers plans for every coverage level. Ranging from affordable powertrain to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper contracts, CarShield offers six plans, including specialized offerings for high-tech, motorcycles/ATVs, and Spanish speakers. The list below contains some important info about CarShield warranties and what each plan covers:
| CarShield Warranty Plan | Overview |
|---|---|
| Diamond | CarShield’s most comprehensive plan. Covers everything from engine and transmission failures to starter and fuel pump issues with only a few exclusions. |
| Platinum | Covers the engine, transmission, air conditioning, electrical system and more. Best for a high-mileage-car owner who wants the most protection. |
| Gold | Covers a variety of major and minor vehicle parts, including your water pump, alternator and starter. Best for an owner of an older or high-mileage vehicle that’s in good shape (components covered are generally related to expensive repairs). |
| Silver | CarShield’s most affordable plan is a powertrain plan covering the most important parts of your vehicle, including the drive axle, transmission and water pump. Best for an owner wanting basic coverage for expensive repairs on an older vehicle without paying a premium price |
| Aluminum | Covers most electrical and computer-related problems, including the engine control module and starter. Best for an owner primarily concerned about potential electrical and/or computer-related vehicle problems. |
| Specialty | Covers motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Best for an owner looking to cover their motorcycle or ATV. |
CarShield Benefits
CarShield coverage plans come with some additional benefits. Not all benefits come with every plan, and amounts of coverage do vary, but these are some of the bonuses you get with CarShield:
- Trip interruption coverage
- Rental car reimbursement
- Emergency roadside assistance
What Does CarShield Cover?
CarShield extended warranties can cover hundreds of vehicle components or just the essentials after your factory warranty expires. A CarShield bumper-to-bumper warranty covers almost every part of your car, while a powertrain warranty covers all lubricated parts on your engine, transmission and water pump. The chart below provides a closer look for CarShield coverage for each of its plans:
CarShield Plans Reviews
If you are interested in learning more about any of CarShield’s specific plans, we’ve done individual reviews for the 5 major plans (excluding the specialty plan) offered by CarShield. Links to articles on CarShield plans are below:
CarShield vs. Manufacturer Extended Warranty
Many automotive manufacturers offer their own vehicle service contracts. In terms of price and coverage, these tend to be competitive with CarShield and other third-party warranty companies.
However, there are some key differences. Manufacturer warranties typically require you to have auto repairs done at the dealership. But with a third-party warranty, you can have covered repairs done at any repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE).
In addition, third-party warranty companies typically offer more choices in terms of plans and coverage than automakers. Many manufacturer plans only offer one level of coverage.
CarShield Reviews And Complaints
CarShield has received mixed customer service reviews, with positive reviews on some sites and some bad reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We’ve shared both a positive and negative review below to provide a more holistic view of the company.
CarShield Customer Reviews
CarShield reviews are average compared with third-party competitors. The extended warranty provider has a 4.0-star average rating out of 5.0 on Trustpilot, backed by more than 22,000 customer reviews. On Trustpilot, over 70% of reviewers rate CarShield as “excellent”, with over 20,000 users rating CarShield at 4 out of 5 stars or more. Over 7,000 reviews on Google give the company a rating of 4.1 stars.
CarShield has received over 2,000 complaints from customers over the past three years and currently has a 1.39 out of 5-star rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website. After giving the company an F rating, BBB advises consumers to use caution when considering purchasing from CarShield because of “a pattern of complaints” about sales, advertising, denied claims, and customer service practices.
However, when you consider the size of the company, many complaints are to be expected. CarShield says it has sold more than 500,000 plans over the past three years, so the number of complaints on the BBB website is minuscule relative to the number of CarShield customers. While some of the biggest issues seem to be more about quotes than the service itself, we recommend doing your homework and carefully reading the fine print when considering CarShield.
Positive CarShield Reviews
Positive CarShield reviews tend to highlight the provider’s customer service and claims processing.
Excellent service. Paid my claims without issue. Staff was always courteous and friendly. It was worth the investment to have this insurance. If you have any kind of major or minor repairs, you will be glad you purchased this service.
Edgar K. via BBB
I have had policies on two vehicles and have always received excellent customer service from CarShield. I recommend them to everyone of my friends and associates.
William R. via Trustpilot
Negative CarShield Reviews
Negative CarShield reviews tend to focus on unwanted sales calls and car repairs that weren’t covered.
I chose CarShield because I thought they would be different. I was assured that the plan they sold me would cover all major repairs. My car had a manifold issue that was $2,300. I would consider that a major repair. When the repair shop contacted CarShield, which by the way took hours on the phone, they informed me that it was not covered.
Customer via Trustpilot
Service on [the] tow was great but [I] could not find [a] shop or mechanic locally that takes CarShield. [That left] me no alternative but to cancel service as [I] can not use it if no one takes it in the area.
Frederick P. via Trustpilot
Is CarShield Worth It?
Whether a CarShield plan would be worth it is dependent on factors like your vehicle’s dependability and your financial situation. Generally, it is worth it if you want peace of mind and/or cannot afford unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. We recommend getting a quote from CarShield to see if the extended warranty company is a good option for you. From our experience, the customer service representatives are friendly and will quickly provide you with a reasonably priced quote. You can also generate a free quote online.
Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.
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Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.
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Other Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties
CarShield is a solid choice among extended car warranty companies, especially if you’re looking for low prices and peace of mind. But any time you shop for a vehicle warranty, we recommend getting quotes from at least three providers so you can compare coverage plans. Below, you can learn a little about Endurance and CARCHEX – two of the most reputable extended car warranty companies in the industry.
Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
Our first choice for comprehensive coverage.
CARCHEX
Runner-Up, Best Provider
Industry leader with one of the highest mileage limits of any extended warranty provider.
Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.
*Though not mentioned in this article, we’ve also rated Protect My Car as a provider that has some of the best extended car warranty offerings in the industry.
Endurance: Best Provider
A direct provider of extended warranties, Endurance has been in business for 15 years and is known for its excellent reputation. The company holds a place on the 2020 Inc. 5000 – the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing companies – and sponsors Jarett Andretti of Andretti Autosport in the racing world.
Endurance plans offer coverage for up to 200,000+ miles, and our Endurance warranty review found prices to be very competitive. With any Endurance extended warranty, you get benefits such as roadside assistance, tire repair and replacement, and key fob replacement during the first year of coverage.
CARCHEX: Runner-Up, Best Provider
Similar to Endurance, CARCHEX has a wonderful reputation for comprehensive coverage and top-notch service. The extended car warranty provider has been offering vehicle service contracts for more than 20 years and has plans available in every state, including California. CARCHEX partners include Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com, which add to the company’s credibility. CARCHEX has an A+ rating from the BBB.
You can get a CARCHEX extended warranty with a term length of up to 10 years or 250,000 miles. For this reason, we believe CARCHEX is the best choice for high-mileage vehicles. To learn more about CARCHEX, read our in-depth CARCHEX review. You can also compare the company to CarShield in our CARCHEX vs. CarShield review.
Protect My Car: Honorable Mention
Protect My Car, one of the most reputable choices among extended auto warranty providers, was founded in 2005 and works out of St. Petersburg, FL. While the company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), it has a strong A rating. Protect My Car offers three levels of extended warranty plans, which are actually service contracts that cover repairs for mechanical breakdown of important parts of your vehicle. For more on this provider, check out our Protect My Car review.
Our research shows that CarShield has some of the lowest warranty rates available.
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CarShield Extended Warranty Reviews: Conclusion
CarShield is the largest vehicle service contract company in the nation and has options for drivers looking for low monthly payments and plans that don’t expire. CarShield contracts renew every month, and your vehicle coverage continues even after expensive repairs. Many CarShield reviews compliment the company’s great customer service.
CarShield Reviews: FAQ
Is CarShield worth it?
CarShield stands out in the auto warranty industry for its reasonable prices and range of coverage plans. We consider CarShield to be the Most Affordable extended car warranty company and rate it with a 9.0 out of 10.0
How much does CarShield cost on average?
According the quotes our research team received, you can expect to pay somewhere between $90 and $130 per month for CarShield coverage.
Does CarShield have a deductible?
Yes, in most cases CarShield extended warranty plans have a deductible of $100. The company’s Platinum and Diamond level plans have a $0 deductible.
What is the mileage limit on coverage from CarShield?
CarShield’s vehicle service contracts can cover your car for up to 300,000 miles.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.