CarShield is the most popular extended warranty provider in the industry with over one million vehicles covered and endorsements from many celebrities. CarShield reviews tell us that the company is also one of the most affordable choices for coverage.
The best extended car warranty companies have great reputations and prices, but they also have comprehensive coverage and transparent business practices. Let’s see how CarShield fares by taking a look at each of these areas and reading CarShield reviews from real customers.
To go ahead and get a free quote for a CarShield extended auto warranty, follow the link below.
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Most Affordable
Editor’s Rating: ★★★★½ |
Affordable plans with great perks, such as roadside assistance |
Table of Contents:
- CarShield Overview
- What Does CarShield Cover?
- Cost of CarShield
- How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
- CarShield Reviews
- Conclusion: Is CarShield Worth It?
- Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
- FAQ: CarShield Reviews
CarShield Overview
Based in St. Peters, Missouri, CarShield is one of the biggest names in auto warranties. The company has been selling extended car warranties since 2005, its administrators have paid out over one billion dollars in claims to customers over the years. CarShield coverage is available in every state except for California.
By the numbers, we think CarShield is one of your best options for an extended warranty, and many CarShield reviews would agree. Let’s take a closer look.
| Industry Reputation | 4.5 |
| Coverage | 5.0 |
| Warranty Cost | 5.0 |
| Transparency | 4.0 |
| Customer Experience | 4.0 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5 |
What Does CarShield Cover?
CarShield offers six different types of vehicle service contracts. Our table below compares the different levels of coverage, and each plan comes with 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, and car rental reimbursement at no additional cost. CarShield’s plans are administered by American Auto Shield, a Lakewood, Colorado-based provider.
| CarShield Warranty Plan | Overview | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| New Car Diamond | Covers everything from engine and transmission failures to starter problems and fuel pump breakdowns. This is CarShield’s most comprehensive plan. | A new car owner looking to protect their investment and add to coverage from a manufacturer’s warranty. |
| Platinum | Covers your vehicle’s engine, transmission, A/C, electrical system, and more. | An owner of a high-mileage car that wants the most protection. |
| Gold | Covers a variety of major and minor vehicle parts, including your water pump, alternator, and starter. | An owner of an older or high-mileage vehicle that’s in good shape. The components covered are generally related to expensive repairs. |
| Silver | Covers the most important parts of your vehicle, including the transmission and water pump. This is CarShield’s most affordable plan. | An owner of an older vehicle that wants basic coverage for expensive repairs without paying a premium price. |
| Aluminum | Covers most electrical and computer related problems, including the engine control module and starter. | An owner primarily concerned about potential electrical and/or computer related vehicle problems. |
| Motorcycle & ATV | Covers motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. | An owner looking to cover their motorcycle or ATV. |
You can set up your CarShield extended warranty with a $0, $50 or $100 deductible.
Carshield’s plans are administered by American Auto Shield. Sample contracts are available online, and there is a 30-day, 1,000-mile waiting period for coverage to ensure that your vehicle does not have any pre-existing conditions.
CarShield reviews show that customers are pleased with the company’s comprehensive extended warranty offerings, which also include added benefits with most coverage plans:
- 24-hour roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Towing
Whenever you purchase an extended auto warranty, make sure to read your contract thoroughly to make sure you understand the exclusions and limitations of coverage.
Cost of CarShield
CarShield is one of the most affordable extended warranty providers in the industry. We were quoted $88.78 for 18 months for a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. For a 4-year/100,000-mile powertrain plan, CarShield gave us a price of $127.67 for 18 months.
| CarShield Warranty Plan | Vehicle Profile | Coverage Term | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Car Diamond | 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles | 5 years/100,000 miles | $88.78 for 18 months | $295.00 | $100.00 |
| Gold | 2012 Chevy Equinox with 90,000 miles | 4 years/100,000 miles | $127.67 for 18 months | $99.99 | $100.00 |
When we received our quotes, the CarShield representative also recommended a month-to-month unlimited Gold plan, although a price was not provided.
Your own price for an extended warranty may be different, because extended warranty quotes are based on many factors like:
- Vehicle make, model, age and mileage
- Level of coverage
- Deductible
- Location
Every CarShield extended warranty comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
You can get a CarShield extended warranty quote online or over the phone. We called in to get the above quotes for this Carshield review and found the experience to be simple, although the representative was persistent when we said we wouldn’t be buying at that time. The hold time was less than one minute, and the process took about 10 minutes in total.
Once you have CarShield extended warranty coverage, you can file a claim online or over the phone. You can also head to any repair shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASEⓇ), and your mechanic will take care of the details with CarShield after you’ve provided your plan information.
Covered repairs will be paid directly to the repair facility, and you will only have to pay a deductible for service.
CarShield Reviews
CarShield is endorsed by a host of celebrities and TV personalities such as sportscaster Chris Berman, actor Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters and actress Adrienne Janic of TLC’s Overhaulin’. Musician Ice-T recently joined the ranks of devoted CarShield supporters, too.
In terms of online support, CarShield has a 4.2-star “Great” rating with Trustpilot based on thousands of CarShield reviews. Positive reviews comment on CarShield customer service and claims servicing.
“Excellent service. Paid my claims without issue. Staff were 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
On the other hand, CarShield has an F rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and several hundred complaints from customers over the past three years. But when you consider the size of a company like CarShield, some complaints are expected. In three years, CarShield has sold more than 500,000 plans, so that makes the customer complaint ratio approximately 0.1% of all customers.
Negative CarShield reviews focus on unwanted sales calls and uncovered repairs. It’s worth noting that you should read through your coverage details before purchasing or during the cancellation window of 30 days so you can make sure you understand the plan’s finer details.
“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.”
-via Trustpilot
Conclusion: Is CarShield Worth It?
After performing in-depth research, we think CarShield is the Most Affordable provider in the extended car warranty industry. With over one million contracts sold and one billion paid in claims by administrators, CarShield has a track record that makes considering the company worthwhile.
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 run out or expire. With CarShield, you have the option to have your vehicle covered for as long as you want. Contracts renew every month, and your vehicle coverage continues even after expensive repairs. CarShield reviews are generally positive and compliment the company’s great customer service.
We recommend getting a quote from CarShield to see if it’s a good option for you. In our experience, the customer service representatives are friendly and will get you a reasonably priced quote quickly.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
CarShield is an excellent choice, especially if you’re looking for low prices. But any time you shop for a warranty, we recommend getting at least three quotes so you can compare coverage side by side. Learn more about two of the most reputable extended car warranty companies in the industry below and get free quotes from several providers.
| Most Affordable | Best Provider | Best for High-Mileage Cars |
| CarShield | Endurance | CARCHEX |
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| Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: |
| ★★★★½ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★½ |
| Get Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
| (800) 563-2761 | (877) 374-1840 | (866) 254-0205 |
Endurance: Best Provider
A direct provider of extended warranties, Endurance has been in business for 14 years and is known for its excellent reputation. The company holds a place on the 2019 Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing companies, and sponsors Jarett Andretti of Andretti Autosports in the racing world.
Endurance plans offer coverage for up to 15 years or 200,000 miles, and our Endurance warranty review found that prices are very competitive. With an Endurance extended warranty, you also get a number of benefits like roadside assistance, tire repair and replacement, and key fob replacement during the first year of coverage.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
Similarly to Endurance, CARCHEX has a wonderful reputation for comprehensive coverage and top-notch service. The provider has been offering extended warranties for 21 years and has plans available in every state including California. CARCHEX’s partners include Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.com, so you know the company is reliable. It also has an A+ rating from the BBB.
You can get a CARCHEX extended warranty with a term length up to 10 years or 250,000 miles. That’s one of the reasons why we think 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.
FAQ: CarShield Reviews
How much does CarShield cost on average?
CarShield costs about $85 to $130 per month on average. The extended warranty company has very affordable plans. When we requested a quote for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles, CarShield gave us a price of $88.78 for 18 months for a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty.
Is CarShield a good deal?
CarShield is a good deal, especially if price is an important consideration for your extended warranty needs. We found Carshield to have some of the lowest monthly rates, and CarShield reviews from customers highlight affordable warranty plans too.
What repairs does CarShield cover?
CarShield extended warranties can cover hundreds of vehicle components or just the essentials, depending on your plan. 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.
Does CarShield cover electrical problems?
Some Carshield plans cover electrical problems. CarShield’s Aluminum extended warranty plan in particular is designed to cover most electrical and computer-related problems in your vehicle, including the engine control module, starter, alternator, navigation/GPS, electrical system and more.
How expensive is CarShield?
CarShield is not very expensive. For a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles, CarShield gave us a price of $88.78 for 18 months for a 5-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty. A 4-year/100,000-mile powertrain plan for a 2012 Chevy Equinox with 90,000 miles was $127.67 for 18 months.