Top 4 Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies

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Every year, millions of dollars are spent on extended warranties. Before purchasing one, wise consumers want to know how to find reputable extended car warranty companies.

We’re dedicated to helping consumers make better decisions. In this guide, our research team highlights four top extended car warranty companies that stand out for their reputation. Keep reading to learn more about which companies are reputable and worth considering.

Below are our top three picks. We recommend getting free, personalized quotes from at least two providers so you can compare customized pricing and coverage plans side by side.

Best Provider	Best for High-Mileage Cars	Most Affordable
Endurance	CARCHEX	CarShield
Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:
★★★★★	★★★★½	★★★★½
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(866) 254-0205	(800) 563-2761

Table of Contents:

• • Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
  • #1: Endurance (Best Provider)
  • #2: CARCHEX (Best for High-Mileage Cars)
  • #3: CarShield (Most Affordable)
  • #4: Protect My Car (Best Long-Term Financing)
  • How to Choose from Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies
  • What Makes an Extended Warranty Company Reputable?

Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies

 
 
To select the four most reputable extended car warranty companies, we reviewed every leading provider in the warranty industry in areas like coverage, cost, transparency, the customer experience and, of course, reputation. Endurance, CARCHEX, CarShield and Protect My Car topped our list. Keep reading to find out why we recommend these extended warranty companies

#1: Endurance (Best Provider) 

Endurance is based in Northbrook, Illinois and has offered extended warranties since 2006. The provider offers five different coverage plans: Select Premier, Secure, Secure Plus, Superior and Supreme.

Endurance was named Best Provider by our review team for its excellent customer service, awards and direct-to-customer business model.

A downside to Endurance is that the company is not BBB accredited or rated. However, the company’s awards, years in business and partnerships speak to its excellent reputation as an extended car warranty provider.

Here are a few ways Endurance demonstrates leadership among its competition.

1. Awards: Endurance appeared on the 2019 Inc. 5000 as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. The company also received a 2019 Stevie Award as a “Great Employer” for its impressive employee benefits.
2. Partnerships: Endurance holds a partnership with Andretti Motorsports, one of the most successful auto racing companies in the world. 
3. Years in Business: Endurance has been in business for 13 years, making it one of the older companies in the industry.
4. Direct business model: Endurance covers the entire warranty process itself for most of its plans without using third-party administrators.

#2: CARCHEX (Best for High-Mileage Cars) 

A Baltimore, Maryland based provider, CARCHEX has been in business since 2004 and offers five different levels of warranty coverage: Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze.

Our research team named CARCHEX our Best for High-Mileage Cars for its industry leadership. Here are a few reasons why this provider stands out among its competitors.

1. Awards: CARCHEX is an eight-time Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame honoree as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. CARCHEX was also awarded the Top Workplaces Award by the Baltimore Sun for seven consecutive years.
2. Partnerships: CARCHEX holds partnerships with several auto industry leaders such as CARFAX, Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book. 
3. Years in Business: CARCHEX has been in business for 20 years, which is much longer than most providers in the industry.
4. BBB accreditation and rating: CARCHEX is BBB accredited and holds an A+ rating from the organization.

#3: CarShield (Most Affordable)

Based out of Saint Peters, Missouri, CarShield has covered over one million vehicles since its founding 15 years ago. CarShield offers various plans and coverage for specific vehicles and high-tech equipment.

CarShield is able to offer several plan options because they are a vehicle service contract broker, meaning that CarShield’s offers are carried out by another administrator. Because of this, CarShield plans are not defined by one administrator, and the company is able to offer six more tailored coverage plans.

CarShield was named Most Affordable by our research team for its more affordable plans that include great perks, such as roadside assistance. Possible downfalls to CarShield include mixed customer reviews and our finding that not all contracts are transferable.

Here are a few ways that CarShield stands out amongst its competitors:

1. Awards: CarShield has been named as one of the fastest-growing companies in the U.S. by the Inc. 5000 and as a 2020 Top Workplace by the St. Louis Dispatch.
2. Partnerships: CarShield maintains a partnership with American Auto Shield, one of the industry’s top administrator that provides contract holders with top-notch security. CarShield also partners with Mepco and Paylink Direct, two distinct payment processors.
3. Years in Business: Founded 15 years ago, CarShield is one of the more established auto warranty companies in the industry.
4. BBB accreditation and rating: While CarShield’s BBB rating may be lower than competitors, customers are overall pleased with the company’s professionalism and customer service.

#4: Protect My Car (Best Long-Term Financing)

Protect My Car is based out of Saint Petersburg, Florida, and has been in business since 2005. Known for their wide array of five-star customer reviews on the BBB website, Protect My Car offers three different extended warranty coverage plans with flexible payment terms.

In addition to their three extended auto warranty plans (Supreme, Select and Driveline), Protect My Car also offers an Ambassador maintenance plans. These plans combine an extended warranty with prepaid maintenance and can cover almost any car with the three different plans offered (Ambassador Elite, Ambassador Pro and Ambassador Platinum).

Our research team recognized Protect My Car to have the Best Long-Term Financing for its discounts and flexible payment plans. On the other hand, Protect My Car does not include a basic powertrain plan and their plans are not available in all states.

Here are a few ways Protect My Car stands out amongst competitors:

1. Awards: Protect My Car was named as a Fast 50 honoree in 2019, recognized as one of the 50 fastest growing privately held companies in the Tampa Bay area.
2. Partnerships: Protect My Car has partnered with The ACVPP (Association of Certified Vehicle Protection Professionals) and the Contact Center Compliance (CCC) to ensure the professional training of sales representatives and accurate compliance across the industry.
3. Years In Business: Protect My Car was founded 15 years ago and is an enduring company in the auto warranty industry.
4. Rating and Reviews: Protect My Car is not currently rated by the BBB but has several positive review, as well as a 3.7 star rating on Trustpilot.

How to Choose from Reputable Extended Car Warranty Companies

Because warranty prices are heavily affected by your vehicle make, model, mileage and more, what’s best for your neighbor might not be best for you. We recommend reviewing sample contracts online and getting quotes from the industry’s most reputable providers so you can compare your options.

Here’s an overview of our choices for reputable extended car warranty companies:

• Endurance: Best Provider
• CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
• CarShield: Most Affordable
• Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing

Best Provider	Best for High-Mileage Cars	Most Affordable
Endurance	CARCHEX	CarShield
Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:	Editor’s Rating:
★★★★★	★★★★½	★★★★½
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(866) 254-0205	(800) 563-2761

You can also read more about each of these three top providers on our best extended car warranties article.

What Makes an Extended Warranty Company Reputable?

There are several important factors our review team examines to evaluate the reputation of extended car warranty companies. These factors include:

1. Years in Business: It is hard for any company to stay in business for a long time. In fact, Inc. magazine estimates that 96% of businesses fail within 10 years. Extended car warranty companies with many years in the business are more likely to have good coverage plans and excellent customer service.
2. Awards: Reputable extended car warranty companies often earn awards for their business growth, customer service, or treatment of their employees.
3. Partnerships: Many companies seek partnerships with other companies and individuals to promote their brand. When an extended car warranty company is able to secure a notable partnership, it is a sign that the company carries a strong reputation.
4. Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation and rating: Many companies choose not to become BBB accredited because of the cost involved, but those that do demonstrate a strong commitment to business integrity. And, if the company received a high rating from the organization, that is icing on the cake.