CARCHEX and CarShield are two of the most popular extended warranty companies in the industry.
A Baltimore, Maryland based provider, CARCHEX has been offering extended auto warranties since 2004. CarShield, a St. Peters, Missouri-based provider, has been offering extended warranties since 2005.
If you’re trying to decide which provider is a better fit for you, we’re here to help. In this article, our review team examines CARCHEX vs. CarShield on several criteria, including coverage, cost and reputation.
After reading this article, you’ll be able to make a more informed decision on which extended warranty company is right for your specific needs.
Table of Contents:
- CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Coverage
- CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Cost
- CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Reputation
- CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Conclusion
| Best for High-Mileage Cars | Most Affordable |
| CARCHEX | CarShield |
 |
 |
| Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: |
| ★★★★½ | ★★★★½ |
| Get Quote | Get Quote |
| (866) 254-0205 | (800) 563-2761 |
CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Coverage
CARCHEX and CarShield are fairly similar in terms of their coverage options, as outlined in the table below.
CARCHEX does not cover specialty vehicles such as motorcycles or ATVs, so CarShield is your winner if you are looking to purchase an extended warranty for one of these types of vehicles.
On the other hand, if you need an extended warranty that covers a hybrid vehicle’s batteries and parts, only CARCHEX offers to cover these items.
Winner: Tie. Both of these providers have a solid number of different coverage plans to choose from. CARCHEX offers slightly higher allowances for roadside assistance and towing, but each of these providers has important coverage advantages over the other.
| Provider | Number of coverage plans | Maximum mileage for coverage | Covers specialty vehicles such as motorcycles and ATVs | Covers hybrid batteries and parts | Roadside Assistance | Towing Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARCHEX | 5 | 250,000 miles | X | Only some plans | $50 max per occurrence (up to 10 occurrences) | $100 per occurrence |
| CarShield | 6 | 200,000 miles | ✓ | X | $400 limit per contract | $75 per occurrence |
CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Cost
The cost of an extended warranty from CARCHEX or CarShield is determined by several factors, including your vehicle’s mileage, age, and model. Because these providers’ warranty prices are individualized and not made public, it is unclear whether one of these providers is more affordable than the other.
Drivers typically pay between $350 and $1,500 per year for an extended warranty. The older your car is and the more miles it has, the more expensive your warranty will generally be. It is also helpful to know that luxury brands and models tend to have higher warranty costs as do vehicles known for having low reliability ratings.
The best way to determine which provider has the more affordable cost is to receive a quote from each of them and compare the two.
If you receive a more affordable quote from a provider that isn’t your first choice, it is a smart idea to mention that quote to your preferred provider. It is common for extended warranty companies to try to match or beat competitive quotes to try to win your business.
Winner: Tie. It is unclear whether CARCHEX or CarShield is the more affordable provider since warranty prices are individualized to your unique vehicle.
CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Reputation
When comparing extended warranty companies, it is important to evaluate the reputation of each provider you are considering. The better the reputation of the warranty provider, the more likely it will be to provide high quality plans and deliver great customer service.
We examined CARCHEX vs. CarShield below on a few common factors related to a company’s reputation.
- Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation: CARCHEX holds an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB and CarShield does not hold accreditation from the BBB. Many companies legitimately choose to not maintain BBB accreditation because it is too expensive for them, but holding accreditation still shows a strong commitment to business integrity.
- Customer complaints: CARCHEX has only received 78 complaints on its BBB profile. That is very impressive considering the company receives an estimated $80 million dollars in revenue every year. In comparison, CarShield has received over 709 complaints on its BBB webpage. 709 complaints is still a very small number of complaints considering that CarShield has covered over 1 million vehicles. That being said, CARCHEX still has significantly less customer complaints than CarShield.
- Industry Partnerships: CARCHEX holds partnerships with several auto industry leaders such as CARFAX, Edmunds.com, and Kelley Blue Book. These partnerships lend weight to CARCHEX as a top extended warranty provider. CarShield does not hold such automotive industry partnerships.
- National Awards: CARCHEX is an eight-time Inc. 5000 Hall of Fame honoree as one of the United States’ fastest-growing companies. In addition, CARCHEX was awarded the Top Workplaces Award by the Baltimore Sun for seven consecutive years. CarShield appeared in the 2017 Inc. 5000 and was also named among the Best Places to Work by Glassdoor in 2018.
- National Media Recognition: Both providers have been featured in national media channels, including ABC, PBS, NBC, CBS, and Fox News.
Winner: CARCHEX. CARCHEX holds a superior reputation to CarShield based on its BBB accreditation and rating, fewer customer complaints, and strong industry partnerships.
CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Conclusion
Generally, CARCHEX is a better extended warranty provider than CarShield. CARCHEX holds a stellar reputation, and we believe that reputation is indicative of a better overall customer experience.
Before making a final decision, we recommend that our readers receive a free quote from each provider and also check out their sample contracts.
| Best for High-Mileage Cars | Most Affordable |
| CARCHEX | CarShield |
|
|
| Editor’s Rating: | Editor’s Rating: |
| ★★★★½ | ★★★★½ |
| Get Quote | Get Quote |
| (866) 254-0205 | (800) 563-2761 |
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