Do you ever wish you could get warranty coverage for only one or two systems on your car? Well, with American Auto Repair Coverage (AARC), that’s a possibility. The company offers a flexible plan that lets you add coverage for whichever systems you want. But is AARC coverage a good deal?
In this article, we’ll look at American Auto Repair Coverage in terms of plan options, costs, reviews and more to determine if it’s a reputable company. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies and will compare AARC to industry leaders as well.
If you’re looking for a vehicle protection plan to help get your car back on the road after a breakdown, it’s smart to get multiple quotes from top companies to find the best deal. You can start getting free quotes from our highest-rated providers below.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
Is an American Auto Repair Coverage Warranty Worth It?
American Auto Repair Coverage was founded in 2012 and is based in Saint Peters, Missouri. Compared to other reputable extended car warranty companies, AARC hasn’t been around for very long, but the company does receive positive reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Currently, it has an A+ BBB rating and a 4.55 out of 5-star customer rating, though it isn’t accredited.
American Auto Repair Coverage offers three types of warranty plans, plus a build-your-own plan option, which is unique in the industry. However, the provider doesn’t provide sample contracts for any of its plans, and it doesn’t disclose the companies that administer them.
| Overall Rating | 6.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 6.0 |
| Coverage | 6.0 |
| Warranty Cost | N/A |
| Transparency | 4.0 |
| Customer Experience | 8.0 |
Is American Auto Repair Coverage worth it? The AARC website lacks some information, and you can’t view sample contracts before requesting a quote. For these reasons, we recommend choosing a different provider.
AARC Extended Car Warranty Coverage
In addition to a custom extended car warranty option, American Auto Repair Coverage offers three standard plans:
- Ultimate: This plan is comparable to a factory warranty and covers almost any mechanical failure on the vehicle.
- Comprehensive: This plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axles, steering, brakes, suspension, air conditioner, cooling system, electrical, high-tech components and fuel system.
- Enhanced: This plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axles, air conditioner, cooling system, electrical and fuel system.
If you want to personalize your warranty coverage, you can build your own plan from any of the major systems listed under the Comprehensive plan. You could just cover the engine or electrical system, for example. This makes American Auto Repair Coverage more versatile than most competitors.
The Ultimate plan is similar to a factory warranty, but it doesn’t cover everything. AARC won’t cover damage from misuse or lack of maintenance. It also won’t cover regular wear and tear or wear items like brake pads.
There isn’t an option to view sample contracts, as we mentioned above. The website also doesn’t disclose the maximum mileage or model year covered under warranty. If you get a quote from this provider, be sure to read through your contract in its entirety before signing on the dotted line. AARC doesn’t list a refund period, but a 30-day money back guarantee is standard in the industry.
AARC Plan Benefits
American Auto Repair Coverage offers the following benefits with all of its plans:
- Roadside assistance including towing, lockout services, jump-starts, fuel deliveries and spare tire changes
- Trip interruption reimbursement if you have a covered breakdown over 100 miles from home
- Tire repair in the case of a blowout
- Rental car coverage
Most of these benefits are standard in the industry, except for tire repair. This is a nice added benefit.
Cost of an American Auto Repair Coverage Extended Warranty
Like all extended auto warranty companies, AARC personalizes prices based on factors such as the plan you choose, the deductible you choose, your location and your vehicle. The model, mileage and age of your car are all taken into account.
As cars age and increase in mileage, the likelihood of repairs also increases. This, in turn, causes prices to rise. So, a car with 70,000 miles will be more expensive to cover with a warranty than a car with 20,000 miles, all else being equal.
In our research, we found that most leading vehicle service contracts cost an average of $585 per year of coverage. If you receive a quote around $2,500 for a five-year plan, that’s in line with the industry standard. But if the same plan costs $4,500, you should keep shopping around for a better price.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim
Drivers in most states can get a free quote from the American Auto Repair Coverage website. You’ll need to provide the year, make, model and mileage of your car along with basic contact information. After you submit the request, an associate will contact you during business hours to discuss pricing.
Filing a claim is also easy. You can take your vehicle to any licensed repair shop, though AARC recommends bringing it back to your dealer. Connect the shop with American Auto Repair Coverage so the provider can authorize the repair. If the repair is covered, AARC will pay the shop directly, and you’ll just pay your deductible.
American Auto Repair Coverage Reviews
AARC has mostly positive reviews on the BBB. It also has a 4.3 out of 5.0-star rating from reviewers on Google. Below are a few positive and negative American Auto Repair Coverage reviews so you can get a feel for the company.
Positive Reviews
“For once I feel there’s a company that actually cares about its customers and is not just after money. I’d recommend this company any day. They have a neat-looking booklet that has every piece of information you’d ever need.”
– Vinayak S. via BBB
“My transmission went out, and I would have been saddled with an unpayable bill. But thanks to the extended warranty, I was able to have my car back on the road in about a week or so.”
– John O. via BBB
Negative Reviews
“What I was told when I bought my package was different from what I was told when I wanted to use my package. Make sure you read through their disclosure.”
– Ali M. via BBB
“It’s [been] over five months now after cancellation and they [are] still spinning me around saying they will mail a check to me, but it never happens each time they promise.”
– Desmond F. via Google
Our Verdict on American Auto Repair Coverage: 6.0 / 10.0
American Auto Repair Coverage has a good customer service reputation and it offers a way for drivers to build their own plan. However, since there are no sample contracts or information on the companies that administer AARC plans, we don’t recommend this provider as your first choice.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
An extended car warranty can be a big purchase, so it’s a good idea to take the time to shop around and find the right provider for you. Comparing quotes from different companies is the best way to find the coverage you need at a price you’re comfortable with. After reviewing many providers, we found that Endurance and CarShield both stand out from the crowd.
Endurance: Best Provider
Endurance offers six plans for drivers to choose from, and coverage can extend up to 200,000+ miles. We like that Endurance provides sample contracts for each plan online. Endurance also administers its own contracts, which can make filing a claim easier.
Looking at benefits, Endurance provides everything American Auto Repair Coverage does, including road hazard tire repair. Endurance also offers additional perks like identity theft protection tools, repair financing and discounts on shopping and dining. You might not choose your warranty company based solely on extra perks, but they are certainly nice to have.
Learn more in our Endurance warranty review, and get a free, personalized quote from Endurance by clicking below.
CarShield: Most Affordable
CarShield is a great option if you want to stay under budget and save money. Out of every top provider we reviewed, CarShield offered us the most affordable rates. The provider also offers a range of deductible options, which can affect the total price.
CarShield offers six plans, including specialty plans for high-tech equipment and off-road vehicles. The company has been in business for 15 years and is one of the most popular providers we’ve reviewed – it has almost 15,000 reviews on Trustpilot with a 4.1 out of 5.0-star rating.
Find out more in our CarShield review, and click below to get a free quote from CarShield.
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.
