Extended auto warranties can save you thousands of dollars in repairs after your car’s factory warranty expires. Our in-depth car warranties comparison between two leading providers – CARCHEX vs. Endurance – describes both companies’ coverage, cost, customer service and benefits.
Below, you’ll find a side-by-side comparison of the two providers. Keep reading to learn which provider might be best for you, or get a quote from one (or both) of the companies today. After all, that’s the best way to find your lowest-cost option.
CARCHEX and Endurance Overview
CARCHEX was founded in 1999 as a national provider of mobile pre-purchase car inspections. In 2004, it added vehicle service contracts to its suite of products and quickly grew to become one of the biggest and most popular names in the industry. It has since received numerous endorsements from industry leaders such as CARFAX, SiriusXM, Edmunds.com and Kelley Blue Book. CARCHEX has even made the Inc. 5000 list for several years running. You can think of CARCHEX as a broker of extended warranties. The company offers affordable, customizable protection plans from top-rated administrators to its customers.
Endurance Warranty Services LLC is headquartered in Northbrook, Illinois where was founded in 2006. It is one of the most popular warranty companies on the market. It boasts a positive customer service reputation along with a Gold certification status from the Vehicle Protection Association. In 2019, it was in the Inc. 5000 list and received the Gold Stevie award in 2016 and 2017. While CARCHEX offers vehicle protection plans from multiple providers, Endurance is a direct administrator of most of its extended warranties or extended protection plans.
CARCHEX
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16 protection plans
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A+ rating from the BBB
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Covers most older vehicles up to 10 years old and up to 250,000 miles
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Full refund if canceled within first 30 days
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Transferable plans
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Extended warranty broker
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Doesn’t cover repairs due to neglect, weather, accidents or wear and tear
Endurance
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Certified by the Vehicle Protection Association
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Covers most older cars up to 15 and to 200,000 miles
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Full refund if canceled within first 30 days
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Free one-year Endurance Elite Membership
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Endurance Protect app to manage your warranty
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Transferable plans
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Direct provider
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Doesn’t provide coverage in California
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Doesn’t cover repairs due to neglect, weather, accidents or wear and tear
Regardless of which provider you’re leaning towards, it’s best to get a custom quote from both. Pricing will vary based on your location, vehicle and more. With quotes from each, you can compare the two options side by side. Use the tool below to reach out for fast custom quotes today.
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CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Coverage
CARCHEX offers five levels of coverage that range from basic powertrain protection to full-coverage bumper-to-bumper extended warranty contracts. Endurance has six plans that offer similar coverage, as well as a plan unique in the industry that combines extended warranty and maintenance coverage. CARCHEX contracts can provide higher mileage limits (up to 250,000 miles), and Endurance offers up to 250,000 miles.
CARCHEX Coverage
Described below, CARCHEX offers five levels of extended warranty coverage with multiple options at each level. There are 16 protection plans in all with coverage terms ranging from 5 to 10 years.
- Titanium: The Titanium level provides bumper-to-bumper protection, similar to a manufacturer’s warranty. Most suitable for newer cars, it includes coverage for all car components other than stated exclusions in the contract.
- Platinum: The Platinum level is the highest level of stated-component coverage available at CARCHEX. It provides protection for hundreds of listed car parts, including suspension, enhanced electrical, heating/cooling, and all the parts in the Gold, Silver and Bronze tiers.
- Gold: The Gold level protects all the major car systems. CARCHEX recommends this level for cars with more than 60,000 miles, which is when most warranties expire.
- Silver: The Silver level provides essential coverage for the major car systems – fuel delivery, electrical, air conditioning and powertrain.
- Bronze: The Bronze level protects the engine, transmission and drive axle, which can be some of the most expensive parts to repair.
Regular maintenance, batteries, tires and other wear-and-tear items are not covered under CARCHEX warranties. However, this is true for most vehicle service contracts. For more details about the plans, including a complete list of exclusions, we recommend reading the sample contracts on the CARCHEX website.
Endurance Coverage
Endurance warranties come in six coverage levels. However, since it is a direct provider of plans and doesn’t offer plans from multiple providers, each coverage tier has only one plan.
- Supreme: The Supreme level offers the highest level of coverage and is similar to a new vehicle limited warranty. It provides maximum breakdown protection for all car parts, except certain listed exclusions.
- Superior: The Superior level is the highest level of stated component coverage available at Endurance, covering hundreds of listed car components.
- Secure Plus: The Secure Plus plan provides mid-level comprehensive coverage, including coverage for steering, brakes and electrical components. This plan has the shortest waiting period for an Endurance car warranty at 30 days and 1,000 miles.
- Select Premier: The Select Premier level provides coverage for the most important parts of high-mileage cars such as the powertrain components, air conditioning, cooling and electrical.
- Secure: The Secure level offers the most affordable coverage of all Endurance warranties and protects powertrain components.
- EnduranceAdvantage™: The Advantage plan covers mechanical breakdowns and regularly scheduled maintenance. There are three levels of coverage – Prime, Plus, and Preferred – all of which feature high-level stated-component coverage. Maintenance coverage includes oil changes, engine diagnostics, brake pad replacements and more.
We recommend reading the sample contracts provided on the Endurance website for a complete list of coverage details.
CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Benefits
While CARCHEX offers standard benefits such as roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and a trip interruption allowance, Endurance provides some of the most extensive benefits in the industry. In addition to standard benefit options, Endurance provides all customers one year of free Endurance Elite Membership, which includes better perks than any extended car warranty provider we have reviewed.
CARCHEX Benefits
All CARCHEX auto warranties come with additional benefits such as:
- Rental reimbursement: This benefit covers the cost of a rental car up to $40 per day for a maximum of $175 for each repair.
- Trip interruption: If you have a covered breakdown more than 100 miles from home, this service pays up to $50 per day for a maximum of three days for meals and lodging.
- 24/7 roadside assistance: This service pays up to $100 (per occurrence) for emergency roadside assistance such as flat tire changes, gas delivery, towing, battery jumpstarts and lockout services.
Endurance Benefits
All Endurance warranties include the following benefits:
Rental car reimbursement: This benefit covers expenses (up to $30 per day and $150 per breakdown) to rent a vehicle or use alternate public transportation while your vehicle is being repaired at a licensed repair facility.
24/7 roadside assistance: A covered breakdown will entitle you to any one of the following benefits per 72 hours:
- Towing service (full coverage for a tow of 25 miles or less)
- Fuel/fluid delivery service (covers the cost of delivery only)
- Tire service (covers the cost of changing a flat tire with your spare)
- Trip interruption (up to $150 day for a maximum of three days if a covered breakdown occurs more than 100 miles from home)
- Mechanical first aid
- Battery jumpstart
- Lockout service
Elite Endurance Membership: Every Endurance warranty comes with a membership to the Elite Endurance Membership program, which offers the following additional benefits:
- Extra discounts ($250 to spend at select partners plus other discounts)
- Repair finance (up to $5,000 in repair loans)
- Tire repair/replacement (up to two tires per year)
- Personal concierge
- Endurance Protect App
- ID theft recovery
- Key fob replacement
While this is a great service to have, it is included with your Endurance warranty for only one year. After the first year, you will have to pay to renew your membership if you wish to continue with the program.
CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Customer Service
Both CARCHEX and Endurance offer excellent customer service, but in this department, CARCHEX slightly wins out. CARCHEX reviews are strong on most sites and the company is accredited by the Better Business Bureau where it has a higher rating than Endurance.
CARCHEX Customer Service
CARCHEX operates by the motto, “Customer Experience Above All,” and this is reflected in its ratings. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives CARCHEX an A+ rating, which is the highest possible rating. CARCHEX has also been accredited with the BBB since 2009, which indicates its commitment to ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction. On ThoroughlyReviewed.com, CARCHEX scored 10/10 on customer service categories such as claims service and help and support. On Trustpilot, CARCHEX has an average rating of 3.8 out of 5 with over 1200 reviews. ShopperApproved.com gave similar ratings: 3.7 for customer service and an overall score of 4.4.
Endurance Customer Service
Endurance has an exceptional reputation for customer service in the extended warranty market. While it is not accredited with the BBB, it is important to remember that companies are not obligated to register with the organization. The company has earned a nearly four-star BBB customer review score, which is high for the industry. Endurance is currently rated C+ by the BBB, largely due to an ongoing advertising review of the business. However, we were able to determine that it has had B and B+ ratings in the past.
ThroughlyReviewed.com gives Endurance a 9.6 score. The lower scores are on coverage options and claims service, but they are still positive overall.
On Trustpilot, Endurance warranty reviews are mostly positive, with the company scoring an average rating of 4 out of 5 with over 460 reviews. ShopperApproved.com does not list Endurance.
CARCHEX Vs. Endurance Cost
The cost of your car warranty will depend on the customer, so neither company is definitively cheaper than the other for every company. Both CARCHEX and Endurance offer some of the lowest prices in the industry for high-level coverage.
How Much Does CARCHEX Cost?
CARCHEX warranty prices can vary with the age of the vehicle, its make and model, mileage, the plan, and coverage terms. Some contracts mention surcharges for diesel vehicles, four-wheel/all-wheel drive, turbocharger/supercharger, electric/hybrid vehicles and vehicles with one ton gross vehicle weight capability. Since CARCHEX acts as a broker for several providers, its prices will be competitive. The company promises a “No-Haggle, Low-Price Everyday Guarantee™,” meaning when you call for a quote, you should get the lowest price up front.
On average, a CARCHEX warranty for a 2007-2014 model Toyota will cost around $56 per month.* The company has flexible payment plans that allow you to pay the full amount up front or in installments. You can choose from a deductible of $0, $50, $100 or $200. CARCHEX car warranties can be canceled anytime, but you will receive a full refund only if you cancel within the first 30 days. After that, you will receive a prorated refund.
How Much Does Endurance Cost?
Just like a CARCHEX warranty, your final Endurance warranty price will be affected by multiple factors, including the age, make, model, and mileage of your vehicle, your driving habits, the deductible you choose, etc. You’ll be charged extra to include these features:
- High-tech components
- Commercial use
- Tire modification/body or suspension
- Hybrid vehicle
The standard deductible for an Endurance warranty is $100 unless otherwise specified on the contract. You may also be able to choose a disappearing deductible in some cases. The best way to find your Endurance warranty price is to get a quote.
Conclusion: CARCHEX Vs. Endurance
Based on our research, we find that both CARCHEX and Endurance are excellent options for an extended car warranty and offer similar coverage and benefits.
The key difference is that CARCHEX partners with plan administrators while Endurance is a direct provider. If you have a strong preference for one of these, that may be your deciding factor. Other than that, it may come down to contract details, the quoted price or your experience with customer service. We recommend contacting both CARCHEX and Endurance to get a free, customized quote before you make a decision.
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*Figure accurate as of May 2017. Average monthly coverage cost is based on the average total price of the Vehicle Protection Plan over a four year coverage period. Actual monthly payments will vary per plan’s payment policy. Individual pricing is subject to change based on the combination of make, model, year, and mileage as well as coverage level and term length.
