Our CARCHEX review named the warranty company runner-up for Best Provider thanks to its competitive rates and plans that cover vehicles up to 250,000 miles.
Among extended auto warranty companies, CARCHEX is known for its excellent reputation and coverage for high-mileage vehicles. In this CARCHEX review, we’ll take a closer look at the Baltimore-based provider to break down coverage, cost and the claims process. Then, we’ll see how CARCHEX stacks up to other top choices for the best extended car warranty.
CARCHEX Overview
| Overall Rating | 9.6 / 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 10.0 |
| Coverage | 9.5 |
| Warranty Cost | 9.0 |
| Transparency | 9.5 |
| Customer Experience | 9.0 |
CARCHEX is one of the biggest players in the auto warranty industry for a reason. After 22 years in business, the company has a sterling reputation — including an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating — and is endorsed by industry heavyweights like Kelley Blue Book, CARCHEX, the Vehicle Protection Association, CARFAX and Edmunds.com. You can find numerous accolades on the CARCHEX website as the company is highly rated across the board by both professionals and customers.
CARCHEX offers coverage for new cars and used cars in all 50 states, which is a rarity among top providers (which generally don’t operate in California). In addition, CARCHEX reviews from customers are some of the best of any extended warranty company.
What Does CARCHEX Cover?
CARCHEX covers car repairs after mechanical breakdowns with five extended warranty plans ranging from basic powertrain coverage to bumper-to-bumper warranty protection. With a CARCHEX warranty, you can get coverage up to 10 years or 250,000 miles. That’s one of the longest mileage term limits around.
| CARCHEX Warranty Plan | Years of Coverage | Coverage Overview |
|---|---|---|
| Titanium | Up to 10 | The highest level of coverage available, the Titanium plan offers exclusionary bumper-to-bumper protection similar to a factory warranty with very few exclusions. |
| Platinum | Up to 10 | The Platinum warranty provides the highest level of stated-component coverage with hundreds of components covered in all major vehicle systems. |
| Gold | Up to 10 | The Gold plan offers some protection for all major systems and is a good fit for vehicles with over 60,000 miles. |
| Silver | Up to 7 | The Silver plan provides essential coverage for major systems as a powertrain warranty with a few extras. |
| Bronze | Up to 6 | Bronze is the most basic level of coverage that can protect you from the most expensive repairs to the engine, drive axle and transmission. |
Within each level of coverage, there are many choices for plan administrators. As such, coverage and pricing can vary slightly, which gives you more options for customization. This is something commonly mentioned in CARCHEX reviews.
A CARCHEX extended warranty comes with a deductible of $0, $50, $100 or $200. Sample vehicle service contracts are available online, so you can read about coverage options in depth before making a decision. There is a waiting period of 30 days before coverage begins, which is standard in the industry.
When you purchase an extended warranty from CARCHEX, you receive the following extras as added benefits:
- Roadside assistance for towing, fuel delivery, lockout service and jump-starts
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption reimbursement
Whenever you purchase an extended auto warranty, read your contract thoroughly to make sure you understand any exclusions or limitations.
How Much Does a Carchex Warranty Cost?
When we reached out for quotes from CARCHEX, we were quoted $190 for 18 months for a 7-year/125,000-mile bumper-to-bumper extended warranty and $225 for 18 months for a 5-year/75,000 mile powertrain plus plan. Each plan had a $100 deductible. CARCHEX has competitive prices for extended warranties.
| CARCHEX Extended Warranty | Vehicle Profile | Coverage Term | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Titanium | 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles | 7 years/125,000 miles | $190 for 18 months | $342 | $3,420 |
| Silver | 2012 Chevy Equinox with 90,000 miles | 5 years/75,000 miles | $225 for 18 months | First month’s payment | $4,050 |
Because it was our first time calling CARCHEX, we were later offered a discounted down payment of $0 for the Titanium plan. The agent also offered to work with us to reduce the price further if we purchased plans for both vehicles. Compared to other top warranty providers, CARCHEX prices and payment plans are competitive.
Your price for an extended auto warranty may vary because warranty quotes are based on many factors, including:
- Vehicle make, model, age and mileage
- Level of coverage
- Deductible
- Location
CARCHEX warranties come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which entitles customers to full refunds if they change their minds within the first 30 days of their contracts.
How to Get a Quote and File a Claim with CARCHEX
You can get a CARCHEX extended warranty quote online or over the phone. We called CARCHEX to get the above quotes and found the experience to be easy. Hold time was less than one minute, and the process took around 10 minutes in total.
When you have CARCHEX coverage, you can file a claim online or by phone. CARCHEX lets you use any repair shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASEⓇ) for repairs, which is a huge benefit compared to manufacturer-backed auto warranties that require you to visit a dealership for service.
You simply provide your plan information to the dealership and pay a deductible for any covered repairs. CARCHEX will then pay the repair facility directly so you don’t have to pay repair costs up front and wait to be reimbursed. The level of service provided by CARCHEX is one of our favorite things about the company, and it’s mentioned in many CARCHEX reviews, too.
CARCHEX Reviews
CARCHEX has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB. You won’t find very many warranty companies that are accredited by the BBB, so this is worth noting. Fewer than 150 complaints have been logged with the BBB in the last three years, which is a very low number for a company the size of CARCHEX. CARCHEX customer service makes an effort to respond to negative CARCHEX reviews in a timely and fair manner.
Positive CARCHEX Reviews
Positive CARCHEX reviews discuss the extended warranty provider’s top-notch customer service.
I looked into a couple of options including a proposal from BMW . . . By far, CARCHEX seemed the most thorough, and their agreement listed the exclusions and it was easy to understand . . . I had no apprehension to move forward with CARCHEX.
Al via Trustpilot
[CARCHEX] took care [of] me and my car’s needs. The service center was paid on time . . . no issues.
Andrew via Trustpilot
Negative CARCHEX Reviews
Similar to most other warranty companies, negative CARCHEX reviews mention claims denials. Here are a few examples:
I purchased an extended warranty with CARCHEX, and I had an issue with my transmission alone and they denied my claim. I had been paying for this particular warranty for 13 months, and now [I] am requesting a refund due to my claim not being satisfied and coverage not meeting the needs.
Tonya J. via BBB
So I paid a lot of money for a worthless policy on my X5. [CARCHEX] never agreed to pay for any of the items I needed repaired. It would have been better to be without this policy. I would spend half the cost and use the money for the uncovered items.
Galactus via Trustpilot
To avoid confusion over what’s covered by your plan, make sure to read through any contract you are considering in full before purchasing or during the 30-day cancellation time frame.
Conclusion: Is CARCHEX Worth It?
Our CARCHEX review named the warranty company runner-up for Best Provider thanks to its competitive rates and plans that cover vehicles up to 250,000 miles. Overall, we recommend CARCHEX for extended vehicle protection and peace of mind.
After extensively researching the brand’s reputation, coverage, price, transparency, and customer experience, we believe CARCHEX is worth it for an extended auto warranty. It has been trusted by leaders in the auto warranty space and customers alike for over 20 years, as shown by numerous online CARCHEX reviews, and we had a pleasant experience calling in for a quote.
CARCHEX can provide you with a free quote to see what warranty coverage would look like for your vehicle.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
CARCHEX is a solid option for an extended warranty, particularly if you have a lot of miles on your car. But we always recommend getting at least three quotes when you shop for coverage to make sure you’re getting the best deal for your situation.
While CARCHEX is a great choice for many or even most drivers, it may not be the right choice for you. Our experts have recommended two reputable extended car warranty companies below to help you make an informed decision about your extended warranty options.
Endurance: Best Provider
Like CARCHEX, Endurance is known for its excellent reputation. The direct provider of extended warranties has been in business for 14 years and holds a place on the 2020 Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation’s fastest-growing companies. It also sponsors Jarett Andretti of Andretti Autosports in the racing world.
We named Endurance the Best Provider overall for its comprehensive coverage and benefits. Endurance plans offer coverage for up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles, and our Endurance warranty review found that prices are very competitive. During the first year of coverage, you also get numerous benefits like roadside assistance, tire repair and replacement and key fob replacement.
To see how CARCHEX and Endurance warranties compare, read our full CARCHEX vs. Endurance review.
CarShield: Most Affordable
When you start researching extended warranties, CarShield is going to be one of the first companies on your radar. The provider is the most popular in the industry by far and is endorsed by many celebrities and television personalities, including sportscaster Chris Berman, actor Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters and actress Adrienne Janic of TLC’s Overhaulin’.
CarShield offers six levels of coverage, including one plan just for motorcycles and ATVs. Our CarShield review found that Carshield rates are some of the cheapest in the nation, and there are options for traditional financing and unlimited plans. If cost is most important to you, CarShield could be your best choice.
Learn more in our CARCHEX vs. CarShield review.
Read our other guides for more information:
FAQ: CARCHEX Reviews
How do I cancel a CARCHEX warranty?
Most CARCHEX coverage plans have a 30-day money-back guarantee where you receive a full refund. After that period, you’ll receive a prorated refund, minus a $50 cancellation fee, if you end your contract early.
What is the CARCHEX claims number?
For CARCHEX customers, the mechanic is the person who contacts the claims department once they have diagnosed the breakdown. The number the repair shop will call depends on which company administers your vehicle protection plan. So a different number will be required for a plan overseen by American Auto Shield vs. Administration Plus.
Does CARCHEX have a waiting period?
Yes, CARCHEX plans have a 30-day waiting period before the provider will review any claims.
Is CARCHEX a legitimate company?
Many CARCHEX reviews from customers say positive things about the company, plus the extended warranty provider has an excellent A+ rating from the BBB.
Is a CARCHEX warranty worth it?
We believe a CARCHEX warranty is worth it due to the provider’s long coverage terms and competitive rates, which is why our review team named it the runner-up for Best Provider. That said, it is possible the cost of a warranty could outpace what a driver would pay for maintenance and repairs out of pocket. CARCHEX is also not the only extended warranty company for used cars.
Is CARCHEX the same as CarShield?
Even though both companies are reputable extended auto warranty providers, CARCHEX and CarShield are separately owned.
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.
