CARCHEX is among the most reputable extended car warranty companies out there, but is it the right choice to protect your vehicle? In this review, we’ll go into what protection CARCHEX offers and how much it costs. We’ll also take a look at customer reviews and ratings to get a better sense of the warranty provider’s reputation.
When looking for an extended car warranty, it’s best to research multiple providers. We’ve reviewed the top third-party warranty providers, finding CARCHEX to among the best.
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Choice of any repair shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®)
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Coverage available up to 250,000 miles
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Five plans to choose from
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Pays repair facility directly
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24/7 roadside assistance
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Not every car is eligible for coverage
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Hybrids cost extra
CARCHEX Review: 9.6 Out of 10.0
In our review of the best extended auto warranties for 2022, we gave CARCHEX a 9.6 out of 10.0 rating and named it Best for Used Cars.
| Overall Rating | 9.6 / 10.0 |
|---|---|
| Industry Reputation | 10.0 |
| Coverage | 9.5 |
| Warranty Cost | 9.0 |
| Transparency | 9.5 |
| Customer Experience | 9.0 |
Bottom Line: Is CARCHEX Worth It?
Considering the company’s reputation, coverage options, prices, and customer experience, our team of experts recognizes CARCHEX as one of the best extended car warranty options available. After a thorough CARCHEX review, we awarded the company the designation of Best for Used Cars because it covers vehicles up to 250,000 miles.
CARCHEX Overview
Headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, CARCHEX has been in business for 23 years, six years longer than most other leading providers. Drivers can be confident it is an established and reliable company.
Like most extended warranty companies, CARCHEX sells vehicle service contracts administered by other highly rated companies, including American Auto Shield and Royal Administration Services. The third-party warranty provider is one of the only companies that sells contracts in all 50 states.
CARCHEX maintains an A+ rating and accreditation from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It’s also endorsed by industry leaders like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, CARFAX, and RepairPal. We chose CARCHEX as the best option for older vehicles since it covers cars up to 250,000 miles.
How Much Does A CARCHEX Warranty Cost?
In our CARCHEX review, we found the company is generally affordable compared to other extended warranty providers. We found quotes ranging from $107 to $154 per month and total costs ranging from $2,400 to $3,700. However, prices are influenced by many factors, including your car’s make, model, year, and mileage.
You’ll likely find different prices than these when you get an extended warranty quote. You may find cheaper prices if you choose a shorter warranty term or a lower coverage plan than the ones below. However, you can expect to pay more for an extended warranty if your car has below-average reliability ratings.
All CARCHEX extended warranty plans we received quotes for came with a $100 deductible and did not require a down payment.
What Does CARCHEX Cover?
CARCHEX offers a wide range of options, from basic powertrain coverage to coverage similar to a new car factory warranty. Depending on your vehicle, these plans can cover up to 250,000 miles on cars up to 20 years old. This also makes it one of the best extended warranties for cars over 100k miles.
Here’s an overview of the CARCHEX coverage plans:
| CARCHEX Warranty Plan | Coverage Description |
|---|---|
| Titanium | The highest level of coverage from CARCHEX is similar to a manufacturer’s warranty. As an exclusionary warranty, it covers almost any mechanical or electrical component on the car. |
| Platinum | This plan is the most comprehensive component coverage contract from CARCHEX. It covers parts on 15 systems, including the engine, brakes, suspension, electronic high-tech, turbocharger, and audio. |
| Gold | This mid-tier plan from CARCHEX covers parts on 13 major vehicle systems and is a good option for higher-mileage cars. |
| Silver | This CARCHEX plan covers the powertrain (engine, transmission, and drive axle), plus the cooling system, transfer unit, fuel system, air conditioning, electrical system, and related seals and gaskets. |
| Bronze | This CARCHEX powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle, plus the cooling system, transfer unit, and related seals and gaskets. |
These are the main types of extended warranty coverage, but there are multiple contracts within each coverage level. Each CARCHEX contract lists the specific parts covered (or excluded, in the case of the highest plan). For example, the Platinum plan covers dozens of electrical components, including the alternator, turn signal switches, control modules, gauges, wiper motors, seat motors, window motors, and more.
There are also different ways you can modify a CARCHEX contract. For example, many plans offer the option to add coverage for a higher repair shop labor rate. Other add-ons include the luxury electronics package, keyguard package, and emissions package.
CARCHEX Warranty Perks
CARCHEX extended warranty plans come with several perks, including:
| CARCHEX Plan Benefit | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Roadside assistance | CARCHEX covers $75 per occurrence for towing, lockout service, spare tire installation, jump-starts, fuel delivery, and winching. There’s a maximum limit of $400 for the life of the contract. |
| Rental car reimbursement | CARCHEX will reimburse you up to $40 per day for four days in the case of a covered breakdown. |
| Trip interruption reimbursement | If you’re over 100 miles from home and experience a breakdown, CARCHEX will reimburse you up to $50 per day for three days to cover food and lodging. |
Since CARCHEX offers multiple contracts through different providers, the terms for these perks may differ slightly between contracts.
CARCHEX Warranty Exclusions
Just because a part is listed as covered on the contract doesn’t mean CARCHEX will pay for the repair under all circumstances. Here are a few exclusions common to all CARCHEX extended warranty plans:
- Damage from lack of maintenance
- Damage from misuse
- Modified parts
- Expensive repairs (over $250) made without prior authorization
- Damage from accidents, the environment, or vandalism
- Recalls and technical service bulletins
- When a non-covered part damages a covered part (and vice versa)
- Normal wear and tear
- Degradation without actual failure
- Wear items like brake pads and wiper blades
That might look like a lot, but there are more exclusions on the contract. It’s important to read the entire contract so that you’re clear on what’s covered. If you didn’t get a chance to read it before purchasing the plan, take CARCHEX’s 30-day money-back guarantee period to review it.
It’s also important that you keep up on scheduled maintenance. You might have to present oil change and service records when you go in for a repair, and CARCHEX can deny a claim if you haven’t been taking care of your car.
How CARCHEX Extended Warranties Work
Getting a quote from CARCHEX is easy and quick, and many CARCHEX reviews mention how helpful the company’s customer service representatives are. The company offers instant quotes, though in reality they are only instant during business hours. When our review team called CARCHEX for the extended vehicle protection plan quotes listed above, our team member was only on hold for about a minute, and the entire process took about 10 minutes.
Each CARCHEX warranty also comes with benefits including:
- Choosing your repair facility: Most manufacturer warranties restrict where you can take your vehicle. With CARCHEX, you’re not limited to your dealership for covered repairs. Instead, you can take your vehicle to any of the 30,000 licensed repair shops certified by the ASE (National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence). Since each CARCHEX warranty is different, make sure to call ahead in advance to ensure the shop is approved for your plan.
- Direct payments: To protect your wallet and your peace of mind, CARCHEX pays repair costs directly to the shop. However, you may have to authorize a diagnosis before any work can be done and CARCHEX won’t pay for the diagnosis if the repair falls outside of warranty coverage. Note that you may have to pay a small deductible when you pick up your car depending on your plan.
How To File A Claim With CARCHEX
If your vehicle breaks down and needs service, there are a few steps you need to take in order to file a claim with CARCHEX. These steps include:
- Gathering your plan information to confirm that your repair is covered under warranty
- Taking your car to a licensed repair shop for diagnosis and work
- Paying your deductible (if any) when your repairs are finished
How To Cancel A CARCHEX Warranty
If you need to cancel your CARCHEX extended auto warranty, you have a 30-day window in which to do so. Because all of CARCHEX’s warranty plans come with a 30-day money-back guarantee, if you cancel within that window, you’ll receive a full refund. If you cancel after the 30-day period passes, you’ll receive a prorated refund.
CARCHEX Reviews
There are over 1,445 CARCHEX reviews on Trustpilot that give the company a 3.2 out of 5.0-star rating. CARCHEX reviews with the BBB give the company a lower rating of 2.3 stars, but it has relatively fewer complaints on the BBB compared to some other providers. Read a few examples of positive and negative CARCHEX reviews here.
Positive CARCHEX Reviews
Happy customers praise the company’s customer service and helpful CARCHEX customer service representatives.
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
Some customers complain about denied claims. However, the volume of such complaints is low.
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
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.
*Though not mentioned here, we’ve also rated Protect My Car as one of the top providers in the industry.
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.
Conclusion
As you’re looking for the best extended warranty, here are some of the most important
facts about CARCHEX:
- Best for: Aging or high-mileage vehicles.
- Customer service: The brand motto is “Customer Experience Above All,” and their No-Haggle,
- Low-Price Everyday Guarantee™ means they’ll give the best price up front.
- BBB rating and accreditation: CARCHEX has maintained an A+ rating and has been accredited since 2009.
- Affordability: You can select a monthly payment plan that’s more manageable than a full annual
payment. - Free quote: Price estimates are customized to your specific vehicle, budget, driving habits, and
needs. - 30-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you’re not satisfied with your coverage, you can get a refund within 30 days.
- Included benefits: All plans include 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, gas delivery, trip
interruption services, and rental car reimbursement. - Claims paid to repair shop: CARCHEX pays the auto shop directly, so you don’t have to fund an expensive car repair up front and wait to be reimbursed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CARCHEX legitimate?
Yes, CARCHEX is a legitimate provider with an excellent reputation for reliability. CARCHEX has independent certifications and registrations with many states.
How much is CARCHEX per month?
We found that CARCHEX extended auto warranties cost within the range of $107 to $154 per month, but those prices may vary depending on your level of coverage and other factors, including your car’s make, model, age and mileage.
Is CARCHEX a good extended warranty?
If you are searching for a trustworthy extended warranty provider that offers comprehensive protection, we highly recommend this company. With its notable partnerships, BBB accreditation, and a score of 9.6 out of 10, CARCHEX protects you from unforeseen vehicle expenses and puts customer experience first.
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.
