Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
We’ve compared CarShield and Endurance head to head to see which company has the better extended warranty coverage, price point, industry reputation and customer reviews. Find out which car warranty provider comes out on top in this comprehensive review of CarShield vs. Endurance.
Both companies sit at the top of our best extended car warranty review. An extended warranty can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, but it’s best to compare quotes from multiple companies before purchasing a contract. Click above to receive free, no-obligation quotes from CarShield and Endurance.
Overview of CarShield and Endurance
CarShield and Endurance are both reputable extended car warranty providers with a variety of plans to offer.
| CarShield: Most Affordable | Endurance: Best Provider | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Saint Peters, Missouri | Northbrook, Illinois |
| Years in Business | Founded in 2005 | Founded in 2006 |
| Warranty Availability | All states except CA | All states except CA |
| Levels of Coverage | 6 | 6 |
| Longest Coverage Term Available | — | 8 |
| Maximum Mileage Limit | 300,000 miles | 200,000 miles |
| Get a Quote | Get Quote | Get Quote |
CarShield Highlights
Since 2005, CarShield has serviced customers throughout the U.S. from its headquarters in Saint Peters, Missouri. The provider has the best coverage for drivers on a budget, and we named it the Most Affordable in our 2021 best extended car warranty review. The company offers six comprehensive coverage plans that are administered by American Auto Shield, a highly rated contract developer.
CarShield warranties can protect your vehicle up to 300,000 miles, and the company is one of the only providers that offers coverage for specialty vehicles like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles.
Endurance Highlights
Endurance earned the No. 1 spot in our industry-wide review, and we named it the Best Provider overall. Established in 2006, the company is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Endurance is unique in that it works directly with customers and underwrites its own contracts.
Endurance offers six coverage levels that range from basic powertrain protection to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper extended warranty coverage. The company also provides a free first year of membership in the Endurance Elite Benefits program. This is a benefits program that guarantees key fob repairs and replacements, tire changes, and more.
CarShield vs. Endurance: Coverage
CarShield and Endurance both offer six coverage plans but with different terms lengths and speciality coverages. CarShield coverage extends up to 300,000 miles, while Endurance warranties last up to 8 years/200,000 miles. Below, we’ve compared CarShield and Endurance extended car warranties head to head.
| CarShield | Type of Warranty | Endurance |
|---|---|---|
| Diamond | Bumper-to-bumper protection | Supreme |
| Platinum | Highest level of inclusionary coverage | Superior |
| Gold | Powertrain plus, middle-of-the-line coverage | Secure Plus |
| Silver | Powertrain coverage | Secure |
| Aluminum | Specialty protection | Select Premier |
| Motorcycle & ATV | Alternative vehicle protection (CarShield) and warranty/maintenance protection (Endurance) | EnduranceAdvantageTM |
Bumper-to-Bumper: Diamond vs. Supreme
CarShield’s Diamond and Endurance’s Supreme plans provide exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper coverage, which cover most of your vehicle’s mechanical and electrical components. Exclusionary contracts list the parts that aren’t covered because the plans are so comprehensive. Excluded items include:
- Wear-and-tear items like brake pads and shoes
- Wiper blades
- Maintenance services like oil changes and air filter replacements
- Damage due to misuse, abuse, neglect or improper use of fluid or fuel
Stated-Component Coverage: Platinum vs. Superior
Stated-component coverage protects fewer parts than the bumper-to-bumper plans, and lists each protected component in the contract. Here’s a comparison of these two plans from CarShield and Endurance.
| CarShield: Platinum | Endurance: Superior | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooling System | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer Unit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive Axle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical | ✓ | ✓ |
| Steering | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air Conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Suspension | ✓ | ✓ |
| Brakes | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fuel Delivery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turbocharger | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seals and Gaskets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supercharger | ✓ | |
| Electronic High-Tech | ✓ | |
| Audio Center | ✓ |
Powertrain Plus: Gold vs. Secure Plus
Enhanced powertrain coverage protects many vital car parts, like the engine and transmission, as well as some additional components. Here’s how CarShield’s and Endurance’s warranties compare:
| CarShield: Gold | Endurance: Secure Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive Axle | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer Unit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Electrical | ✓ | ✓ |
| Air Conditioning | ✓ | ✓ |
| Seals and Gaskets | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turbocharger | ✓ | ✓ |
| Cooling System | ✓ | |
| Fuel System | ✓ | |
| Supercharger | ✓ | |
| Brakes | ✓ | |
| Steering | ✓ |
Powertrain: Silver vs. Secure
Basic powertrain coverage protects the key parts that make a vehicle move. See how each company’s powertrain plan compares:
| CarShield: Silver | Endurance: Secure | |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turbocharger | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transfer Unit | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive Axle (Front and Rear) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Supercharger | ✓ | |
| Seals and Gaskets | ✓ | |
| Cooling System | ✓ |
Specialty Protection: Aluminum vs. Select Premier
The Aluminum plan from CarShield provides specialty coverage for cars with high-tech systems and luxury vehicles.
The Select Premier plan is Endurance’s coverage plan for high-mileage vehicles. It does not provide coverage for the brakes or suspension of your vehicle, but it does protect other vital car parts, including:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Transfer case
- Drive axle assembly
- Air conditioning and heating
- Electrical
- Luxury electrical
- Cooling system
- Fuel system
- Seals and gaskets
Additional Coverage Plans
CarShield’s Motorcycle & ATV plans provide extended warranty coverage for non-standard vehicles. American Auto Shield administers several coverage tiers under this umbrella contract, many of which are paid on a monthly basis.
The EnduranceAdvantage plan combines extended car warranty coverage with maintenance service. Receive coverage for vitals parts and systems, as well as for oil changes and tire rotations.
CarShield vs. Endurance: Cost
CarShield offers the best car warranty for drivers on a budget, but Endurance provides more comprehensive coverage and benefits with every plan.
We reached out to both providers to find out which offered better bumper-to-bumper coverage. We received quotes for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles on the odometer. Endurance and CarShield offered the following terms for their bumper-to-bumper warranty plans with a $100 deductible:
| Plan Name | Term Length | Payment Plan | Down Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarShield | Diamond | 5 years/100,000 miles | $88.78 for 18 months | $295 |
| Endurance | Supreme | 5 years/100,000 miles | $77.35 for 36 months | $166.55 |
The Endurance’s Supreme plan is longer-lasting, but it costs more than CarShield’s Diamond plan.
We also received quotes for powertrain plans from each provider. These contracts covered a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles. Both plans also included a $100 deductible.
| Plan Name | Term Length | Payment Plan | Down Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarShield | 4 years/100,000 miles | 4 years/100,000 miles | $127.67 for 18 months | $99.99 |
| Endurance | 4 years/100,000 miles | 5 years/50,000 miles | $95.18 for 36 months | $200.35 |
CarShield vs. Endurance: Reputation
Both CarShield and Endurance boast positive customer reviews on Trustpilot but below-average scores on the Better Business Bureau (BBB). Here’s a breakdown of each provider’s industry-wide reviews:
| CarShield | Endurance | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Rating | F | C+ |
| BBB Customer Rating | 1.43 out of 5 | 3.57 out of 5 |
| BBB Accredited? | ✗ | ✗ |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.1 out 5.0 | 4.2 out 5.0 |
| Google Rating | 4.1 out of 5.0 | — |
CarShield Customer Reviews
Positive CarShield customer reviews detail high levels of customer satisfaction with sales representatives and the company’s easy cancellation process. Negative customer reviews shine a light on mailers containing false statements about expired extended car warranty coverage.
Endurance Customer Reviews
Satisfied Endurance customers report customer service representatives going above and beyond to help customers resolve issues with coverage. Many contract holders also detail their ease getting coverage for claims. Negative Endurance customer reviews report dissatisfaction with unsolicited mailers with vague information, impolite customer service representatives and pushy sales tactics with agents over the phone.
Our Verdict on CarShield vs. Endurance
Endurance provides a better experience for customers who want a direct provider rather than a warranty broker. Endurance also has a slightly higher industry ratings and better customer service. However, CarShield offers more affordable pricing for its plans and is better suited for budget-conscious customers.
| CarShield | Endurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Star Rating | 9.0 out of 10.0 | 9.6 out of 10.0 |
| Industry Reputation | 8.5 | 9.5 |
| Coverage | 9.5 | 10.0 |
| Cost | 10.0 | 9.0 |
| Customer Experience | 8.5 | 9.5 |
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies
We reviewed every major warranty company for coverage, affordability and more. Here are our recommendations.
Other Top-Rated Providers to Consider
Endurance and CarShield are two of our highest-rated providers. However, it’s a good idea to get multiple quotes when shopping for extended warranty coverage. We also recommend CARCHEX and Protect My Car.
CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars
Established in 1999, CARCHEX works with impressive partners like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and CARFAX. The provider offers five coverage plans that can extend up to 10 years/250,000 miles. Here’s what you should know about CARCHEX before buying in:
- Available in 50 states
- Repair coverage available at any licensed repair shop
- No-Haggle, Low-Price Everyday GuaranteeTM
- Doesn’t cover high-end luxury vehicles like Lamborghini or Ferrari
Read our CARCHEX review to learn more about this provider, and get a free, no-obligation quote below.
Protect My Car: Best Long-Term Financing
Protect My Car has administered car warranty contracts and maintenance plans since 2005. It is headquartered in Saint Petersburg, Florida and offers coverage limits up to 125,000 miles. Here’s what you should know about Protect My Car before buying protection:
- Only available in select states
- Provides coverage for vehicles of all ages
- Offers three extended car warranty plans and five maintenance plans
- Easy claims process over the phone
- Unique benefits come with coverage like tire rotations and oil changes
Read our Protect My Car review to learn more about this provider, and get a free quote by clicking below.
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.
