CarShield Review

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• CarShield offers seven coverage plans, including five for standard cars ranging from basic protection to comprehensive coverage. It offers a plan for fully electric vehicles and one for motorcycles and ATVs as well. Our research found that most providers offer an average of five plans.
• CarShield includes perks like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption benefits with all of its contracts. These are mostly standard in the industry.
• After mystery shopping for quotes and purchasing a warranty for one of our team member’s vehicles, we found that costs for CarShield warranties typically range from $110 to $140 per month.

You may have heard of CarShield in your search for an extended warranty – but what makes this company stand out from others? Is it the right company for you and your car? In this article, we’ll deep dive into CarShield’s coverage plans, average costs, and customer ratings to help you decide.

Our team works hard to bring you the most up-to-date information on the best extended car warranty providers, updating our review standards several times each year in the process. Our updates involve mystery shopping to collect warranty quotes, surveying thousands of current and past extended warranty holders, and even buying plans from providers for our own cars.

After 1,475 total hours of research, we rated CarShield 4.4 out of 5.0 stars and recognized it as Best for Electric Vehicles in the industry.

---

Our CarShield Review

We arrived at our 4.4-star rating for CarShield by looking at the provider’s strengths across five key categories: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service. These are the criteria we study to rate extended warranty companies. Here’s a bit more detail on each category and how CarShield performed:

Industry Standing

CarShield is one of the better-known extended warranty providers in the United States thanks to its many celebrity endorsements and television ads. The company has been in business since 2005 and its plans are available in every state except California. 

We give CarShield just 4.0 out of 5.0 stars in our industry category largely because it currently holds a D rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The BBB is a trusted organization that analyzes the business practices, licensing information, and customer experiences of different companies.

We looked into the reason for CarShield’s low BBB rating and found that it’s the result of unresolved complaints from customers and instances of misleading advertising. The average industry standing ratings across all providers is 4.1 out of 5.0.

Coverage

In this category, we give CarShield a healthy 4.8 stars out of 5.0 due to the many options it gives consumers. The company offers six different coverage levels for standard vehicles plus one plan reserved for motorcycles and ATVs, which we’ll detail in the coverage section of this article. 

Its newest plan is exclusively for fully electric vehicles. Warranties made exclusively for electric vehicles are difficult to find from other independent providers in the industry, which is why we’ve named CarShield as the Best for Electric Vehicles.

CarShield plans can last up to 10 years or 300,000 miles, both of which are generous coverage limits for the industry based on our research. Note that CarShield extended warranty contracts are not available to drivers in California.

The average rating across providers in our review is 4.0 out of 5.0. This puts CarShield above the average of 43 different providers in this ratings category.

Cost

Our team gathered quotes for several CarShield coverage plans while reviewing the company. The vehicles we received coverage estimates for were a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles and a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado with 55,000 miles.

Our quotes were for CarShield’s plans for standard cars, and we compared them to the 140+ quotes from the other providers in our industry-wide review. Based on our quotes, CarShield’s prices are average for the extended warranty market, which we’ll break down in the cost section of this article.

Despite its average costs, we give CarShield a solid 4.0-star rating for cost for its flexibility and the fact that you can easily customize your plan to fit your monthly budget. The average cost rating for all providers reviewed is 4.2 stars.

Transparency

We keep it pretty simple when we rate a warranty provider for transparency. Companies that offer a money-back guarantee and share sample contracts with plan details receive strong scores. The more up front a provider’s website is regarding what a consumer can expect from its warranties and services, the stronger our transparency rating for that provider.

CarShield meets our benchmarks for transparency, so we give the company a 4.8-star rating. The average score in this category is 3.5 stars.

Customer Service

CarShield boasts strong customer reviews online, including 4.1 out of 5.0 stars from over 42,000 reviews on Trustpilot. The company also has a healthy 4.3-star rating out of 5.0 based on over 14,000 Google reviews.

Our team also found that CarShield’s quotes process is simple and straightforward, whether you get a quote online or by phone. In some cases, though, its customer service representatives can be a bit pushy in steering you toward specific plans.

Based on this insight, we give CarShield an overall rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars for customer service. The average score in this category from our industry-wide review is 3.8 stars.

---

Is CarShield Any Good?

According to CarShield reviews from customers, many find affordable monthly payments from the company. In 2022, our team surveyed 1,000 consumers who had purchased an extended car warranty about the companies they used and other aspects of their experience. We found CarShield to be the most popular extended warranty company among those surveyed. Its plans can cover vehicles for up to 300,000 miles, which is at least 50,000 more than most of its competitors.

Pros And Cons Of Carshield

Is CarShield Reputable?

Yes, CarShield is a legitimate and reputable extended auto warranty broker with coverage for new and used cars. The provider has been in business for over 15 years and has served over 1 million customers during this period. The list below highlights some basic facts about the company:

• Founded: 2005
• Headquarters: St. Peters, MO
• Coverage options: Five levels of coverage for standard cars, plus one exclusively for electric vehicles and one for motorcycles and ATVs
• Coverage terms: Up to 300,000 miles

---

CarShield Customer Reviews

CarShield has more reviews than any other warranty company on Trustpilot – over 42,000. Positive reviews for CarShield often mention paid claims, knowledgeable agents, and excellent customer service. On the other hand, some customers are disappointed when certain parts aren’t covered. 

In our evaluation of the company’s positive and negative reviews, we found that more than 65 percent of CarShield reviews on Trustpilot give the company 5.0 stars. We also found that most negative CarShield reviews come from customers who are surprised when the company denies repairs, which is a common complaint in the industry. 

While it should be mentioned that CarShield does have a high number of complaints, this can be attributed to it being the most popular warranty provider on the market. When choosing a vehicle protection plan, potential CarShield customers should carefully review their contract so there’s no question about covered repairs.

CarShield App Reviews

CarShield’s mobile app allows customers to view the details of their contracts from their phones. While this is useful, ratings for the app are subpar. The app has over 550 reviews on Google Play and a 2.8-star rating out of 5.0 overall. CarShield’s app fares similarly on the App Store with 3.5 stars from over 200 reviews. Our team doesn’t believe the apps are a strong indicator of CarShield’s strength as a warranty provider.

---

What Does CarShield Cover?

The company offers seven types of warranty service plans, with one reserved for motorcycles and ATVs. Plans range from a basic drivetrain warranty to plans comparable to a new car’s factory warranty. Used car warranties from CarShield can cover up to 300,000 miles, which is one of the highest mileage limits in the industry. This makes it a solid choice if you want peace of mind while driving a high-mileage vehicle.

CarShield Coverage

CarShield extended warranties are more accurately described as vehicle service contracts since the vehicle manufacturer doesn’t fulfill them. This means that another company administers CarShield’s plans. 

Most companies in the warranty industry are brokers, though Endurance is an example of a direct provider. The main difference with a CarShield warranty is that you contact the plan administrator (a separate company) when you file a claim.

Note that CarShield’s vehicle service contracts only cover specific parts listed on the contract (except the Diamond plan, which lists excluded parts). Sample contracts on CarShield’s website list American Auto Shield as the administrator, but contracts may use other administrators.

CarShield Plans

CarShield’s seven plans vary from basic coverage for the most important components to comprehensive coverage for the whole car. Take a look at some details described in the table below:

---

CarShield Benefits

In addition to paying for covered repairs, most CarShield contracts include the following perks:

• CarShield roadside assistance: Those with coverage from CarShield gain access to flat-tire services, towing and winching, lockout help, battery jump-starts, and fluid and fuel deliveries.
• Rental car reimbursement: You’ll receive up to $100 per day to cover a rental car if your vehicle heads to the repair shop.
• Trip interruption reimbursement: Get up to $125 per day to take care of meal and lodging costs (for up to four days) if your car goes to the shop for a covered repair.
• Price lock: Those who maintain CarShield coverage will pay the same rate as long as they continue their policy.
• CarShield rewards: Drivers may receive discounts on rental cars along with lower rates for certain scheduled vehicle maintenance services.

What Does CarShield Not Cover?

The vast majority of CarShield customers report no issues with the company paying for repairs. However, CarShield can deny a car warranty claim for a few reasons, most of which are common across the extended car warranty industry. Exclusions from a CarShield contract include any damages or mechanical issues that come from: 

• Repairs performed without prior authorization from the contract administrator
• A lack of maintenance
• Acts of nature like floods, fire, or fallen objects
• Theft or vandalism
• Modifications to the vehicle
• Misuses such as racing or off-road driving
• Tampering with the odometer
• Pre-existing conditions
• A noncovered part failing
• Normal wear and tear

CarShield Waiting Period

CarShield plans have a standard waiting period of 20 days and 500 miles before coverage kicks in. This delay protects the company from paying for repairs that the customer knew about beforehand. Representatives can note what is wrong with your car when you sign up for an extended vehicle service contract.

A waiting period is standard across the warranty industry. However, some providers like Olive don’t enforce a waiting period before coverage takes effect.

CarShield Claims

If you experience a breakdown, contact the roadside assistance provider outlined in your contract to get a tow to the repair shop. Drivers can reach out by phone, through an online portal, or by using the CarShield app. 

Note that you can take your car to any dealership or shop authorized by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE^®). There are over 1,500 shops across the U.S. where a large percentage of repair technicians are ASE-certified, making it easy to find a repair facility. 

Make sure the auto repair shop calls a CarShield claims representative for authorization before performing any repairs. The only case when you can authorize a repair is when it’s an emergency after hours. You’d have to foot the bill and have CarShield reimburse you in that situation.

Does CarShield Pay Its Claims?

If CarShield authorizes the repair, you’ll just pay your deductible to the shop. You can also get reimbursed up to $40 per day ($280 maximum) for a rental car if the shop needs to do more than four hours of work. Benefits like this are typical and come with most extended car warranties.

Details such as reimbursement amounts may vary from contract to contract, depending on your state and contract administrator. Be sure to read the fine print of CarShield’s contracts so you fully understand these details. 

---

CarShield Cost

Our research team’s mystery shopping efforts found that CarShield warranties cost between $109.99 and $139.99 per month on average. The vehicles we received estimates for were a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles and a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado with 55,000 miles. Each CarShield vehicle service contract requires one month’s payment to begin coverage.

In addition to mystery shopping, we also went through with purchasing a CarShield contract for one of our team member’s vehicles, a 2021 BMW X5 with 26,500 miles. The Silver plan we purchased ran $129.99 per month and had a $500 deductible.

CarShield Deductible

CarShield offers deductible options of $0, $50, $100, and $500. You may find higher or lower deductibles depending on the plan you select and your specific vehicle. For example, some extended service plans have a $0 deductible.

You can also get a discount on your plan for being a first-time customer or for covering multiple vehicles. Be sure to ask if you qualify for a discount when getting a quote.

CarShield Prices

See the table below to get an idea of pricing for each level of CarShield coverage. The quotes below apply to plans with unlimited mileage and come with a $100 deductible.

In the latest auto warranty survey our research team conducted, a large majority of respondents reported paying between $1,600 and $3,200 for their plan. That makes CarShield’s quotes relatively affordable, though not always the cheapest in the industry.

CarShield Quote

To get a car warranty quote from CarShield, you can call the company or submit some quick information through an online form. If you request a quote online, a CarShield representative will call you to discuss your options. Factors such as mileage, service history, your current warranty coverage, and recent mechanical issues can impact the price or type of plan available to you.

CarShield Price Quote Details

During a phone call, you’ll learn about coverage plans and monthly payments. While some of CarShield’s plans break up the cost over 24 months, most plans are monthly so you can keep the coverage for as long as you choose.

To make the best financial decision, we recommend getting free quotes from at least three providers, as extended warranty prices vary based on vehicle age, your location, and other factors. Almost 30 percent of participants in our latest warranty survey wished they had compared more companies before settling on an extended warranty plan, making a compelling case to compare price quotes and coverage options for yourself.

Check out our review of the best extended car warranty companies to see our top recommendations.

CarShield Refund Policy

You can get a full refund if you cancel within 30 days and haven’t used the plan. You’ll get a prorated refund based on the time and coverage used after that point. You can also transfer most contracts to secondary buyers if you sell your car.

How To Cancel CarShield

To cancel a CarShield plan, you can contact CarShield’s customer service team at 800-587-4162. American Auto Shield, the contract administrator, requires that all motorists submit a written cancellation request. You can also reach out to a customer service representative at CarShield.com for help during the process.

---

CarShield Warranty Review: Bottom Line

Our researchers took a close look at CarShield’s plan options, pricing, and customer reviews to see how it compares to other leading warranty providers. After a thorough review, we rate CarShield vehicle protection plans as some of the best extended warranty options currently on the market. CarShield is an excellent option if you’re looking for both the best coverage and best prices per month.

Alternatives To CarShield

It’s always a good idea to get quotes from more than one company so you can compare costs to determine what’s right for you. In our industry-wide review, we found Endurance and Carchex to be industry leaders.

Endurance Warranty: Best Coverage

Endurance earned 4.6 out of 5.0 stars and the superlative of Best Coverage in our review. This is because it offers five standard extended warranties plus a sixth plan that combines warranty coverage with regular maintenance coverage. The warranty company can cover cars with more than 250,000 miles on them and it accepts vehicles up to 20 years old.

Read more: Endurance review
Compare: CarShield vs. Endurance

Carchex: Best For Used Cars

Carchex offers five extended warranties that come with extras like roadside assistance and trip interruption benefits. In our Carchex review, we found that the provider stood out for its A+ rating from the BBB and for its partnerships with industry authorities like the Kelley Blue Book. Carchex can also cover vehicles up to 20 years old, earning it the superlative of Best for Used Cars and an overall rating of 4.5 out of 5.0 in our review.

Read more: Carchex review

---

CarShield Warranty: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about CarShield extended warranties: