CarShield works to shield customers from the high cost of unexpected repair bills that can occur. They offer many different plans that offer different levels of services and different cost levels. CarShield has won many awards as it continues to grow. Recently CarShield was named “America’s Fastest Growing Private Company” by Inc 5000.
Editorial Breakdown
Coverage
Customer Service
Price
Ease of Purchase
Overall Rating
Bottom Line
CarShield offers six different types of car warranty plans: New Car, Comprehensive, Powertrain +, Powertrain, Specialty, Motorcycle/ATV. All plans are designed to provide the most complete coverage available.
CarShield is a brokerage specializing in automotive service contracts, often referred to as extended car warranties or service plans. While car dealers sell new vehicles with a warranty, CarShield’s plans are purchased separately to extend your car’s warranty.
CarShield works with several automotive service contract providers so you can compare multiple extended car warranty service plans in one place. The company also offers specialty plans to cover the electronics in your vehicle, for example, or for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. Once you purchase a plan, the company providing the extended warranty handles customer service and fulfillment of the contract.
Pros
Consumers can compare a variety of extended car warranties at once
Specialty plans such as lease end, motorcycle and vehicle electronics coverage
Sample policies available for review before purchase
Cons
No guarantee all mechanics will honor the contract
Terms of service contracts can be confusing
Working with CarShield
Because CarShield works with a variety of extended warranty plan administrators, the company can help you find the best coverage at the lowest cost. Fill out the form on the CarShield website to get a quote from plans by United Car Care, American Auto Shield, Interstate National Dealer Services (INDS), and the National Insurance Underwriters (NIU) of Florida. CarShield will email the quote or call you, and you can always call their toll-free number to talk to an agent about a service plan quote.
Once you buy a service plan, you will need to follow your vehicle’s recommended maintenance schedule found in the manufacturer’s owner’s manual. Failure to comply with scheduled maintenance can negate your coverage under many service plans.
Newer vehicles with high miles and expired manufacturer’s warranty
Comprehensive
Used cars with no manufacturer’s warranty
Powertrain +
High mileage vehicles
Powertrain
Most affordable, covers essential parts of the vehicle
Specialty
Leased vehicles, performance vehicles, items not covered by other warranties
Motorcycle/ATV
Off-road vehicles and road-driven motorcycles
CarShield offers policies for new cars, used cars, motorcycles, ATVs and other off-road vehicles. Policy types, explained below, are comprehensive, powertrain, powertrain plus, specialty and motorcycle/ATV. Read the policies on CarShield’s website and discuss with a representative to get all the details.
New Car CarShield’s New Car plans are designed to provide the most complete coverage available. Similar to new car warranties, these service contracts are intended for car owners whose warranties have expired early either due to a short-term policy or high mileage on the vehicle causing the warranty to end. New Car policies may include limited roadside assistance depending on your state of residence.
Comprehensive Comprehensive plans offer slightly less coverage than New Car plans and are designed to cover the essentials within a car, which makes it operable. The engine, transmission, air conditioning, starter, water and fuel pumps, and electrical are covered with some exclusions.
Powertrain + Powertrain + service contracts include fewer extras compared to Comprehensive plans and are intended to help keep higher-mileage vehicles on the road. Powertrain + plans cover alternators, starters, air conditioning, water pumps, transmission and specific engine functions.
Powertrain Slightly scaled-down versions of Powertrain + plans, Powertrain plans focus heavily on mechanical parts of the car, such as lubricated engine parts, transmission and the water pump.
Specialty Specialty policies cover components not typically covered by service contracts. Depending on the plan, coverage may include vehicle electronics, built-in TVs, air conditioning, turbochargers, steering and more. Specialty plans for lease-end coverage are intended to cover the cost of repairs needed when you return the vehicle, such as minor body dings, wheel rim damage or other repairs typically required by the dealer.
Motorcycle/ATV Road-driven motorcycles, off-road motorcycles and ATVs are subject to many of the same mechanical issues as cars and trucks, but rarely offered the same strong warranties found in new vehicles. Because the systems and challenges are unique, a regular vehicle contract is not a good fit for motorcycles and ATVs. Motorcycle/ATV service contracts are specifically designed for those vehicles and come in both Comprehensive and Powertrain levels of coverage.
CarShield Car Warranty Complaints
Not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), CarShield does have a presence on the BBB website. It currently has an “F” rating and a consumer warning notice was issued due to concerns over advertising practices and a pattern of complaints alleging misleading sales and advertising practices.
Other review sites, such as ConsumerAffairs, rank CarShield more favorably. On the ConsumerAffairs site, the company has a ranking of 4 stars out of 5, based on more than 650 reviews, 280 posted in the past year. Representatives at CarShield do a good job of responding to consumers on the site, which is a sign that excellent customer service is an increasing priority for the company.
How do I get service for my car under a CarShield auto service contract?
Each CarShield contract will vary somewhat depending on the specific plan and the company administrating it. However, the majority of contracts require you to call the plan administrator for service authorization before making any repairs.
Do CarShield plans reimburse my costs or pay the mechanic directly?
This will vary according to your contract. A few service contracts only make direct payments to the company that services your vehicle. However, most will either reimburse you or pay the mechanic directly.
What happens if my mechanic wants payment up front?
Most contracts allow you to take your vehicle to any ASE Certified mechanic, which is an auto service technician certified with a Blue Seal from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. Mechanics do not have to agree to the terms of the service contract, but most will accept the terms because they want your business. If the mechanic will not work with your plan and that plan does not include the option for you to pay and get reimbursed, you will have to decide to pay for the repair yourself or take your vehicle elsewhere.
Who do I call if I have a problem with my CarShield plan?
As a broker, CarShield is only the point of sales for your service contract. If you have a problem with your plan, you will need to contact the plan administrator for customer service. If you disagree with your plan administrator, you can call your state’s insurance commissioner or local consumer protection agency.
Do CarShield plans replace my vehicle’s warranty?
No, these plans do not replace your vehicle’s warranty. The CarShield plan will go into effect when your manufacturer’s warranty lapses. If you purchase a plan while your original warranty is still in effect, there is no time delay on when the service contract will begin. While this sounds ideal, you could end up paying for unnecessary overlap in coverage as long as your warranty is still active. Ask questions to verify when a plan you’re considering starts.
Do any car manufacturers endorse CarShield?
No. CarShield’s plans are service contracts offered by private companies unrelated to an automobile manufacturer or dealer.
Conclusion
The costs of a vehicle don’t stop when you purchase it. AAA calculates maintenance and repairs alone cost an average of $1,186 a year for a new vehicle, with total average annual costs to own and operate a vehicle topping out at $8,469. Combine that with the initial cost of a new or used car, and it’s easy to be concerned about unexpected breakdowns having a significant impact on your wallet. Beyond the original vehicle warranty, a service plan is a way to reduce those expenses. If you’re considering an automotive service contract, CarShield can make the process easier by allowing you to view numerous companies and multiple plan types all in one place.
They advertise that you only pay $100 deductible but we have now bought 2 vehicles (that we have a warranty through CarShield). 1st vehicle they said they will get the part the vehicle needed because they wouldn't pay the cost of the dealership for the part which meant we had to wait for the part before they could fix it.
Then they wouldn't pay the dealership labor cost. They said they go by market value! I wound up paying almost $300 plus the $100 deductible! Then we took my husband's truck in and they said they won't pay the dealership labor cost so that is costing us another $250.
How can you say you only need to pay $100 deductible when I'm paying more than that??? Their answer is it's in the fine print!! But they don't advertise it that way! It's a scam!!!
We pay over $300 a month and have used them twice and it cost us more than that! If anyone know of a class action lawsuit against them please let me know, I may bring one against them if nobody else does! This needs to stop! They are ripping me off!
Jouce N.
Yakima, WA
March 18 2022 5:25PM
Purchased this contract only to be told it did not cover what I needed. Then I was in a very bad car accident. When I called them I was told that the warranty was nontransferable so basically paid for a contract that is basically a waste of money because the car was totaled and this is a waste of money.
Tanganita D.
Sumter, SC
November 04 2021 12:41PM
CarShield did nothing for me except put me money out of my pocket. I had work done on my transmission at AAMCO before I got car shield and then I had transmission valve body and transmission pump going out and car shield would not honor their contract.
They say that valve body not covered but other personnel said that it is. Who’s telling the truth. Then they say if I fix valve body that they might consider on fixing the transmission pump. What a joke.
Then they say that I can dispute it and give me a phone number to call and it’s the Better Business Bureau. I do not recommend car shield to anyone. And with all this commercials might seem a good thing but it isn’t.
I would recommend that you check the reviews on car shield before you put money out of your pocket for this.
Gary T.
Buckeye, AZ
November 03 2021 12:11AM
Like many reviews that I have read, the red tape is exhausting, unclear package details, customer service reps just bounce you around the call center. Received more trustworthy information from the mechanic. I must add that as well.
The list of trusted mechanics, likely won't be one you deal or have dealt with previously. All smoke and mirrors with these people and company. Very disappointed with the service after not missing a single payment.
I'm more frustrated now than I've ever been. Going on WK number 3 and my vehicle hasn't been touched.
Eddie G.
Pittsburgh, PA
September 03 2021 5:14PM
Needs a class action attorney to file suit. They have carefully crafted a contract that appears to have coverage of parts, but the exclusions are so extensive that they vitiate any coverage when requested.
The sales pitch is way over blown and one would have to be a mechanic and claims adjuster to see what risk one is truly covered. Ex, no coverage for oxygen sensors...did not know they existed.
Okay, radiator is covered, however when I the cooling fan broke and a piece of blade punctured the radiator coverage was denied under the "if a covered part is damaged due to an uncovered parts malfunction."
A look at BBB site shows same was used to deny coverage when someone's thermostat broke, and looking at the contract further belts, bolts, hoses are not covered in general so anything with such parts that breaks nothing will be covered.
When I tried to cancel my contract I was bounced around for more than an hour between their other company American Auto Shield and Car Shield to get to the "cancellation specialist."
She was the most arrogant, condescending, person I have ever encountered in CS. She kept trying to explain why the case was denied, and refused to simply do what I asked, She would not transfer me to a supervisor or another agent just kept trying to tell me I did not understand.
No one I talked to in all the 9 folks before and after her, could tell me what damage a radiator could have that was covered could tell me.
"They are not mechanics" EXACTLY. One needs to be a mechanic to understand the contract and the causation that will lead to denial of claims on most things.
Diana D.
Canyon Lake, TX
June 22 2021 11:13PM
CarShield is the worst warranty company in the United States. They are strictly for the rich and no body else and they refused to fix my transmission and stuck me paying 650 dollars towing fees and it was car shield people that told me Grease Monkey is where they bring their vehicles.
Wrecker truck picked up my truck and brought it to Baton Rouge and they refused to take my truck. CarShield can't back up what they advertise so it just a lie.
Larry E.
Jeanerette, LA
May 26 2021 2:40AM
In short; I would rather risk going on a date with a serial killer. PLEASE STAY AWAY FROM THIS COMPANY! Read the BBB reviews and look online for legitimate, highly rated coverage.
It's obvious Carshield doesn't care about hard working people who can't afford higher coverage, and get lied to by rich famous people who don't need it. I used to have respect for Ice-T, but he's just another SELLOUT **.
Susan W.
Richland Center, WI
May 18 2021 3:52PM
The worst company ever, full of lies. Will not repair you car. Will not give you a rental. They gave me the run around for two week before finally telling me I was denied repairs. Do not buy a warranty from this company, buy thru dealer. Now I have to pay out of pocket after paying them a whole year.
Jacob H.
Alsip, IL
April 05 2021 2:46AM
They suck. They always find an excuse not to pay or not covering specific parts even though they are part of warranty. I consider it a scam and the reviews I've read back me up. My place of service told me they have yet to see CarShield live up to the contract.
I just had a $3200 bill to fix my Turbo's and they did not pay one cent, denied claim. Turbo's are specifically listed in my contract. Now I'm forced into arbitration with them in attempt to get them to honor contract.
David U.
Brooksville, MS
March 24 2021 6:58PM
What a scam. I have been paying my premiums faithfully for nine months. I am a disabled veteran and a widow of a disabled veteran and have disabled child. My Jeep has been at the shop for over three and a half weeks. There has been no communication from the adjuster.
Safeguard transmission has been very diligent in their communication. My claim for transmission repair was denied based on mileage and year. However, they sold me the extended warranty and continued to take my money.
Now I am out a vehicle. A claim has been filed with my attorney and the Better Business Bureau. Is this how we treated the disabled and members of the military.
Wow - take your business elsewhere. Nobody has called me back regarding this issue. It has been over a week. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY.
