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Last Updated: June 6, 2023
CarShield's Extended Warranty offers vehicle service plans that provide drivers with peace of mind, knowing that their family and their car are protected on the road. According to CarShield, you can choose your own mechanic, get 24/7 roadside assistance, a rental car, and courtesy towing.
These plans are designed to make car repairs easier on your budget and are customizable to fit your financial needs. CarShield has a track record of providing true satisfaction and peace of mind for its customers, with a high rating on ConsumerAffairs, Google, and Customer Lobby. With CarShield, you can avoid expensive surprises and protect your car from major breakdowns.
CarShield is a good overall provider, but our editorial team loves a few aspects of it:
Pros
Cons
CarShield may be worth the investment if you want to protect your car over time. CarShield has many plans that provide affordable coverage for such a trusted extended car warranty company. In addition, its affordable prices make it a great option for those who are on a budget and need a used vehicle warranty. However, when choosing the right used car warranty provider, please make sure to do your research, read the reviews and speak to someone at the company. If you feel like something is off, it might be best to go the other way.
Founded: 2005
Headquarters: 503 Pearl Dr., St. Peters, Missouri, 63376
Coverage Levels: 6
CarShield, one of the country's most well-known independent warranty providers, offers drivers month-to-month contracts, flexible protection plans, and a variety of deductibles.
CarShield is technically a vehicle service contract broker. It can offer protection plans from other companies like American Auto Shield. This arrangement gives drivers more options and lower prices. Coverage can also be found for ATVs or other alternative vehicles.
CarShield has been featured on ESPN, ABC, AMC, CNBC, Fox News, USA Today, as well as a variety of celebrity endorsements, including one from Ric Flair (16x World Champion) and Ice-T, an actor, and rapper.
CarShield offers a more affordable option than other extended car warranty providers. Our research shows that Carshield customers pay anywhere from high $80s to around $130 per month. So overall cost of the contract will depend on how long a customer continues the month-to-month contract for.
Your extended vehicle warranty with CarShield costs depend on your situation. These are the main factors that will affect the cost of your warranty.
Our research team contacted CarShield to provide cost estimates for a few vehicles. Based on the quotes received, we determined that most CarShield plans are between $99.99 and $129.99 a month. But, of course, your plan might fall outside this range depending on your chosen coverage and the details about your car.
CarShield allows drivers to choose from multiple deductibles starting at $0. You don't need to worry about locking yourself into a long-term contract. The company offers monthly payment plans.
The extent of an extended car warranty covers depends on which plan you select. CarShield offers six coverage options, from powertrain-only coverage to exclusionary coverage similar to a factory warranty.
Diamond: CarShield Diamond coverage can be compared to a brand-new car's manufacturer warranty. However, it is an exclusionary plan. This covers all components and systems of your vehicle except for a few non-covered parts.
Platinum: This plan is for vehicles with high mileage or used cars. It covers certain components of your vehicle's engine and transmission, as well as the cooling system, air conditioning, and steering. CarShield Platinum provides stated-component coverage. Each covered part is included in the vehicle service contract.
Gold: The CarShield Gold plan provides enhanced coverage for powertrain components. It focuses on common powertrain components like the engine, transmission, or drivetrain. This includes the starter, alternator, power windows, and power window motors.
Silver: This is CarShield's most basic and affordable powertrain plan. This plan covers the most critical parts of your vehicle, including your engine, transmission, and drive axle.
Aluminum: The Aluminum plan includes most computer-related components and electrical components. This includes the power seat control, sensors, and cruise control.
Motorcycle & ATV: CarShield has plans for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
Diamond | Platinum | Gold | Silver | Aluminum | Motorcycle | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Transmission | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Drive Axle | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Transfer Case | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
Air Conditioner | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Fuel Delivery System | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Fuel Injector | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Fuel Pump | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
Steering | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Suspension | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Brake System | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Electrical | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Wiring Harness | Yes | No | No | No | Yes | No |
Instrument Cluster | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
GPS/Navi | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Factory Audio | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Starter | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Alternator | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Power Windows | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
Water Pump | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Radiator | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Emissions | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
Research is key to finding the right coverage for you. CarShield provides sample contracts that will help you understand each plan's coverage.
Many CarShield customers praised the company's benefits in many CarShield reviews. Drivers who sign up for CarShield warranties also get the following perks
CarShield doesn't cover the following:
Even the most comprehensive extended car warranties can have limitations. For example, CarShield plans have exclusions rare to all extended warranty providers.
CarShield plans, like most other vehicle service contract providers, have a mandatory waiting period for covered repairs of 20 and 500 miles. This allows the provider to ensure that no pre-existing conditions are covered by warranty.
CarShield warranties can be transferred. For example, if you sell your car, the company will allow you to transfer your warranty to another person for $50. The coverage is only applicable to the vehicle. Your warranty cannot be transferred to another vehicle you own or purchase. You will need to sign up for a brand-new policy.
CarShield Mobile App is available for Android and iOS. It allows policyholders to access details about their contracts from their mobile devices. In addition, the app allows you to quickly access information about warranty claims, customer support, and roadside assistance.
Overall, CarShield Mobile receives positive reviews from online users. The app's average rating is 3.6 stars on the Apple Store, and on the Google Play Store, it gets 3.9 stars.
CarShield policies can be canceled at any time. But first, you must contact customer service to cancel your CarShield policy and send a cancellation notice.
You will receive a full refund if you cancel within 30 days. In addition, in most cases, you will get a prorated refund for the time remaining on your policy after 30 days.
CarShield includes 24-hour roadside assistance in each of its vehicle service contracts.
You can pay in advance with CarShield service contracts for vehicle repairs. This could be in the form of an upfront payment in full or every month. CarShield will cover the cost of repairs minus your deductible as long as you have good credit and the components are covered.
Many CarShield reviews indicated that the company could purchase an extended warranty easily. In addition, the company's website allows you to request a quote. It may be easier to get a quote by phone. Our team called CarShield for a quote and was held for less than one minute. The entire call took approximately 10 minutes.
It is easy to find a mechanic that accepts CarShield coverage. You can get covered repairs at any dealer or repair center if you have a vehicle maintenance contract with the company. Here's how it works.
Many CarShield reviews mentioned an easy and smooth claim process. You can expect the same from this provider.
CarShield, headquartered at 503 Pearl Dr, Saint Peters, MO 63376-1071, has been in the vehicle service contract business for 18 years. However, as of June 6, 2023, their rating on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) stands at a disappointing 1.33 out of 5.00 stars, based on an average of 2220 customer reviews. Furthermore, it's worth noting that CarShield is not BBB accredited and has a current BBB Rating & Accreditation of D.
Over the past three years, CarShield has had 3,525 complaints closed through the BBB, with 1,133 complaints closed in the last 12 months. These statistics suggest that consumers have had many issues with CarShield.
The BBB advises caution for potential customers considering doing business with CarShield due to a discernible pattern of complaints. Consumers allege that the company:
In response to these concerns, the BBB contacted CarShield in April and December of 2020 to clarify how the company planned to address these ongoing issues. In response, CarShield stated, "CarShield works hard to provide excellent customer service to all consumers we encounter and to meet the demands and standards set forth by the BBB."
Despite this assurance, the volume of recent complaints and the poor BBB rating suggest potential customers should carefully review their options and the company's policies before proceeding with CarShield's vehicle service contracts.
Consumer Affairs website is showing that CarShield has 4.5/5.0 rating out of 1944 reviews. This is very surprising when compared to the previously mentioned BBB rating of 1.33/5.0. Another thing that stands out is that around 6 months ago, when we first looked into Carshield, ConsumerAffairs claimed that there were 2094 reviews. This means that 150 reviews were deleted from their system. If you take a look at the screenshot above, it's a snapshot of Web Archive where Consumer Affairs was recorded to have had 2100 reviews on 2/16/2023 vs what shows up now.
The suspicion of this rating not being fully truthful continues when I looked at the "Authorized Partner" badge above CarShield's name. This means that CarShield and Consumer Affairs are in a partnership together. Therefore, my advice would be to use caution on Consumer Affairs website if you see that type of wording and a great rating.
As of June 6, 2023, CarShield, an auto service provider with its address at 503 Pearl Dr. St. Peters, MO 63376, has accumulated a total of 38,033 reviews on Trustpilot, with 8,241 of these being generated within the past 12 months. The company, which has a verified profile on Trustpilot, shows mixed ratings, resulting in an overall score of 4.0 out of 5.0.
Trustpilot uses an automated invitation service, inviting customers to write reviews after interacting with a company. Reviews generated in this manner are automatically labeled as "verified." Over the past 12 months, CarShield has had 8002 verified reviews and 230 organic reviews. Interestingly, while 67% of verified reviews were 5-star, 79% of organic reviews during the same period were only 1-star.
Regarding the total distribution of reviews, 66% were rated 5-star, while a substantial 16% were 1-star, indicating dissatisfaction. Only 3% of reviews were 2-star.
CarShield is rather lackluster in its response to negative feedback, having only replied to 20% of negative reviews. This response rate and the high number of 1-star reviews raise concerns. However, the company does respond promptly, usually within two days.
Over the past 12 months, CarShield has flagged 211 reviews for potential breaches of Trustpilot's guidelines. All these flagged reviews were 1-star reviews. Trustpilot's Content Integrity Team then investigates the flagged reviews. They don't hide flagged reviews during the investigation unless the review is flagged for harmful or illegal content.
Of the 211 flagged reviews, 202 have been removed from Trustpilot. Of these, 189 reviews were removed as the reviewer didn't respond to Trustpilot's request to resolve the breach of guidelines, and 13 were removed as the reviewer didn't resolve the breach even after communication. However, nine flagged reviews are still online, and only one review was found not to breach Trustpilot's guidelines for a reason flagged by CarShield.

Overall, while the company has a decent rating on Trustpilot, potential customers should delve deeper into the 1-star reviews and the company's response rate to these reviews before proceeding with their services.
This company received a rating of 5.0 stars, which placed it fourth among all providers. In addition, CarShield's pricing for its warranty plans is why we ranked it as Most Affordable among providers during our review.
Although there have been some complaints about CarShield, most reviews of the company are positive, and it has a good reputation in the industry. CarShield claims it is one of the best-extended warranty companies and has covered over 1,000,000 vehicles in 16 years. More than a few hundred negative comments are needed to ruin the company's good name.
To ensure you get the best price for the coverage required, it is smart to shop around for extended warranty plans. We recommend comparing free CarShield quotes with other reputable extended-car warranty companies. We highlight two of these companies: Endurance & CARCHEX.
While we have rated CarShield Auto Warranty as being the Best Value, our Best Extended Auto Warranty list was topped by another company as the best overall winner.
Endurance, a trusted extended car warranty provider, has been operating since 2006. Endurance is a direct provider of extended warranties, not a reseller or broker in the vehicle protection market. As a result, endurance can provide and fulfill most of its plans.
Endurance provides six levels of coverage. In addition, endurance Elite benefits are included in all plans. These include tire repair and replacement, collision discounts, 24/7 roadside assistance, and more.
Our
Endurance warranty review provides more information about the company.
CARCHEX, a trusted third-party warranty provider, offers five levels of coverage and a wide range of perks, including towing coverage, 24/7 roadside assistance, and rental car reimbursement. We have explained the reasoning behind our rating of CARCHEX auto warranty in our full
CARCHEX review.
Our expert review team is committed to providing honest and objective information. Based on consumer data, we identified the following rating categories and did extensive research to determine the top extended auto warranty providers.
Many drivers find CarShield worth the investment, even though it may pay less than one pays. The peace of mind that comes with having coverage is worth the investment.
CarShield is a solid warranty provider overall, but the company has two major downsides: a high number of negative reviews online and a rental reimbursement policy that doesn't apply to all plans.
CarShield offers vehicle services contracts that work in the same way as mechanical breakdown insurance. Insurers sell mechanical breakdown insurance, which usually comes with fewer benefits and coverage options than third-party warranties.
CarShield has been accused of being a scam by some internet users. However, its warranty coverage is valid, and it is not a ripoff. Although the company has a bad rating and is warned by the BBB, the company also provides warranties to thousands of customers each year. In addition, many CarShield customers are satisfied with their coverage, as evident by the positive reviews posted on several sites.
You can submit a request to receive support by filling out a form at CarShield.com. In addition, you can call customer service at 1-800-974-93585 if you require immediate assistance during business hours. Customers can reach customer service representatives Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
Before any CarShield plan becomes active, there is a 20-day/500-mile waiting period. This is to ensure that the company does not cover pre-existing mechanical problems.
CarShield offers four warranty plans that cover your vehicle's brakes. Unfortunately, normal wear items such as brake pads are not covered.
CarShield's average price for a warranty depends on many factors, including the age of your vehicle, mileage, and the level of coverage and deductible you select.
When they purchase their plans, customers can select the deductible that CarShield offers - starting at $0. However, as with car insurance, a lower deductible will result in a higher premium.
For older vehicles, a longer warranty may be worthwhile to ensure peace of mind and avoid unexpected repairs. But, of course, this depends on what you need and the vehicle. Compare repair costs from sites like RepairPal with extended car warranty quotes.
Both the Platinum and Diamond plans of CarShield cover electrical systems. The Aluminum plan covers most electrical parts, including starters and navigation systems.
The extent of CarShield's repair coverage will depend on which extended auto warranty you have purchased. The basic powertrain warranty plans cover the engine, transmission, and drive axles. In addition, CarShield offers an exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers almost every mechanical or electrical component.
Most of the company's protection policies provide coverage between a powertrain and a bumper-to-bumper warranty.
CarShield is our choice for the Most Affordable third-party warranty provider. This makes it an attractive option for drivers looking for low-cost coverage. However, although the provider offers multiple coverage options and month-to-month contracts, you must be aware that any protection plan can come with the possibility of missing out on services.
Our research shows that the CarShield Diamond plan costs between $100 to $130 per month for an SUV with less than 50,000 miles in late 2010. A Gold plan would cost $130 per month for a 2013 sedan with less than 100,000 miles, with a $100 deductible.
Steven Dillon
Author
Steven is the founder and product tested for The Car Data, that has extensive knowledge in automotive industry. While most of his free time he participates in typical "car guy" activities, his passion for cars, data analytics, and tech, always has his looking for the next cool tool, software, trend, etc. to share with his audience on The Car Data or on his Instagram.
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