CarShield Reviews

Is CarShield Worth It?

CarShield bills itself as a vehicle service company that understands the modern automobile and that is driven to protect consumers from costly auto repairs. While we think a CarShield warranty can be worth it for someone who wants peace of mind at a low cost, other service providers might offer a better customer experience.

Year founded: 2005
Company headquarters: St. Peters, Mo.
Total coverage levels: Eight

As one of the nation’s most popular third-party warranty providers, CarShield stands out for its month-to-month contracts, flexible protection plans, benefits and deductibles.

Since CarShield acts as a vehicle service contract broker, its vehicle protection plans are administered by other companies like American Auto Shield. This allows the provider to offer various coverage options. CarShield even offers specialty coverage for electronic components,  all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles.

Like most independent warranty providers, CarShield reviews are mixed. While some positive reviews talk about pleasant interactions with customer service staff, negative reviews mention claims being repeatedly denied and cars sitting in repair shops for weeks.

Read More: Is CarShield Legit?

CarShield Ratings

CarShield has average ratings across many review sites. On Google, the company has a 4.3-star rating out of 5 from over 14,000 reviewers. The extended warranty broker also has similar scoring on Trustpilot, where it has a 4.2-star rating out of 5 from more than 46,000 reviewers. We found that 67% of reviewers gave CarShield a 5-star rating, while 9% gave it a 4-star rating.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) itself gives CarShield an A rating. Over 2,000 BBB customer reviews give the provider a 1.4 out of 5-star rating, which is much lower compared to Google and Trustpilot.

CarShield Complaints

The company has received and closed nearly 3,400 complaints from customers on the BBB in the last three years. CarShield closed just over 1,000 of those complaints in the last year.

We reached out to CarShield for comment on these scores and found that the number of complaints filed was small compared to the 1,118,000+ contracts sold by the provider in the last four years.

CarShield Reviews on Reddit

Reddit is a website used by many consumers to seek information about specific products. We found that Reddit reviews about CarShield were mixed, but did skew towards the negative. This makes sense, as people may be more likely to complain to others that they were dissatisfied with the service — rather than take the time to share a positive experience.

Overall, we found that most negative reviews discussed issues with repair shops not being covered under CarShield’s plan and problems with reimbursement.

CarShield App

In addition to an online chat feature, CarShield contract holders have access to a mobile app that allows them to view contract details and information on claims, roadside assistance and customer service. The app has a 3.3-star rating on the App Store and a 3.5-star rating from Google Play.

Our editorial team reached out to CarShield for cost estimates on a few vehicles and plans. We found that prices range from about $110 to $130 per month on average, depending on the deductible and plan level you choose.

You can purchase a warranty with a set term or a month-to-month contract. With a month-to-month vehicle service contract, the final price will depend on how long you maintain your plan.

Multiple factors influence the cost of an extended car warranty, including the coverage level, deductible and vehicle. Below is a breakdown of the factors that will impact how much you will pay for an extended warranty.

The parts covered by CarShield service contracts vary widely depending on the plan. Some options, like the Diamond plan, cover hundreds of parts across the vehicle, whereas others are more specific to components in the powertrain or electrical systems.

Read More: CarShield Coverage Plans

What Isn’t Covered?

A CarShield warranty won’t cover every repair for your car. CarShield contracts list 21 exclusions. Here are some common exclusions that are standard to the industry the company outlines in its service contracts:

• Repairs performed without prior authorization
• Damage from a lack of maintenance
• Pre-existing conditions
• Environmental damage, theft or vandalism
• Vehicle alterations or modifications
• Misuse of the car such as racing or off-roading
• Damage from normal wear and tear
• Oil leaks that are not a result of engine failure (Diamond and Platinum plans cover oil leaks)
• Odometer tampering

Additional Benefits

In addition to covering car repairs, CarShield extended warranties come with added perks, including:

• 24-hour roadside assistance: Includes towing, jump-starts, tire changes, locksmith services and fuel delivery
• Trip interruption: $125 per day and $500 total
• Rental car reimbursement: Up to $100 per day for a covered repair

CarShield Policy

The list below contains helpful information about policies that are common across CarShield’s warranty offerings:

• Mileage limit: CarShield will cover vehicles with up to 300,000 miles. The company’s high mileage limit separates it from competition in terms of used vehicle coverage.
• Waiting period: CarShield’s waiting period for coverage is 30 days and 1,000 miles or 90 days and 200 miles after purchase. This policy is designed to protect CarShield from covering a repair that the customer knew about prior to purchasing coverage. When signing with CarShield, representatives will take note of prior problems. Note, the waiting period for the ATV and motorcycle and EV coverage is different.
• Transfer policy: If you sell your vehicle while it still has coverage, you may be able to transfer the policy depending on your contract. Those who are eligible can pay a $50 administrative fee to have it transferred.

If you find yourself in need of auto repairs while your car is under contract, you can take your vehicle to either the dealership or a repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE^®) for covered repairs. 

The ASE is an organization that tries to improve how well your vehicle is repaired. It certifies repair shops all over the country and ensures that your vehicle is in good hands at any certified location.

CarShield Claims

Here are the steps you will need to take to file a claim with CarShield:

• Take the vehicle to a mechanic within CarShield’s network
• Give the repair shop your contract information and allow them to give CarShield’s claims department a phone call
• A warranty claims adjuster will review the mechanical breakdown and repair
• If approved, you’ll pay your deductible and the administrator will pay the mechanic directly

In this review, we talked about CarShield’s prices, coverage plans and more. While CarShield doesn’t have the highest ratings from customer reviews, it still remains one of the most affordable car warranty providers. We gave CarShield an 8.9 out of 10 for its affordable prices and extensive collection of coverage plans.

When shopping for an extended auto warranty, it’s worth visiting CarShield.com or contacting a customer service representative for a free quote. However, we also recommend comparing quotes from multiple providers. While CarShield has its merits, it’s always smart to look at the coverage plans offered by other companies. You can compare CarShield with two of our most highly rated providers below.

CarShield Competitors

Our experts have ranked and reviewed the most reputable extended car warranty companies on the market and found that Endurance and Carchex are excellent choices. Both also offer similar levels of coverage to CarShield.

Endurance: Best Comprehensive Coverage

Endurance is a direct administrator, meaning it handles all aspects of your service contract and cuts out middlemen to keep costs low. Trustpilot gives Endurance 3.7 out of 5 stars, and we give the provider a 9.3 out of 10 overall, a 9.7 for its coverage options and a 7.8 for customer experience.

Endurance offers unlimited mileage on its six plans that range from the Supreme plan, which is comparable to a manufacturer’s warranty, to affordable powertrain coverage under the Secure service contract.

Read more: Endurance Review

Carchex: Best Industry Reputation

Drivers with older vehicles should consider Carchex. Our team recognized it as a smart option for used cars. Contracts like the Gold plan provide thorough protection for vehicles over 60,000 miles. The company also holds an A+ rating from the BBB.

Read more: Carchex Review

Below are some frequently asked questions about CarShield.