Is Carshield Legit?
Extended warranty companies often get a bad reputation for being spammy and ignoring do-not-call requests, while others have negative reviews for bad service and lack of transparency. CarShield appears to offer a little bit of both. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this company tick.
Popular Warranty Providers
CarShield Overview
CarShield is an established and well-known extended warranty company. With 18 years in business, it has accumulated thousands of complaints, with more than 3,300 in the last three years. The company has an “F” rating with the Better Business Bureau, and the BBB recommends caution when doing business with CarShield.
Common CarShield Complaints
CarShield has accumulated more than its fair share of customer complaints with the BBB, but many of them appear to be from non-customers that received annoying mail or contact from the company. That said, there have been enough complaints from paying customers that the BBB recommends caution when dealing with the extended warranty company. The organization also gave CarShield an “F” score.
The majority of complaints online are related to pricing and service, as many report that CarShield misrepresented the costs or coverage payments for some services. Some report that their warranty coverage never took effect, or that they were overcharged for policies after having been quoted a lower price.
CarShield Ratings and Reviews
From ConsumerAffairs.com:
Positive Reviews:
“CarShield had us covered from beginning to end. The car dealership that tried to rip us off And buy a whole new engine when we didn't need it all. We needed a fuel pump, not a whole new engine. Thankfully thanks to Carshield our car is back up and running and I don't need to dish out $8000 for a whole new engine. Thank you so much.”
“When I looked at my contract I saw the city needed to be corrected. It is a common error with my zipcode. The customer service was polite and in a few minutes the correction was made. I appreciate the efficient and courteousness I experienced. Thank you for the continued peace of mind CarShield is providing.”
“CarShield's customer service provided me with outstanding service. Representative was pleasant and helpful in processing my request and showed compassion and understanding when I shared my unfortunate situation of being involved in an automobile accident. Customer Service with CarShield is GREAT!”
Negative Reviews:
“I wish I had simply started a savings account for my car. Luckily, I have a great (older) car. I always keep it in the garage. I keep up with oil changes and services. The 2 times I had car problems, CarShield came up with some obscure reasons why they could not help. I'm going to call on Monday and dump you and start saving the money instead!”
“I will never ever recommend. My car has been in the shop for 3 months. CarShield took forever to send someone to look at my car. Then when they did nothing was put in. Took a month to get an authorization. Then they had to order the part and after 2 weeks they couldn't get and told the mechanic to get it. Nothing extra was offered to me and I'm still without my car. I am unhappy with the supervisor department as well. Guy was super rude and just tried to blame the mechanic which I have been with when he has tried to deal with CarShield.”
Is CarShield Legit?
In short, yes. CarShield is a legitimate company with many satisfied customers. At the same time, the company has accumulated so many negative reviews and a warning from the BBB that make it important to understand what you’re getting into with any of CarShield’s warranty plans. It’s also a good idea to carefully review the list of covered components and any reasons why your claim might be denied so that there are fewer surprises when you show up to get a repair.
That said, the number of negative reviews suggests that most people would be better served by another reputable company. When the coverage options are similar, it’s best to choose a company that has less negative reviews and a better reputation overall in the industry.
Read our full review of CarShield here.
Alternatives to CarShield
#1 Endurance
Endurance frequently tops the list of the best warranty companies because of its large number of coverage options, excellent bonus services (roadside assistance, etc.), and reasonable prices. Endurance maintains good customer reviews and is known as a big player in the industry. https://www.cartalk.com/extended-warranties/endurance-review).
#2 CARCHEX
CARCHEX is an easy company to deal with, and its warranty coverage options are relatively easy to understand. They pay the shop directly and most report a quick turnaround time for payment. CARCHEX is a very trusted name in the extended warranty industry and has been for many years.
See our full review of CARCHEX here.
#3 Select Auto Protect
Select Auto Protect has great customer reviews and offers low-cost coverage options for many vehicles. The company offers a 30-day money back guarantee, has coverage in all 50 states and also states that there is no limit to the number of claims that a policy holder can file.
See our full review of Select Auto Protect here.
#4 Toco
Toco offers several coverage options for vehicles with up to 250,000 miles, and its customer service is consistently highly reviewed. The company is an established name in the industry. They offer a number of affordable plans to fit every budget.
See our full review of Toco here.
#5 autopom!
autopom! is well reviewed and is generally liked by its customers. It’s also transparent and easy to get information from the company’s representatives. The company offers excellent customer service, clear plans and good coverage options.
Read our full review of autopom! here.
Conclusion
CarShield is a legitimate company that services customers across the country, but there are too many questions and too many negative reviews to ignore. The company does not offer a compelling service or bonus feature that would make them a better choice than Endurance, CARCHEX, or other warranty company.
Our Methodology
Car Talk has spent the last two years diving deeply into the warranties industry for the benefit of our readership and long-time listeners. Our process for deciding on the best warranty companies is exceptionally thorough, involving in-depth research and our unique secret shopper initiative. We compiled over 700 data points across all reviewed companies to refine and inform our selection process. Car Talk reviewed the following important criteria for each company:
- Consumer Satisfaction: Cross referencing multiple trusted resources to pull our fair and balanced customer reviews.
- Cost: Utilizing our secret shopper initiative, we got comparable quotes across all companies so we can validly compare pricing.
- Coverage and Offerings: Our research team delved into the coverage and offerings for each company, comparing what is available, including extras and discounts.
- Official Ratings: We consulted a wide range of verified review sites to extrapolate a ratings score for each.
CARCHEX is one of the largest, most highly-rated providers of vehicle extended warranties in the market. They have been a trusted name in the business for 20 years.
autopom! is well known in the industry for customer service and responsiveness. The company works directly with 2600 certified repair facilities and has a dedicated customer advocacy program.
Endurance Extended Car Warranty company is one of the most popular and trusted providers in the business. Endurance coverage is accepted at any dealership and at any ASE-certified mechanic, and features a 30-day money back guarantee.
Read more on the Best Extended Warranties in the industry here.
Read more on CarShield Cost here.
