An extended auto warranty is a protection plan you can buy from an automaker or dealership to cover mechanical breakdowns. Third-party providers offer similar coverage in the form of vehicle service contracts. We use these terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
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- We compare autopom! vs. CarShield to help you decide which provider best fits your needs.
- Autopom! and CarShield received the same overall rating from our review team. Autopom! scored higher on industry standing and customer service, while CarShield scored higher on coverage and affordability.
- Our highest-rated warranty providers are Endurance and CARCHEX. You can read more about them in our comprehensive review of the best extended car warranty companies.
Trying to compare extended warranties from autopom! vs. CarShield? We’ve done the homework for you. In this side-by-side comparison, we’ll examine both providers’ coverage plan options, costs, customer reviews, and more to help you decide which auto protection company will give you better peace of mind.
To start comparing autopom! vs. CarShield prices for your vehicle, you can get a free, personalized quote from each company above.
Overview of autopom! vs. CarShield
Both autopom! and CarShield ranked high on our list of the best extended car warranty providers, but how do the two companies compare? Here’s a breakdown of how we scored autopom! vs. CarShield:
autopom! | CarShield | |
---|---|---|
Industry Standing | 4.3 | 4.6 |
Coverage | 4.5 | 4.8 |
Affordability | 4.9 | 4.1 |
Customer Reviews | 4.7 | 3.8 |
Overall Rating | 4.6 | 4.3 |
Autopom! and CarShield are both major players in the extended warranty industry. CarShield was founded in 2005 and is arguably the industry’s most popular provider, with thousands of online reviews, celebrity endorsements, and over $1 billion paid in claims by CarShield’s administrators. Autopom! was founded in 2009 and has differentiated itself by working exclusively with A-rated administrators and insurers and covering vehicles up to 14 years old.
Although there are more CarShield reviews overall, autopom! reviews are a bit more positive. The company holds a higher average customer review rating on both its Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot profiles. Autopom! also holds BBB accreditation, while CarShield does not. Although autopom! has advantages in industry standing and reviews, CarShield offers superior coverage and is generally more affordable.
Autopom! vs. CarShield: Coverage
Autopom! and CarShield each offer a number of different coverage options to choose from that can cover new cars, as well as high-mileage vehicles.
autopom! | CarShield | |
---|---|---|
Coverage Rating | 4.1 | 4.6 |
Coverage Levels | 4 | 6 |
Highest Mileage Limit | 150,000 miles | 300,000 miles |
Waiting Period for Coverage | 30 days and 1,000 miles | 30 days and 1,000 miles |
Sample Contracts Available | Yes | Yes |
Both providers have vehicle protection plans ranging from basic powertrain coverage for just the engine, transmission, and drivetrain to full bumper-to-bumper warranties that cover auto repairs for all major systems, including the air conditioning, suspension, and electrical system.
However, CarShield offers two more levels of coverage than autopom!, including a plan specifically for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles and a plan designed for luxury vehicles or vehicles with complex electronic systems. The high-tech plan covers cruise control, power seat control, voice activation control, and more.
Autopom! and CarShield both offer additional benefits including roadside assistance, towing, and rental car reimbursement, but autopom! gives customers trip interruption coverage and tire protection services too.
Autopom! vs. CarShield: Cost
When it comes to cost, autopom! and CarShield are both affordable choices for an extended car warranty. We found CarShield to have slightly lower monthly payments and total prices than autopom!.
Factors such as the plan you select and your vehicle’s mileage, model, and age affect the cost of an extended warranty plan. We reached out to both providers for a quote on a 2021 Nissan Altima with 42,000 miles. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of autopom! vs. CarShield prices:
autopom! | CarShield | |
---|---|---|
Plan | Exclusionary | Diamond |
Term Length | 4 years/Unlimited |
Unlimited; month-to-month |
Price | $125.75 per month for 24 months |
$149.99 per month |
Down Payment | $158.84 | N/A |
Total Price | $3,176.80 | N/A |
Deductible | $100.00 | $200.00 |
As you can see, autopom! and CarShield offer similar total costs for coverage. However, we rated CarShield higher for affordability because of its longer term length and low monthly payment plans. Additionally, in this example, autopom! only provided us with an upfront price rather than a financing option. This is not always the case with autopom!, but it made the decision easy for the budget-conscious shopper.
Autopom! vs. CarShield: Customer Reviews & Reputation
Hundreds of customer reviews have been submitted for autopom! and CarShield via the BBB and Trustpliot. Additionally, the BBB itself takes into account business practices and handling of complaints when determining its scores.
autopom! | CarShield | |
---|---|---|
BBB Accreditation | Yes | Yes |
BBB Rating | A+ | A |
BBB Customer Rating | 4.7 out of 5.0 stars with around 32 reviews | 1.4 out of 5.0 stars with over 2,400 reviews |
Number of BBB Complaints in the Last Three Years | 4 | 3,371 |
Trustpilot Rating | 4.1 out of 5.0 stars with 230 reviews | 4.2 out of 5.0 stars with over 47,000 reviews |
*Data accurate as of April 2021.
Overall, customers have mostly positive experiences with both brands. Autopom! has an edge over CarShield in every category, but its customer ratings are based on significantly fewer reviews. Far more reviews of CarShield were submitted on Trustpilot than the BBB, so the company’s 4.2-star Trustpilot score is probably more indicative of customers’ overall experience than its 1.4-star rating on the BBB.
CarShield received an F rating from the BBB due to advertising issues and having hundreds of complaints filed against the business. While this is indeed a large number of complaints, it’s important to consider that CarShield has hundreds of thousands of customers. Still, some customers may reasonably prefer autopom! because of its A+ BBB rating and accreditation.
To get a feel for customers’ experiences with these companies, we read a number of reviews for each provider. Below, we share a sample positive and negative review for autopom! vs. CarShield. Generally, customers appreciate autopom! and CarShield’s warranty coverage and affordable costs, but some customers felt that their claims were denied for unjustified reasons.
Positive Reviews:
autopom!
“[My service representative] was timely in getting my questions answered. He had a pleasant and respectful demeanor about him and represented autopom! in an excellent and professional manner.”
– M.D. Cathcart via Trustpilot
CarShield
“CarShield has been a great investment. I have two vehicles, and they both have CarShield. They have good customer service and the team [works with you] to get your issue solved. I have recommended CarShield to several of my friends and coworkers.”
– Janice Anderson via Trustpilot
Negative Reviews:
autopom!
“My complaint is against the administrator, not autopom! However, an insurance policy is only a promise, and only as good as the claims handling and payment process. This company’s administrator is worthless and refuses to pay claims…”
– R.B. F. via BBB
CarShield
“So far, our experience with CarShield has been questionable at [best]. Everything is great as long as they are taking your premiums. As soon as you make a claim, the nightmare begins. Their claims department is impossible to get a hold of.”
– Jill K. via BBB
Final Thoughts on autopom! vs. CarShield
Autopom! and CarShield are reputable extended car warranty companies that offer comprehensive coverage and standard benefits at a competitive price. What’s best for one driver may not be best for another, so we recommend getting quotes from both companies to find the right fit for your vehicle.
autopom! | CarShield | |
---|---|---|
Coverage Levels | 4 | 8 |
Sample Contracts Available | Yes | Yes |
Deductible | Varies | Varies |
Years in Business | 15 | 19 |
Accepted Repair Facilities | Any licensed repair shop | Any licensed repair shop |
Transferable Plan | Yes | Yes |
Cancellable Plan | Yes | Yes |
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee | Yes | Yes |
Endorsements | None | Chris Berman, Ice-T, Ernie Hudson, and Andrienne Janic |
Learn More | Learn More |
Other Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
When looking for an extended car warranty provider, it’s wise to compare coverage plans and pricing from multiple top companies. Along with autopom! and CarShield, we recommend getting quotes from Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: Best Overall
Our No. 1 recommended provider, Endurance, offers six outstanding coverage plans, strong customer service, and a unique benefits package. In addition to all of the standard benefits such as roadside assistance and towing, Endurance’s vehicle service contracts come with one free year of the Endurance Elite Benefits. This membership covers two tire replacements or repairs per year, ID theft protection, key fob replacement, a collision discount, and total loss protection.
You can learn more about this direct provider in our complete Endurance warranty review.
CARCHEX: Best Reputation
CARCHEX is an eight-time Inc. 5000 honoree and holds significant sponsorships with CARFAX, Edmunds.com, and Kelley Blue Book. We recognized CARCHEX as the Best for Older Vehicles because it covers cars up to 250,000 miles. What’s more, CARCHEX holds an A+ rating from the BBB and offers five different coverage levels.
Read our in-depth CARCHEX review to learn more about what this warranty company offers.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.