Crash Course:
- CARS Protection Plus seems to offer several contracts with varying levels of protection.
- Because its contracts are only sold through dealerships, the price you pay for coverage from CARS Protection Plus may vary based on where you purchase it.
- Our research team found other providers like Endurance and CARCHEX to be stronger choices for extended vehicle protection.
If you’re buying a used vehicle or your car’s factory warranty is about to expire, you may be considering an extended warranty. CARS Protection Plus contracts offer extensive component coverage – but are the provider’s vehicle protection plans the right fit for your needs?
Our research team has reviewed the best extended car warranty companies in the industry based on factors such as coverage, pricing and customer reviews. Keep reading to see how CARS Protection Plus stacks up against the competition.
We recommend comparing quotes from several providers before signing on the dotted line. Kick off your research by getting free, no-obligation quotes from our vetted providers.
Is a CARS Protection Plus Plan Worth It?
Based on our research, coverage from CARS Protection Plus isn’t worth it since there are other providers that have more transparency, better costs, and more extensive coverage.
CARS Protection Plus was founded in 1998 and currently offers contracts in 47 states. We asked customer service which three states it doesn’t offer coverage in, and the response was unclear. Double-check with your dealership to see if CARS operates in your state. The company is insured by Dealer’s Assurance Company, and it covers vehicles with up to 200,000 miles on the odometer.
CARS warranty contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, and CARS Protection Plus has serviced over one million customers since its founding.
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Overall Star Rating
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3.7 out of 5.0
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|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 4.6 out of 5.0 |
| Coverage | 3.8 out of 5.0 |
| Affordability | 3.0 out of 5.0 |
| Customer Experience | 3.3 out of 5.0 |
CARS Warranty Coverage
On the provider’s website, we saw that CARS Warranty coverage is offered through eight vehicle protection plans, which range from basic powertrain to exclusionary coverage. Keep in mind that plan availability may differ by issuing dealership.
- Powertrain Limited: Covers the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, seals, gaskets and air conditioning
- Value Limited: Covers everything included in Powertrain coverage as well as suspension, steering components, brake components, engine cooling system and some electrical parts
- Value Plus: Covers everything included in Value Limited as well as fluids, air conditioning and additional electrical components
- Onyx Plus: Provides the same coverage as Value Plus contract for diesel trucks and vans, or trucks and Jeeps lifted up to 4 inches
- Ultimate Value: Covers everything included in Value Plus as well as fuel injectors, antenna motor and door actuators
- Independence: Covers engine, transmission, transfer case, suspension, drive axle, seals, gaskets, steering, braking system, engine cooling system, air conditioning, starter motor, alternator and window wiper motors
- Flex Protect: Offers four different options, varying in levels of protection from simple powertrain to exclusionary coverage
CARS offers several contract options, and many cover the same or similar components. Each plan also has different benefit and labor rate reimbursement amounts, detailed in the chart below. Keep in mind that these details may differ depending on your issuing dealership.
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CARS Warranty Plan
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Covered Labor Reimbursement Rate
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Rental Car Reimbursement
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24-Hour Roadside Assistance
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Diagnostic Fees
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | $60/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Not included | Not covered |
| Powertrain Limited | $60/hour | Not included | Not included | Not covered |
| Value Limited | $60/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Not included | Not covered |
| Value Plus | $70/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Included | Not covered |
| Onyx Plus | $70/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Included | Not covered |
| Ultimate Value | $100/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Included | Covered |
| Independence | $70/hour | $25/day, $300 per claim | Not included | Not covered |
| Flex Protect Level 1 | $75/hour | $35/day, $250 per claim | Not included | Covered |
| Flex Protect Level 2 | $75/hour or $160/hour, depending on contract | $35/day, $250 per claim | Not included | Covered |
| Flex Protect Level 3 | $75/hour or $160/hour, depending on contract | $35/day, $250 per claim | Included | Covered |
The towing benefit is the only added perk consistent across all plans, offering up to $50 total reimbursement per breakdown.
The large number of contracts and the differing labor rate reimbursements are uncommon among extended car warranty contracts. Most companies offer similar benefits with all packages.
One detail that is also atypical for the industry is that a CARS warranty contract states that CARS can request the use of used, rebuilt or aftermarket components for repairs. Some customers have said that after their mechanic diagnosed the problem, CARS sent a faulty or inadequate replacement part.
CARS Warranty Exclusions
No CARS warranty contracts cover wear-and-tear items, including:
- Brake pads and shoes
- Wheels
- Wiper blades
- Headlights and bulbs
- Shock absorbers
Also excluded are non-mechanical parts such as upholstery, bumpers and exterior trim.
Cost of a CARS Extended Warranty
The cost of a vehicle service contract depends on a number of factors such as:
- Administering dealership
- Location
- Vehicle age and mileage
- Vehicle make and model
- Contract coverage level and length
- Deductible option
CARS contracts are sold exclusively through dealerships, so we were unable to contact the company directly for a quote. However, in our research, we found that the average cost per year across all plan types is about $1,054. Ask your dealer for a quote and compare it to this figure to determine whether or not you’re getting a good deal on coverage from CARS.
How To Get a Quote and File a Claim
If you purchase a vehicle protection plan, it’s important you know how to use it.
If you have a CARS contract and experience a breakdown, bring your vehicle to any National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®)-certified mechanic in the U.S. or Canada. Then, request the repair facility to call your CARS warranty administrator at 888-335-6838 to open a claim.
If you sell your vehicle before your CARS warranty expires, it can be transferred for $99 fee.
CARS Warranty Reviews
CARS Protection Plus is accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and holds an A+ rating. Despite this high rating, the company doesn’t have many positive customer reviews – its review score on the platform is just 2.5 out of 5.0. There have been over 100 complaints filed against CARS Protection Plus in the past three years through the BBB website. This is about average for a car warranty company of this size.
Customers who complained were upset by the complexity of their contracts, and many stated that the CARS warranty hourly reimbursement rates did not cover the full amount charged by their mechanics. There were also several customers who reported that CARS insisted on selecting the parts used for repairs, in some cases sending their mechanic incorrect or incompatible parts.
Our Verdict on CARS: 3.7 / 5.0
Complicated contracts are common in the extended auto warranty industry, but CARS warranty contracts are more complicated than most. It’s also difficult to nail down details about contracts ahead of time since terms may vary between dealerships.
According to customer reports, CARS Protection Plus sticks to the specifics of its contracts, which often fail to pay for the total cost of repairs, even when repairs are covered.
The company does have a strong industry reputation and an A+ rating from the BBB. However, CARS warranty coverage does not seem to be very comprehensive, and there are certainly better alternatives on the market.
Our Picks for Best Extended Car Warranties
CARS isn’t the only warranty company with an established industry reputation. Customers looking for contracts with better coverage should consider two of our top-recommended providers: Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance has some of the best extended warranty coverage in the industry. There are six levels of Endurance coverage:
- Select Premier Coverage: Covers most powertrain components and specifically written with older vehicles in mind
- Secure Coverage: Covers parts of the engine, transmission and drivetrain
- Secure Plus Coverage: Protects the drivetrain components as well as the air conditioning, brake components and steering
- Superior Coverage: Provides named-component coverage for hundreds of listed parts, including the cooling system, suspension and fuel system
- Supreme Coverage: Exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper coverage that protects most mechanical and electrical parts
All Endurance contracts include the following benefits:
- Rental car reimbursement: $30 a day reimbursement up to $150 total
- 24/7 roadside assistance: Includes towing, battery services, mechanical first aid, tire services, and fuel deliveries
- Trip interruption reimbursement: Provides reimbursement for meals and lodging at $150 a day for up to $450 per occurrence if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from home
- One-year Endurance Elite Benefits: Total loss protection, 24/7 roadside assistance, ID theft services, key fob replacement, and a collision discount
Read our Endurance warranty review for more information.
CARCHEX: Best Reputation
We’ve named CARCHEX as the provider with the best reputation because it has solid customer reviews as well as endorsements from industry brands like Kelley Blue Book, RepairPal, and CARFAX. There are five levels of CARCHEX coverage:
- Platinum: In addition to items protected by the Powertrain Plus plan, this covers suspension, high tech electronics, and the fuel delivery system
- Powertrain Plus: Covers everything in the Powertrain plan as well as full coverage for steering, electrical, air conditioning components and some braking system components
- Powertrain: Includes coverage for the most essential parts of your vehicle, like the engine, transmission, drive axles, transfer unit, cooling system, and turbocharger
- Extra Care: Provides protection for parts outside of the powertrain system like components in the braking and electrical systems, suspension, and steering
These plans include the following benefits:
- 24/7 roadside assistance: Includes emergency tire service, lockout service, battery service, fuel delivery and winching
- Towing: Reimbursement up to $75 per occurrence.
- Rental car reimbursement: Reimbursement up to $40 per day for a maximum of $160 per occurrence
- Trip interruption reimbursement: Provides meal and lodging reimbursement up to $50.00 per day for three days maximum if your vehicle breaks down over 100 miles away from home
Check out our CARCHEX review to learn more.
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.
