Auto Protection Club Extended Warranty Review
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Many auto warranty providers seek out new customers through mailers. If you’ve received a mailer from Auto Protection Club (APC), you may be wondering if the company is worth a call. It’s a good idea to exercise due diligence for any major financial purchase, and extended car warranties are no different.
An extended warranty may be a good choice for drivers who want peace of mind on the road. Sudden repair bills can take a major toll on your budget, and an extended warranty is one way to mitigate such expenses. However, some extended warranty companies offer poor service and coverage that is riddled with exceptions. A bad car warranty plan can be a nightmare, leaving you with additional stress when it comes time to fix your car.
This article will review the Auto Protection Club extended warranty to help you figure out if the provider is worthwhile or if you’re better off trying a different company. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies and know the difference between a poor provider and the real deal.
You can also use the buttons above for individualized quotes. Prices for auto warranties are different depending on your vehicle and location. Be sure to get your own quotes to compare against our findings.
Pros | Coverage up to 200,000 miles and roadside assistance perks. |
Cons | Negative customer reviews, repeat complaints of misleading advertising, and lack of transparency. |
Bottom Line | Auto Protection Club offers four levels of coverage and a few perks, but we recommend going with a more credible provider. |
Table of contents
- Auto Protection Club Review: 2.5 Stars
- Auto Protection Club Highlights
- What Does Auto Protection Club Cover?
- How Much Does an Auto Protection Club Extended Warranty Cost?
- Auto Protection Club Quotes and Claims Processes
- Auto Protection Club Ratings and Reviews
- Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
- Methodology
Auto Protection Club Review: 2.5 Stars
Auto Protection Club does not stand out as having especially good prices or coverage options. Given that it has a poor online reputation and a lack of transparency, we do not recommend this company.
There are other vehicle service contract providers with superior reputations that offer similar coverage and better financing. You don’t want to purchase an extended warranty from a company that does not have a strong record of paying out claims.
Auto Protection Club Highlights
Overall Rating |
2.5 |
|---|---|
Reputation |
2.0 |
Coverage |
3.0 |
Price |
2.9 |
Transparency |
2.1 |
Customer Service |
2.3 |
Auto Protection Club (also known as Greenlight Auto Protection) is available across the US. All plans are backed by Fortegra, an insurance company with an A- rating from AM Best. Auto Protection Club service contracts are administered through partners including Integrity Admin Group, Omega Autocare, and Royal Administration Services.
While Auto Protection Club offers standard coverage options and is a legitimate business, it does not have the most transparent practices or best customer reputation. The sections below offer further details.
What Does Auto Protection Club Cover?
Bronze |
Silver |
Gold |
Platinum |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
Maximum Mileage |
200,000 miles |
150,000 miles |
125,000 miles |
70,000 miles |
Engine |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transfer Case |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transmission |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Drive Axle |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Turbo/Supercharger |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Power Windows |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Air Conditioning |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Electrical Systems |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Fuel System |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Cooling System |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Computer |
✓ |
|||
Select Brake Components |
✓ |
|||
Suspension |
✓ |
|||
Navigation |
✓ |
|||
Steering |
✓ |
All plans begin after a waiting period of 30 days and 1,000 miles. Deductible options range from $0 to $100, and plans are fully transferable between owners.
In addition to covering the cost of parts, labor, and diagnostic fees for covered repairs, each Auto Protection Club plan includes the following roadside assistance benefits:
- Towing
- Fuel delivery
- Jump-starts
- Tire changes
- Car rental
As with most every vehicle protection plan, Auto Protection Club does not pay for routine maintenance. Routine maintenance includes things like fluid changes and manufacturer recommended tuneups. Not keeping up with routine maintenance yourself will void your vehicle protection plan.
How Much Does an Auto Protection Club Extended Warranty Cost?
- Vehicle make and model
- Vehicle mileage
- Location
- Deductible
- Plan coverage and length
We reached out to Auto Protection Club for quotes on a 2017 Ford Explorer with 45,000 miles on it in Raleigh, North Carolina. We were offered the following terms for a Platinum plan:
Term Length |
Financing |
Down Payment |
Final Cost |
Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
5 years/75,000 miles |
$321/month for 12 months |
$495 |
$4,347 |
$100 |
When we told the customer sales representative that we were the original owner of the vehicle, we were offered a $600 reduction to the final cost (bringing it to $3,747) and a lengthier financing option (18 months).
The original price we were quoted is standard for a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. Based on our research, the average price for a five-year, bumper-to-bumper contract for a 2017 Ford with 45,000 miles is around $4,200. However, the financing offered by Auto Protection Club is not as good as you can find elsewhere. Other providers offer longer financing terms with similar total prices.
Auto Protection Club Quotes and Claims Processes
You can get a quote from Auto Protection Club by calling its sales department at 800-264-2712. When we called for a quote, we were quickly connected to a representative who was able to provide us with price options in under 10 minutes.
You can also request a quote by filling out a quote form on the Auto Protection Club website. We are not sure if this form works however, as we tried testing it out and were never contacted.
Claims
To file a claim with Auto Protection Club, you can take your vehicle to any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). Provide the mechanic with your policy information, and they will contact an Auto Protection Club administrator themselves. Assuming that your claim is approved, the administrator will pay the mechanic directly, and you’ll be responsible for paying only your deductible.
Auto Protection Club Ratings and Reviews
- Misleading advertising
- Failure to remove customer information from database
- Difficulty cancelling contracts
- Failure to issue refunds
There are always a certain number of bellyachers on the BBB website, and no company has a spotless record. But even compared to other extended warranty providers, Auto Protection Club has received very little positive feedback from customers. While the company is not an outright scam, it should probably be avoided.
Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
Endurance: Best Coverage
With over 15 years in business, Endurance holds a 3.34 out of 5.00-stars customer review rating with the BBB and an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot. We consider Endurance a reputable provider with excellent coverage options.
It's easy to find a plan to fit your needs with over six coverage levels to choose from. Endurance car warranties also come with a free year of Endurance Elite Benefits, which offers the most competitive perks in the warranty industry, including 24/7 roadside assistance, key fob replacement, and tire repair/replacement.
To find out how much you would pay for an Endurance extended warranty, get a free quote for your vehicle.
CarShield: Best Value
CarShield offers six different service contracts and coverage that extends as high as 300,000 miles.
We reached out to the provider for our in-depth CarShield review and asked for several quotes. Compared to Auto Protection Club’s rate of $321/month for 12 months for a bumper-to-bumper plan on the 2017 Ford Explorer, we were offered a monthly rate of about $130. CarShield’s bumper-to-bumper plan had an unlimited term length and a $100 deductible.
Not all plans are unlimited with CarShield, though. When we requested a quote for a 2013 Dodge Caravan with 88,000 miles, we were offered the following terms for a powertrain warranty:
CarShield Extended Warranty Plan |
Term Length |
Monthly Payment |
Down Payment |
Deductible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Gold |
4 years/48,000 miles |
$78 for 18 months |
$250 |
$100 |
Among top providers, CarShield offers some of the lowest prices for powertrain coverage. This is why we named CarShield the Best Budget Warranty company.
While CarShield has received some negative reviews about long claims-servicing times, the majority of customers report satisfaction. CarShield has a 4.0-star rating on Trustpilot based on nearly 10,000 reviews.
To learn more about extended warranties from CarShield, get a free quote for your vehicle.
Our rating: 4.2 out of 5.0
Our research found this provider to be the most affordable. Plus, it offers monthly plans.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company’s customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company’s history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
More by Stephen Kenney
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