Fenix Protect Extended Auto Warranty Review
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Wondering if a Fenix Protect extended warranty is right for you? We’ve gone ahead and done the research. This article provides a summary of plan details, costs, the company’s claims process, and customer reviews. Read on to see how Fenix Protect compares with some of the best extended car warranty providers.
Also consider getting quotes from some of our recommended providers using the buttons above. The cost of an extended vehicle service contract changes depending on your car and location. The best way to compare prices is to look into costs for your own vehicle.
Pros | Direct payments to repair facilities, easy quotes process, and roadside assistance perks. |
Cons | Reported pattern of misleading sales tactics, limited coverage for high-mileage vehicles, and lack of plan information available online. |
Bottom Line | If you’re considering purchasing one of Fenix Protect’s seven extended warranty plans, we recommend going with another vehicle service contract provider. |
Table of contents
Fenix Protect Review: 2.7 Stars
Overall, we think you are better off pursuing alternative extended warranty providers.
Fenix Protect Highlights
Overall Rating |
2.7 |
|---|---|
Reputation |
2.3 |
Coverage |
3.0 |
Price |
3.0 |
Transparency |
2.2 |
Customer Service |
2.9 |
Fenix Protect, also known as American Automotive Service Solutions, is an extended auto warranty broker based in Addison, Texas, and provides services contracts for new and used vehicles throughout the United States. It has been in business for 11 years, and all of its plans are administered by Black Diamond Administrative Company. According to Fenix Protect, the company specializes in top-notch customer service. However, we aren’t convinced this is the case.
What Does a Fenix Protect Extended Auto Warranty Cover?
You can get a Fenix Protect extended auto warranty for a new or used vehicle. The new vehicle plans provide bumper-to-bumper or powertrain plus coverage for vehicles with fewer than 70,000 and 80,000 miles, respectively. There are five Fenix Protect warranties for used vehicles with varying coverage.
Unlike many auto warranty providers, Fenix Protect does not make sample coverage contracts available online. This is one reason we give Fenix Protect such a low transparency rating. We were able to find some details about coverage options, but it’s hard to give a full picture compared to other providers.
New Vehicle Protection Plans
There are two Fenix Protect coverage plans for new vehicles:
- Triple Diamond: This exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranty covers all vehicle components, minus a short list of non-covered parts. This plan is only available for vehicles with less than 70,000 miles.
- Double Diamond: Similar to a powertrain plus warranty, this Fenix Protect contract covers your vehicle’s engine components, transmission, steering, cooling system, suspension, brakes, air conditioner, and timing belt. This plan is only available for vehicles with less than 80,000 miles.
Used Vehicle Protection Plans
Fenix Protect offers several auto service contracts for vehicles with more than 70,000 miles. These plans tend to be more expensive and cover fewer types of auto repairs than the company’s new vehicle plans.
Sapphire |
Ruby |
Emerald |
Diamond |
Double Diamond |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Highest Mileage Covered |
500,000 miles |
175,000 miles |
150,000 miles |
125,000 miles |
100,000 miles |
Engine |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transmission |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transfer Case |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Differential Assembly |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Steering |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Timing Belt |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Electrical Components |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Cooling System |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Turbo/ Supercharger |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Air Conditioning |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|
CV Joints |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Water Pump |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Fuel System |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Timing Belt |
✓ |
✓ |
|||
Brake System |
✓ |
✓ |
|||
Fluids |
✓ |
||||
Suspension |
✓ |
||||
High-Tech Electrical |
✓ |
||||
Audio Center |
✓ |
All plans can be cancelled within 30 days for a full refund or at any time thereafter for a prorated refund. In addition to paying for parts and labor for repairs on all covered components, Fenix Protect contracts come with the following extras:
- Jump-starts
- Lockout assistance
- Flat tire changes
- Concierge services
- Fuel and fluid delivery
- Towing
- Rental car reimbursement
Fenix Protect Cost
The final pricing of any extended warranty will vary depending on your vehicle and term options. Vehicles with more miles on them are generally more expensive to cover. With Fenix Protect, high-mileage vehicles are not eligible for all coverage options.
We reached out to Fenix Protect to get quotes for a 2017 Ford Explorer with 45,500 miles. Such a vehicle was eligible for the Fenix Protect new car Triple Diamond warranty. We were offered the following terms:
Plan |
Triple Diamond |
Term Length |
4 years or 100,000 miles |
Deductible |
$100 |
Financing |
Initial payment of $195 and recurring payments of $159/month for 23 months |
Total Cost |
$3,867 |
Cost per Year of Coverage |
$966.75 |
Industry Average Cost per Year of Coverage |
$650 to $1,000 |
We were also offered a first-time buyer’s credit that lowered the final price to $3,050—a significant reduction. This deal lowers the cost per year of coverage to $762.50. With this discount, we were also offered an extended payment plan that came out to about $100 per month for two years.
The total cost of a Fenix Protect plan is on the high side of the industry average. The company’s financing options are neither the longest nor lowest-priced we’ve seen in our research, but they are competitive.
Quotes and Claims Processes
Claims
Fenix Protect has an extremely simple claims process. When your vehicle needs a repair, take it to any repair shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®). You’ll need to give your policy information to your mechanic, and he or she will take care of the rest.
Assuming your claim is accepted by Fenix Protect, you will pay only your deductible, and the claims facilitator will pay the mechanic directly for the rest of your repair costs.
Fenix Protect Ratings and Reviews
- Unsolicited phone calls and mailers
- Misleading sales tactics
- Failure to cancel policies
- Failure to honor contracts
- Poor customer service
Despite its poor BBB reputation, Fenix Protect does well on Trustpilot, where it holds a customer score of 4.4 out of 5.0 stars with more than 900 customers weighing in. Positive Fenix Protect reviews on Trustpilot mostly focus on courteous salespeople and a pleasant sign-up process. Such reviews don’t give a very good indication of a company’s claims process or reliability, however.
Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance is a 2019 Inc. 5,000 honoree and is backed by an AM Best A-rated insurance company. We rate Endurance at 4.6 stars out of 5.0, and it is our No. 1 recommended provider.
Endurance offers six levels of coverage that range from basic powertrain protection to bumper-to-bumper extended warranty plans. In addition, Endurance has some of the most comprehensive customer benefits, including one year free of Endurance Elite Benefits that provides access to a range of different benefits and perks.
Endurance has an “Excellent” rating on Trustpilot and a 3.34-star customer review rating with the BBB. We think it is a reputable provider with quality coverage options.
To find out how much you would pay for an Endurance extended warranty, get a free quote for your vehicle.
Our rating: 4.6 out of 5.0
Endurance is our pick for best coverage with its comprehensive warranty options.
CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars
CARCHEX is one of the oldest extended auto warranty companies. It has been around since 1999 and has offered vehicle service contracts across the country since 2004. Today, it partners with companies like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, CARFAX, and RepairPal.
CARCHEX boasts one of the best customer service reputations, with an A+ rating from the BBB. It provides some of the lowest-cost contracts for a top-tier provider and extensive coverage options. We give the company an overall 4.4-star rating and think it is worth checking out when it comes time to extend your manufacturer’s warranty coverage.
Learn more about coverage from CARCHEX by getting a free, personalized quote.
Our rating: 4.4 out of 5.0
Our research found this provider to be the best for used cars.
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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