CARS Warranty Review
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CARS Protection Plus has been in business for more than 20 years and currently sells 11 vehicle service contracts for drivers to choose from. But is a CARS warranty the best choice to protect your vehicle?
In this review, we’ll take a closer look at CARS warranty plans, pricing, customer reviews, and more. We’ll also see how CARS warranty coverage stacks up against some of the industry’s best extended car warranty companies, so you can get a better understanding of which company may best suit your vehicle protection needs.
Remember, it’s always smart to shop around and get quotes from multiple providers before deciding on an extended warranty. To start getting free, personalized quotes from our top recommended providers, use the buttons above.
Pros | CARS Protection Plus has over two decades of experience in the extended car warranty industry, and plans are available in all 50 states. |
Cons | CARS warranty products are only sold through dealerships, and coverage plans can be difficult to differentiate. |
Bottom Line | If you want straightforward plan information and lots of added perks, a CARS warranty is probably not the right coverage for you. |
Table of contents
CARS Warranty Review: 3.6 Stars
CARS Protection Plus has a positive industry reputation and a number of comprehensive plan options. However, the company’s 11 plans don’t have much distinction between them, and determining which level of coverage you want can be confusing. Additionally, not all plans come with free standard benefits like roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage.
If benefits and straightforward plan information are important to you, your best bet is to go with another reputable extended car warranty company. You can read more about our top recommended providers below.
CARS Warranty Highlights
Overall Rating |
3.6 |
---|---|
Reputation |
4.1 |
Coverage |
3.6 |
Price |
See dealership |
Transparency |
3.0 |
Customer Service |
3.8 |
CARS Protection Plus has been underwriting vehicle service contracts since 1998. Today, CARS partners with industry leaders like AAMCO, Cottman Transmission and Total Auto Care, Meineke, and LKQ Corporation.
What Does a CARS Warranty Cover?
Drivers interested in a CARS warranty have seven standard vehicle service contract options to choose from, as well as four Flex Protect levels that add coverage for diagnostic fees and rental cars.
Here’s a breakdown of the seven standard CARS warranty plans:
Ultimate Value |
ONYX Plus |
Value Plus |
Value Limited |
Independence |
Power Train Limited |
Power Train |
|
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Engine |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transmission |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transfer Case |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Drive Axle Assembly |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Seals and Gaskets |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Suspension |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Steering Components |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Brake Components |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Engine Cooling System |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Electrical Components |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||
Air Conditioning |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
|||
Fuel System |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
||||
Fluids |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
The ONYX Plus plan is a specialty plan designed for vans and trucks that run on diesel, weigh one ton, or have dual rear wheels. It also covers trucks and Jeeps lifted up to four inches.
Although there are a few CARS warranty plans that don’t differ all that much in terms of vehicle coverage, the benefits are what make each plan unique.
CARS Warranty Plan |
Benefits |
---|---|
Ultimate Value |
Roadside assistance, towing, rental reimbursement, $100 hourly labor rate |
Onyx Plus |
Roadside assistance, towing, rental reimbursement, $70 hourly labor rate, up to an hour of diagnostic coverage |
Value Plus |
Roadside assistance, towing, rental reimbursement, $70 hourly labor rate |
Value Limited |
Towing, rental reimbursement, $60 hourly labor rate |
Independence |
Towing, rental reimbursement, $70 hourly labor rate |
Power Train Limited |
Towing, $60 hourly labor rate |
Power Train |
Towing, rental reimbursement, $60 hourly labor rate |
*Plans with roadside assistance and/or towing cover up to $50 for each service per claim. Rental car reimbursement covers $25 for every eight hours of labor up to a maximum of $300.
As you can see, not all standard CARS Protection Plus plans come with roadside assistance or diagnostic coverage, and the highest labor rate limit is $100 per hour. If you want to guarantee that your diagnostics will be covered, you may be interested in a Flex Protect plan over a traditional CARS warranty.
There are four levels of Flex Protect coverage, which cover the following vehicle components, as well as all diagnostics, rental coverage, and towing. Levels 2 through 4 come with a $0 deductible and a labor limit of $160 per hour:
- Flex Level 1: Covers the engine, transmission, drive systems, seals, and gaskets
- Flex Level 2: Covers everything in Level 1, plus the turbocharger, suspension, steering, braking components, engine cooling system, and select electrical components
- Flex Level 3: Covers everything in Level 2, plus the fuel system, air conditioning, radiator, enhanced electrical components, and roadside assistance
- Flex Level 4: Covers everything in Level 3, plus navigation, entertainment systems, the computer, and all other original factory-equipped mechanical and electrical parts unless specifically excluded
Extended auto warranties generally do not cover routine maintenance, such as oil changes and tire rotations, or wear and tear items, such as windshield wipers and brake pads.
How Much Does a CARS Warranty Cost?
CARS warranty costs are not available online. Because CARS Protection Plus sells vehicle service contracts exclusively through dealerships, our research team was unable to get a quote from this company.
On average, extended warranties cost between $600 and $1,000 per year of coverage, so if you’re offered a CARS warranty at a dealership, that range can be a good measure of whether or not a CARS warranty is affordable.
The price of your extended car warranty coverage depends on many factors, such as:
- Your location
- Type of car you drive
- The number of miles on your odometer
- The level of coverage you buy
- Where you purchase your extended car warranty
CARS Warranty Claims Processes
- Your CARS pre-authorization number
- Your warranty information
- Your vehicle identification number (VIN)
- The current mileage of your vehicle
- Your name and address
- Your signature
CARS Warranty Ratings and Reviews
CARS Protection Plus has a strong reputation among extended car warranty industry experts and partners with major companies like AAMCO and Meineke. It has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which indicates the company uses sound business practices. However, it only has a 1.51 out of 5.0-star BBB customer rating based on less than 50 reviews.
Positive CARS warranty reviews include details about courteous customer service representatives, impressive mechanical repairs, and praise for the ability to renew your CARS warranty every three months. Negative customer reviews report difficulty getting coverage for claims, rude claims service agents, and trouble getting in touch with agents to cancel contracts.
One customer also reported getting a CARS warranty for free from a shoddy car dealer. As with any car warranty company, be wary of deals that seem too good to be true. The extended car warranty industry is full of scam companies, but CARS Protection Plus seems reliable overall, even if a bit slow to process claims.
Top Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties
Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance offers six levels of high-quality extended car warranty coverage:
- Supreme: Exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage
- Superior: Comprehensive stated-component coverage
- Secure Plus: Enhanced powertrain warranty coverage
- Secure: Affordable basic powertrain warranty coverage
- Select Premier: Specialty coverage for high-mileage vehicles
- EnduranceAdvantageâ„¢: This plan covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance, like oil changes, engine diagnostics, and brake pad replacements.
When you purchase an Endurance warranty, you will also receive a year of free enrollment into the Endurance Elite Benefits program. These benefits grant you access to some of the most comprehensive benefits in the industry, including:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Two tire repairs or replacements per year
- Key fob replacements
- Total loss protection
- Collision discount
- Endurance mobile app
For more on this provider, check out our full Endurance warranty review, in which we take a look at customer experiences, detailed plan pricing, and more.
CarShield: Best Value
CarShield provides the most budget-friendly warranty on the market and gives drivers flexible payment options, such as a month-to-month contract that can be canceled at any time.
There are six levels of CarShield coverage:
- Diamond: Bumper-to-bumper coverage
- Platinum: Comprehensive coverage for high-mileage vehicles
- Gold: Enhanced powertrain coverage
- Silver: Affordable basic powertrain coverage
- Aluminum: Specialty coverage for electrical components and high-tech vehicles
- Motorcycle & ATV: Coverage for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles
All CarShield vehicle protection plans come with 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, and rental car reimbursement benefits.
You can read more about the company in our full CarShield review.
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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