Protect My Car Vs. CARCHEX: What's Right for You?
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As of now, Protect My Car is no longer offering vehicle service contracts to new customers. The company remains focused on serving its current clients and processing claims efficiently. Below, we've kept the information available for comparison purposes, or you can explore alternative warranty providers here.
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX Extended Warranties
AutoGuide reviewed the top car warranty companies to find the best.
Compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX by getting a customized quote from each.
Best ServiceBest Financing
To learn more about our editorial integrity policy and how we make money through affiliate partnerships, read our full disclosure here.
Protect My Car and CARCHEX are two of the industry’s best extended auto warranty providers that offer high-quality coverage at relatively low monthly rates. In this review, we’ll look at Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX in terms of plan options, costs, and customer reviews.
Let’s see how the two companies measure up before you compare free, personalized quotes from each provider.
Table of contents
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Highlights
Protect My Car |
CARCHEX |
|
|---|---|---|
Reputation |
4.0 |
5.0 |
Coverage |
4.1 |
4.6 |
Price |
4.1 |
4.3 |
Transparency |
5.0 |
5.0 |
Customer Service |
4.5 |
3.2 |
Overall Rating |
4.5 |
4.8 |
Protect My Car: Best Financing
Protect My Car has been selling extended service plans for over 16 years. It offers extended warranty contracts for both low- and high-mileage vehicles in every state except for Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington. Protect My Car is well-known for its long-term financing plans, which give drivers an extremely affordable monthly rate by industry standards.
CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars
CARCHEX vehicle service contracts are available in all 50 states. It is one of the longest-running extended warranty providers, having been in business for over 22 years. The covered repairs and customer service standards held by CARCHEX are top-notch, as seen by endorsements from Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, RepairPal, and CARFAX.
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Coverage
Protect My Car Extended Warranty Plans
Protect My Car's three extended warranty options range from a bumper-to-bumper warranty down to simply the essentials. Here are the three main levels of coverage available through Protect My Car:
- Supreme: This plan provides exclusionary coverage for most vehicle components, similar to a factory warranty.
- Select: For cars with more than 50,000 miles, the Select plan offers comprehensive coverage for many of the most important mechanical and electrical components, including everything in the lower-tier Driveline plan, plus the suspension and brake pads.
- Driveline: Available for vehicles that are four to 10 years old with more than 80,000 miles, this plan covers vehicle components such as the engine, transmission, drive axle, cooling system, air conditioning, and timing chain.
CARCHEX Extended Warranty Plans
Plans from CARCHEX range from nearly full coverage down to standard powertrain coverage, giving customers a wider variety of coverage and pricing options.
- Titanium: Similar to bumper-to-bumper coverage, the Titanium plan covers all of your car's major systems, including emissions components and navigation.
- Platinum: This is the highest level of stated-component coverage, protecting everything in the lower-tier Gold plan plus the suspension, high-tech electronics, and fuel delivery system.
- Gold: The plan covers all parts found in the lower-tier Silver plan plus braking system components and full coverage for the steering, electrical, and air conditioning systems.
- Silver: This covers everything in the lower-tier Bronze plan, plus limited electric, air conditioning, and steering components.
- Bronze: This is basic coverage for the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
Top-level vehicle protection plans from both providers are extensive, covering many of the same components. CARCHEX, however, has additional coverage options and term limits that can protect your vehicle for up to 125,000 miles more than Protect My Car.
Comparing Benefits and Add-Ons
Those considering Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX will find complimentary benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, towing services, and trip interruption allowance with all plans from each provider. A full comparison of perks is available in the chart below.
Benefit |
Protect My Car |
CARCHEX |
|---|---|---|
24/7 Roadside Assistance |
✓ |
✓ |
Flat Tire Services |
✓ |
✓ |
Battery Jump-Starts |
✓ |
✓ |
Towing |
Up to 2 calls per year |
$100 reimbursement |
Lockout Services |
✓ |
✓ |
Trip Interruption Coverage |
Up to $50 per day for 3 days |
✓ |
Rental Car Reimbursement |
Up to $30 per day for 7 days |
✓ |
The two providers' benefits are nearly identical, offering nearly the same services and reimbursement rates. One key difference: Protect My Car covers oil changes while CARCHEX leaves them out. Another contrast is that Protect My Car pays for the full cost of up to two service calls per year, while CARCHEX offers a flat $100 towing reimbursement per drive to the repair shop or repair facility.
If you’re looking for Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX sample contracts that outline repair costs and reveal the best coverage, head to each provider’s website. It’s best to know exactly what car repairs will be covered once your manufacturer warranty ends and how long the waiting period will be before your used car is protected.
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Cost
Highest-Level Warranty Cost
We received the following Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX quotes for a 2017 Ford Explorer in Raleigh, North Carolina. The vehicle had 45,000 miles on it.
Coverage Term |
Monthly Payment |
Total Cost |
Down Payment |
Deductible |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protect My Car |
4 years/ 100,000 miles |
$96 per month for 48 months |
$4,707 |
$99 |
$100 |
CARCHEX |
5 years/ 100,000 miles |
$202.89 per month for 18 months |
$3,652.02 |
First month upfront |
$100 |
Powertrain Warranty Cost
We received the following Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX quotes for a 2012 Honda Civic in Raleigh, North Carolina. The car carried 88,000 miles.
Coverage Term |
Monthly Payment |
Total Cost |
Down Payment |
Deductible |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Protect My Car |
4 years/ 75,000 miles |
$79 per month for 48 months |
$3,925.68 |
$133.68 |
$100 |
CARCHEX |
5 years/ 150,000 miles |
$190 per month for 18 months |
$3,420 |
First month upfront |
$100 |
As you can see, Protect My Car’s monthly payments are less than half that of its competitor. However, the total contract price is more expensive with Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX in each case, and PMC also has a shorter coverage period. CARCHEX is likely cheaper overall in most cases, but Protect My Car may be a better option for drivers with little room in their monthly budget.
Keep in mind that the cost of an extended car warranty varies based on a number of factors, and the quotes above were provided for two specific vehicles. Your prices may vary, so the only way to know which provider offers the lower-cost option for your vehicle is to compare rates for yourself.
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Customer Service
BBB Rating |
BBB Customer Rating |
Trustpilot Score |
|
|---|---|---|---|
Protect My Car |
A+ |
4.52 stars |
4.6 stars |
CARCHEX |
A+ |
2.11 stars |
3.2 stars |
Remember when comparing Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX that CARCHEX has a wider reach and customer base, which inevitably means a larger number of negative reviews. Both car warranty providers hold an A+ rating from the BBB.
There's no need to compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX for 30-day money-back guarantees, as both providers offer them. If you're disappointed by auto repair coverage during that time or just end up wanting to back out, each company will return your money.
Final Thoughts: Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX
Customers generally have higher levels of satisfaction with Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX, but the latter company offers more plan choices, lower-cost contracts, and significantly longer coverage terms. Also, while Protect My Car has higher customer review scores, CARCHEX has a better-established industry reputation.
If you're still considering both options, read more in our CARCHEX review and Protect My Car review.
Fortunately for consumers, Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX is a decision between two top extended car warranty companies.
Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX Extended Warranties
AutoGuide reviewed the top car warranty companies to find the best.
Compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX by getting a customized quote from each.
Best Service Best Financing
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.
Q & A
Are CARCHEX warranties worth it?
Most of the time, a CARCHEX warranty is worth the price. The company's five coverage plans make it easy for drivers to find a plan that fits their needs and budget while offering peace of mind and protection on the road.
Is Protect My Car legit?
Protect My Car is absolutely legit provider. The company has been covering vehicles for over 16 years, and its 4.6-star average score on the BBB website shows that customers greatly trust it.
What is the average price of a CARCHEX warranty?
Average extended warranty prices vary by factors such as model, vehicle age, and location. However, CARCHEX has plans that meet nearly all motorists' needs in terms of both coverage and pricing structure.
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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