autopom! Vs. Carchex
Between autopom! and Carchex, autopom! offers a better customer experience but Carchex offers more coverage options and higher mileage limits.
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Key Points:
- We rate autopom! 4.6 out of 5.0 and Carchex 4.4 out of 5.0 overall, and rank them both among our top five picks for extended warranties.
- Carchex holds our award for Best Industry Reputation due to its five coverage levels and long term limits.
- autopom! takes our award for Best Claims Process–a testament to its online chat option and easy quotes process.
The number of choices can be overwhelming when you’re looking for the best extended car warranty. After researching for hundreds of hours, we found autopom! and Carchex both have strengths and weaknesses.
In this review, we’ll help you decide whether autopom! or Carchex is a better fit for you. However, since prices are based on your driver profile and vehicle, it’s a good idea to compare free quotes from both providers to see what’s available to you.
An extended car warranty refers to mechanical breakdown coverage offered by a vehicle manufacturer. However, this term is often mistakenly used to describe coverage from third-party companies. Independent providers offer similar protection through vehicle service contracts, but we’ve used the terms interchangeably in this article for convenience.
autopom! Vs. Carchex Overview
The companies were close in our industry-wide ranking: autopom! scored 4.6 out of 5.0 overall, while Carchex netted a 4.4. The overall rankings include the following individual categories: reliability, coverage, pricing, transparency, and customer experience. Considering each company’s strengths, we name autopom! Best Claims Process and Carchex Best Industry Reputation. Below, you can see how each company ranks in these areas.
| autopom! | Carchex | |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability | 4.3 | 4.7 |
| Coverage | 4.5 | 4.8 |
| Pricing | 4.9 | 4.1 |
| Transparency | 4.6 | 4.9 |
| Customer Experience | 4.7 | 3.4 |
| Overall Rating | 4.6 | 4.4 |
autopom! Vs. Carchex: Industry Ratings
Founded 15 years ago, autopom! is a relatively new provider in the extended warranty industry, compared to Carchex, which has been around for 25 years. Both companies have strong reputations, holding A+ ratings and accreditations from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
autopom! is known for helpful staff and a smooth claims process. It has a customer rating of 4.3 out of 5.0 stars on the BBB, while Carchex is rated 2.0 stars. Both providers offer products and services in all 50 states, which is unique, because only a few extended warranty companies operate in California.
autopom! Vs. Carchex: Coverage
Both companies offer a good number of options from bumper-to-bumper coverage to basic powertrain warranty protection. They allow drivers to choose any licensed repair facility for fixes, and they also pay repair shops directly for the work so you don’t have to wait around for a reimbursement check. However, Carchex offers five distinct plans, while autopom! offers three.
autopom! Coverage
Here’s a look at the plan options offered by autopom!:
| autopom! Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary | The highest plan from autopom! is a bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers almost any mechanical or electrical component, except for a list of exclusions. It’s similar to the factory warranty that comes with new vehicles. |
| Mid-Level | The Mid-Level plan from autopom! offers comprehensive coverage for most major systems of the car, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, braking, air conditioning, and electrical systems. |
| Powertrain Plus | autopom!’s basic and most affordable plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, and air conditioning. |
autopom! sells plans from a variety of administrators, including Royal Administration, Omega Auto Care, and Mercury Select Management Company. Plans may have a few variations depending on the administrator, which means drivers can customize coverage to some degree.
autopom!’s plans can cover vehicles up to 7 years/150,000 miles. They also come with a variety of benefits. Depending on the contract, you can find benefits like:
- Rental car reimbursement during a covered repair
- Roadside assistance
- Road hazard tire protection
- Trip interruption coverage
Carchex Coverage
These are the plans you can get from Carchex:
| Carchex Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Titanium | This is a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions like brake pads, cosmetic items, and wear-and-tear items. |
| Platinum | The Platinum vehicle protection plan covers hundreds of parts on most systems of the car, including the cooling, suspension, air conditioning, and fuel delivery systems. This plan is the highest level of stated-component coverage, which means every covered part is listed on the contract. |
| Powertrain Plus | This option covers many major systems of the vehicle like the engine, air conditioning, electrical, and fuel system. |
| Powertrain | This basic plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axles, turbocharger, and cooling system. |
| Extra Care | This plan is designed to cover components outside the powertrain system and enhance an existing powertrain warranty. |
Carchex can cover vehicles for up to 10 years/250,000 miles, which is one of the highest limits in the industry. You can also find the following added benefits from Carchex:
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption benefits
- 24/7 roadside assistance
What autopom! And Carchex Won’t Cover
Third-party extended warranties can cover thousands of car repairs after a factory warranty expires, but they don’t cover everything. An extended warranty replaces parts that fail unexpectedly, not ones that wear out naturally over time. Here are a few example exclusions for both autopom! and Carchex:
- Cosmetic items and glass
- Damage from lack of maintenance
- Damage from misuse or environmental factors like flooding
- Items that naturally wear out, such as brake pads and filters
- Normal wear and tear on the vehicle
- Parts that are already covered under a manufacturer’s warranty
- Regular maintenance services
The companies’ exclusions are similar. However, exclusions vary from contract to contract, so it’s important to read the fine print.
autopom! Vs. Carchex: Cost
We reviewed dozens of companies to find which providers offered the cheapest costs for extended warranties. Comparing costs from autopom! vs. Carchex, we found that both offered competitive pricing in the industry. In the quotes our reviews team gathered, however, autopom! offered more affordable monthly prices.
When getting these quotes, we made sure to include bumper-to-bumper plans along with most other offered plans. Below, you’ll see that quotes can vary significantly based on the vehicle, so the best thing to do is get a free quote for your own car.
autopom! Extended Warranty Cost
First, we’ll look at autopom!’s prices. For these quotes, we used a 2022 Ford Explorer with 50,000 miles, 2018 Ford Explorer with 45,000 miles, and a 2013 Honda Civic with 88,000 miles. All of these quotes include a $100 deductible. Keep in mind that different deductible amounts can affect the price.
| Vehicle | autopom! Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Explorer | Exclusionary | 5 years/ unlimited miles | $116.06 for 24 months | $146.60 | $3,932.98 |
| 2022 Ford Explorer | Mid-Level | 4 years/75,000 miles | $114.74 for 24 months | $144.93 | $2,898.60 |
| 2013 Honda Civic | Powertrain Plus | 4 years/ unlimited miles | $103.19 for 24 months | $130.34 | $3,606.80 |
Carchex Extended Warranty Cost
For Carchex, we used a 2017 Honda Civic with 100,000 miles, and a 2022 Ford Explorer and 2022 Toyota 4Runner each with 50,000 miles. All of the quotes below are for plans with $200 deductibles.
| Vehicle | Carchex Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer | Titanium | Unlimited; month-to-month | $150 | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Honda Civic | Powertrain Plus | Unlimited; month-to-month | $150 | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Toyota 4Runner | Titanium | Unlimited; month-to-month | $150 | First month’s payment | Varies |
Between the two companies, autopom! offers cheaper monthly rates. It also offers fixed payment terms, which can be a positive or negative depending on your situation. If you just want coverage for one or two years, Carchex offers a better deal. But long plans can become expensive with Carchex’s unlimited monthly payments.
autopom! Vs. Carchex: Customer Service
We analyzed reviews to find providers that kept customers satisfied. Between autopom! and Carchex, both companies have high ratings from the BBB. However, autopom! has better customer review scores on the BBB and Trustpilot.
| autopom! | Carchex | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Accreditation | Yes | Yes |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| BBB Customer Review Score | 4.3 out of 5.0 | 2.0 out of 5.0 |
| BBB Complaints in Past Three Years | 4 | 165 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.4 out of 5.0 | 2.6 out of 5.0 |
autopom! Customer Satisfaction
autopom! reviews on the BBB praise the company for good customer service when purchasing a plan. Reviewers say the sales representatives are knowledgeable and helpful without being pushy.
All negative reviews for autopom! are about the claims experience with different contract administrators. That makes sense, since autopom! doesn’t administer its own plans. In some cases, the CEO of autopom! has gotten involved to help resolve an issue with an administrator.
Carchex Customer Satisfaction
Positive Carchex reviews on the BBB tell a similar story. Carchex customer representatives answer questions and help people understand what’s included in their contracts. For the most part, people have a positive experience purchasing plans and filing claims.
In negative reviews, customers say the refund process can take a long time if you cancel your contract, and the claims service from administrative companies can be substandard.
autopom! Vs. Carchex: Conclusion
At the end of the day, comparing autopom! and Carchex reveals that both are reputable extended car warranty companies with affordable coverage and good customer service. That said, Carchex offers longer warranty terms and more coverage options, so it can provide better peace of mind for drivers of used vehicles or cars over 100,000 miles.
Vehicle service contract prices are based on your unique vehicle, so it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes and compare your options. You can get free, personalized quotes from autopom! and Carchex below.
Other Car Warranty Companies Like autopom! And Carchex
autopom! and Carchex are solid choices for extended warranty coverage, but they’re not your only options. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies before deciding on a contract. If you’re looking for a third company to compare, our other top picks are Endurance or CarShield.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
After comparing multiple extended warranty companies, we found that Endurance offers the best coverage overall. Endurance is a direct provider, which means it administers its own plans. The company has been around for over 15 years, and holds our award for Best Overall. Endurance offers six levels of coverage, including a plan that can cover regular maintenance as well as auto repairs.
Read more: Endurance Warranty Review
CarShield: 4.4 Stars
CarShield is another provider worth looking into. The company offers six plans, which include an option for fully electric vehicles. This plan can cover electric drive components that most extended warranties don’t cover. CarShield also offers flexible month-to-month contracts and benefits like roadside assistance.
Read more: CarShield Warranty Review
autopom! Vs. Carchex: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about autopom! and Carchex extended warranties:
Is autopom! a reputable company?
Yes, autopom! is a reputable company that sells vehicle service contracts after manufacturer contracts expire. The independent extended warranty provider is currently accredited by the BBB and holds an A+ rating on its website.
Are Carchex warranties worth it?
Carchex warranties are more worth it if you have a used, older vehicle. Vehicles with longer mileages and older ages are more likely to break down and need repairs. On top of that, Carchex warranties can go up to 250,000 miles, and come in five different coverage levels that can work for a variety of drivers with varying needs.
Who has the best car warranty program?
Endurance holds our award for the Best Overall extended warranty company due to its six versatile coverage levels, great customer satisfaction ratings, and impressive Elite Benefits program.
How We Rate Warranty Providers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of extended auto warranty providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Reputation: It’s important that an extended car warranty company is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a long history of reliable service score well in this category. We also evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
- Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits like roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.
- Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.
