autopom! vs. CarShield Extended Car Warranty Review
Autopom! and CarShield are highly rated extended warranty companies. But when comparing autopom! vs. CarShield, which best fits your needs?
Autopom! and CarShield are two popular car warranty providers that drivers trust to protect their vehicle after their factory warranty expires. In this head-to-head comparison of autopom! vs. CarShield, we take a closer look at both providers’ coverage, pricing, customer service and more to help you decide which company is right for you.
Autopom! and CarShield performed well in our 2021 review of the best extended car warranty providers, each placing in the top five spots. Both offer competitive terms and coverage options. Click above to receive free, no-obligation quotes.
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.
Overview of autopom! and CarShield
Below, we’ve listed a few key highlights of each extended car warranty company.
| autopom!: Runner-Up | CarShield: Most Affordable | |
|---|---|---|
| Headquarters | Lake Forest, California | Saint Peters, Missouri |
| Years in Business | Founded in 2010 | Founded in 2005 |
| Warranty Availability | 50 states | All states except CA |
| Levels of Coverage | 4 | 6 |
| Longest Coverage Term Available | 7 years | — |
| Maximum Mileage Limit | 150,000 miles | 300,000 miles |
autopom! Highlights
Autopom! stands for Automotive Peace of Mind. Customers can choose between four coverage plans, but options vary depending on your state. We like the company’s simple quotes process, reasonable payment plans and highly rated service.
CarShield Highlights
CarShield offers the best extended car warranties for drivers on a budget. Customers can choose between five comprehensive plans as well as specialty contracts for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles. What makes CarShield unique is its brokered car warranty buying experience. It sells vehicle service contracts from American Auto Shield, a reputable extended car warranty developer and administrator.
autopom! vs. CarShield: Coverage
Autopom! offers four coverage levels that can extend up to 7 years/150,000 miles. High-end luxury vehicles like Lamborghini and Ferrari may not be covered. On the other hand, CarShield customers can choose between six coverage options. These plans have term limits up to 200,000 miles
| autopom! Plans | CarShield Plans |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary Covers the highest number of mechanical and electrical components of your vehicle and lists parts not covered on your contract | Diamond Exclusionary, high-level coverage for the most car parts that are not listed |
| High-Level Covers the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, steering, electrical, air conditioning, braking, cooling, fuel system, and seals and gaskets | Platinum Highest level of inclusionary, stated-component coverage for many car parts and systems |
| Mid-Level Covers the engine, turbo/supercharger, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, differential assembly, steering, suspension, fuel delivery, cooling system and braking systems | Gold Protects major and minor car parts like the engine, alternator, power window motor and more |
| Powertrain Plus Covers the engine, turbo/supercharger, transmission, transfer case, drive axle and differential assembly | Silver Protects all lubricated engine parts |
| Aluminum Specialty coverage for vehicles with complex electrical parts and systems, providing coverage for power seat control units, sensors, cruise control and more | |
| Motorcycle & ATV Extended coverage for specialty vehicles |
autopom! vs. CarShield: Cost
Our review team got several quotes to compare the cost of coverage for autopom! and CarShield. We were offered the following terms for a 2018 Toyota RAV4 with 30,000 miles for each company’s bumper-to-bumper extended warranty plan.
| Bumper-to-Bumper Plan | Term | Price | Down Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| autopom! | Exclusionary | 7 years/70,000 miles | $2,125.50 upfront | None |
| CarShield | Diamond | 5 years/100,000 miles | $88.78 for 18 months | $295.00 |
Both plans included a $100 deductible. The term lengths are comparable, but CarShield offers the lower cost option.
We also got quotes for each provider’s powertrain plan for a 2012 Chevrolet Equinox with 90,000 miles. Both plans included a $100 deductible as well.
| Powertrain Plan | Term | Price | Down Payment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| autopom! | Powertrain Plus | 4 years/48,000 miles | $98.25 for 24 months | $262.00 |
| CarShield | Gold | 4 years/100,000 miles | $127.67 for 18 months | $99.00 |
Figuring out which powertrain plan is better for you between autopom! and CarShield depends on how long you want coverage for your vehicle. Based on the quotes we received, CarShield provides longer-lasting coverage at an affordable price.
autopom! vs. CarShield: Reputation
Both autopom! and CarShield have mixed ratings from automotive industry experts and customers. Based on customer reviews and industry ratings, we think autopom! has a better customer service rating than CarShield.
| autopom! | CarShield | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Rating | A+ | F |
| BBB Customer Review Score | 4.32 out of 5 | 1.43 out of 5 |
| BBB Accredited? | ✓ | ✗ |
| TrustPilot Rating | 4.8 out of 5.0 | 4.1 out of 5.0 |
To give you a better understanding of each company’s customer experience, we detailed several reviews below.
autopom! Customer Reviews
Positive autopom! customer reviews praise the company’s transparent communication and hassle-free customer service interactions.
“I’ve used this company for 4 cars so far and they never disappoint. I drive ultra high-end, hand-built cars, and whenever I have an issue, the owner Mike always gets the deal done. Their prices are fantastic and [they’re] easy to deal with.”
- John via Trustpilot
“… I have a 2013 Ford F150 with 92,000 miles and needed a valve job… my mechanic submitted an estimate of $4,800, autopom! said they would only pay $2,800. [T]hat means I have to [pay] the other $2,000 even though I have a $100 deductible per the contract. [T]his whole thing has been going on for a month and I’ve been renting cars to get work [which] have cost me $2,000.”
- Anthony T via BBB
CarShield Customer Reviews
Positive CarShield reviews report helpful customer service representatives and affordable coverage.
“CarShield representatives were clear, explanatory and informative. They walked me through the process explaining ‘clearly’ everything they offered and what I should be expecting.”
- G Womack via Trustpiolot
“They give you a hassle about the warranty, it took almost two months to get my car fixed and when they did fix it, they put a used transmission in my car, which broke down again in eight months.”
- Mr Presley via Trustpilot
Our Verdict on autopom! and CarShield
Overall, deciding between autopom! and CarShield is a close call, but CarShield offers more comprehensive plans at fair rates. For this reason, we think CarShield is a better overall provider than autopom!, but both are impressive options. If you’re looking for a customer service-focused provider, autopom! may be your best bet.
| autopom! | CarShield | |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Star Rating | 8.5 out of 10.0 | 9.0 out of 10.0 |
| Industry Reputation | 9.5 | 8.5 |
| Coverage | 8 | 9.5 |
| Cost | 8 | 10 |
| Customer Experience | 8.5 | 8.5 |
Other Top-Rated Providers to Consider
Endurance: Best Provider
We named Endurance the Best Provider overall in our industry-wide review. With extensive benefits through the Endurance Elite Membership Benefits and six coverage options to choose from, Endurance is an excellent choice for many drivers. Here’s what else you should know about Endurance when deciding on an extended warranty.
- Endurance plans extend up to 8 years/200,000 miles.
- The Endurance Elite Benefits comes with additional benefits like identity theft replacement, key fob repair and replacements and more.
- Endurance’s customer service ratings are high overall, but the company’s BBB rating is low due to a pattern of unsolicited mail advertising.
To learn more about this provider, read our Endurance warranty review, and get a free quote by clicking below.
CARCHEX: Top Rated
CARCHEX is one of the most popular car warranty providers available. The company partners with leaders in the automotive industry to provide one of the longest-lasting car warranties in the industry. Here’s what you should know about Carchex before buying in.
- Choose between over 30,000 approved repair shops.
- CARCHEX offers affordable financing options.
- Every CARCHEX contract is backed by its No-Hassle, Low-Price, Everyday GuaranteeTM.
- You’re also protected by the company’s 30-Day, Money-Back guarantee if you’re unhappy with your contract.
Read our Carchex review to learn more about this provider, and get a free quote below.