CARS Warranty Reviews And Coverage
Learn more about CARS auto warranty coverage options, customer reviews, industry reputation, and more to see if it’s the right provider for you.
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Key Points:
- A CARS Protection Plus warranty might be appealing to some due to an industry-high mileage limit acceptance of 200,000 miles.
- Unlike many third-party extended warranty dealers, you have to go through an authorized retailer to receive a quote with CARS.
- CARS offers an extensive 11 plans, from close to a new car warranty to a basic powertrain option.
- You can use the repair shop of your choice for covered repairs.
CARS has been in the extended warranty business for more than 25 years. However, does that mean it’s worth your money? We took a deeper look into CARS warranty reviews, reliability, coverage plans, pricing, transparency, and customer experience. Supported by over 1,475 hours of research on the best extended car warranties, we’ve given CARS 3.8 out of 5.0 stars.
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.
Our CARS Warranty Review And Methodology
CARS Protection Plus has been in business since 1998. Today, it serves the 48 contiguous states with an industry-high mileage limit acceptance of 200,000 miles. The biggest drawback to this provider is that consumers can’t get direct quotes on the CARS Protection Plus website. Instead, you’ll have to go through an authorized retailer.
How We Rated CARS Warranties
To give you the most up-to-date information, we update our review standards several times each year. Our warranty research evaluates providers in the following categories:
Reliability
CARS gets 4.3 out of 5.0 stars from our team for its reliability. It holds an A+ rating and is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). With over 25 years in the extended warranty business, the company confirms their membership with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), as well as other dealer associations in various states.
Coverage Plans
CARS offers more coverage options than most extended warranty providers, with a total of 11 to choose from. While the company does offer a range of options, from bumper-to-bumper coverage down to basic powertrain coverage, there isn’t much variety among coverages.
Additionally, CARS states that it can request used, rebuilt, or aftermarket parts to be used for covered repairs. This has resulted in complaints concerning inadequate replacement parts. For these reasons, we’ve given CARS 3.8 out of 5.0 stars for coverage plans.
Pricing
CARS received 3.7 out of 5.0 stars for its extended warranty pricing. You’ll need to contact an authorized retailer for a free quote if you’re curious about pricing, as CARS doesn’t readily offer information about total yearly, or monthly, payment costs online. Keep in mind that various factors will affect the price of an extended warranty, such as whether you drive a new or used vehicle, and its make, model, and mileage.
Transparency
Our criteria for transparency lies with a provider’s willingness to provide sample contracts, detailed plan breakdowns, prices, and a money-back guarantee. While our team was able to find a sample contract from CARS as well as plan breakdowns, we couldn’t find any mention of a money-back guarantee or prices on its website. For this, we give CARS 4.2 out of 5.0 stars for transparency.
Customer Experience
We’ve delivered a rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars to CARS for customer experience. Reviews left on its BBB page are mostly negative, and cite issues like a lack of responsiveness from representatives or failure to cover repairs. Unlike other third-party extended warranty dealers, you can’t receive a quote online with CARS–you’ll have to go through an authorized retailer. However, you can choose any repair shop to honor your extended warranty, and CARS will pay the repair facility directly.
Is A Warranty From CARS Worth It?
CARS is unique because it lets you use the repair shop of your choice to honor your warranty. However, customers are unable to easily obtain a quote for its various extended warranty plans. In addition, we couldn’t find any information on a money-back guarantee. We suggest obtaining quotes from other reputable extended warranty companies to find the right plan and price for you.
CARS Warranty Quick Facts
- Founded: 1998
- Headquarters: Monroeville, PA
- Coverage options: 11 levels of coverage
- Coverage terms: Not specified (vary by plan and selling dealership)
Are CARS Warranties Reputable?
It’s clear that CARS Protection Plus is a reputable company. The organization maintains an A+ BBB rating, which isn’t something to take lightly.
CARS Protection Plus is part of the NIADA. The company also belongs to dealership associations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
CARS Warranty Customer Reviews
When we look at reviews online, opinions of the CARS Protection Plus warranty are negative across the board. The provider has just over a 2.1-star rating out of 5 stars on the BBB site, a 1.1 out of 5.0 star rating on Trustpilot, and a 3.2 star rating on Google based on more than 1,690 reviews. Here are a few examples of positive and negative customer reviews:
CARS Warranty Positive Reviews
“Had an AC evaporator go bad on my Subaru Impreza. Took [it] into the shop [and the] repair was $1,350 [and] CARS picked up $949 of it. Thanks! I’ve had CARS warranties on several of my vehicles over the years, and they have always stepped up and paid a fair share of the repair as outlined in whatever warranty I’ve had with them. I highly recommend CARS if you have a used car you need coverage on.”
— Kevin R. via Google
“I am a new customer. I called and received all the information I needed in regards to my contract. The service representative was courteous and knowledgeable of each scenario. Very helpful prior to engaging with a potential car repair facility.”
— David S. via Google
CARS Warranty Complaints
“We bought this warranty plan for our Volkswagen Tiguan. We had to use the warranty for a water pump, rear main seal, and timing cover. The company said they would only cover the water pump. They wouldn’t even cover any of the other repairs. The repair work cost $1,500. The company only paid $300. Do not purchase this warranty! They are a horrible company!”
— Walter K. via Google
“Completely dissatisfied with this product. They do not return calls, and I’ve been trying to get my car released from the repair facility for three days and they will not respond.”
— Bryant H. via BBB
CARS Warranty Coverage
CARS Protection Plus has more vehicle warranty options than most providers, with a total of 11 protection plans for your vehicle. However, many of these are closely related and difficult to differentiate from one another. It doesn’t help that the CARS Protection Plus warranty website appears to be outdated, and the plans don’t seem to be listed in any particular order online.
CARS Warranty Plans
CARS Protection Plus offers the following vehicle service contracts to consumers, in order of highest to lowest coverage:
| CARS Protection Plus Warranty Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Ultimate Value | This plan is a complete bumper-to-bumper warranty covering most of the vehicle’s parts. Some wear and tear items–such as wipers–are even covered, while others, like brake pads, are excluded. It includes a labor rate up to $100 per hour, has some rental benefits, and covers towing or roadside assistance up to $50 per incident. |
| Onyx Plus | Diesel trucks, jeeps, and vans receive specialized protection on this plan. Coverage is similar to the Ultimate Value, except labor is only covered up to $70 per hour. |
| Value Plus | Coverage is similar to the Ultimate Value, except labor rates are only covered up to $70 per hour and diagnostic charges are not included. |
| Independence | This vehicle protection plan is similar to the Value Plus, with a labor rate of $70 per hour. However, there are no roadside assistance benefits. Towing is still included up to $50. |
| Value Limited | This coverage is similar to Independence coverage, except the air conditioning is excluded. |
| Power Train Limited | This car warranty plan covers all essential powertrain components and includes air conditioning coverage. Labor rates are included up to $60 per hour, and towing is allowed up to $50 per instance. This plan has a $200 deductible. |
| Power Train Basic | This is a basic powertrain warranty, with towing included up to $50 per instance, rental benefits, and labor rates up to $60 per hour. |
In addition to the plans outlined above, there are four Flex Protect plan levels to provide protection from the total costs of mechanical breakdowns. Each includes diagnostic charges and rental car benefits.
| CARS Protection Plus Warranty Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Flex Protect Level 4 | This protection plan is exclusionary, and includes parts and systems such as the engine, transmission, steering components, brake components, electrical components, and more. 24-hour roadside assistance is included and labor rates up to $160 per hour can be included for an additional charge. Exclusions include glass, bumpers, body sheet metal and panels, and safety restraint systems. |
| Flex Protect Level 3 | This plan is similar to Flex Protect Level 4, but isn’t considered exclusionary. Some components, such as electrical, lose coverage when compared to Level 4. |
| Flex Protect Level 2 | This level of coverage only includes the powertrain and a few other components, such as suspension and steering. Roadside assistance doesn’t come with this plan, but you’ll still receive towing. |
| Flex Protect Level 1 | This basic powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, and drive systems. It also includes rental benefits and towing. Labor is covered up to $75 per hour. |
CARS Warranty Benefits
With the CARS Protection Plus warranty, most plans come with perks such as towing, roadside assistance, and rental car coverage. This can be a huge benefit, especially if your car insurance company doesn’t cover these items. In addition, CARS warranties are transferable to a new vehicle owner for a $99 fee. The trouble is that all of these perks are limited to a certain amount, some of which are restrictive. These added benefits don’t offer as much peace of mind as perks from other extended warranty providers do.
What Does A CARS Warranty Not Cover?
While each plan has its own terms and conditions, there are some parts that are regularly excluded with the CARS Protection Plus warranty, even on the most comprehensive plans. Brake pads, valve seals, and head bolts are some of the exceptions you’ll notice across coverage levels.
Before signing a contract, you’ll want to carefully read through it to determine what is and isn’t included with your coverage.
How Much Does A CARS Warranty Cost?
The only way to get an accurate price for a CARS warranty is to receive a free quote from an authorized retailer. However, it’s clear that the Flex Protect Levels are likely going to cost more than the other service contracts. These protection plans can cover a higher labor rate, up to $75 per hour, and allow customers to adjust that to $160 per hour as well.
Through our extensive research process, we found that the average cost of an extended warranty ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $4,500 for three to six years of coverage. Keep in mind that various factors will affect the price of your extended warranty, including the age, make, model, and mileage of your vehicle, in addition to the level of coverage you choose.
In fall 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 people who had purchased extended car warranties. When asked what the most important consideration in choosing a plan is, 53 percent of respondents said coverage. In terms of cost, the most popular price range among those we surveyed was $1,000 to $3,000.
CARS Extended Warranty Reviews: Conclusion
CARS warranty offerings are extensive, with 11 plans for you to choose from. In addition, you can use the repair shop of your choice when deciding where to get covered repairs. However, you can only obtain a quote with CARS from an authorized retailer, and many of the plans offered are similar to one another. We recommend comparing quotes from other reputable extended car warranty companies in your search to find what’s best for you.
Car Warranty Companies Like CARS
If you aren’t sold on the CARS Protection Plus warranty, there are plenty of other competitive providers to check out. We’ve researched the best extended car warranty companies in the nation, and found several companies that provide great coverage and service for reasonable prices. We recommend starting your warranty search with Endurance and Carchex.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
Endurance offers direct-to-consumer extended warranties, which means that warranty services and claims are handled directly by Endurance. We gave it a 4.6-star rating and named it Best Overall in the industry.
With Endurance, you don’t have to worry about a middleman or underwriting provider, and we’ve found that Endurance also provides excellent customer service during the quote and claims process.Additionally, Endurance warranty plans allow car owners to choose from any repair shop certified by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) to complete their covered repairs.
Carchex: 4.4 Stars
Carchex maintains an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB, and it has received endorsements from industry leaders like Carfax, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com. Our review team gave the company a 4.4-star rating.
Carchex offers a total of five extended warranty plans, each of which can be customized. All plans include 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, gas delivery, trip interruption reimbursement, and lockout services.
Having trouble deciding between Endurance and Carchex? Read our Carchex vs. Endurance breakdown.
CARS Warranty Reviews: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions related extended warranties:
Are car warranties worth buying?
Car warranties are worth consideration if you’re looking to keep your vehicle on the road for a long time. Whether you drive a new car or a pre-owned vehicle, a warranty can provide you with peace of mind that you won’t be paying out of pocket for all of your repair costs.
What is the best car warranty to buy?
The best warranty to buy is different for every person. You’ll need to consider factors such as reliability, coverage options, pricing, transparency, and customer experience when shopping for an extended warranty provider. We recommend you obtain quotes from various companies to find the right plan for your vehicle.
How much do car warranties usually cost?
Our research has shown that the average cost of an extended car warranty ranges anywhere from $1,000 to $4,500 for three to six years of coverage. From comprehensive coverage that’s close to a manufacturer’s warranty to a basic powertrain plan, prices vary widely depending on the coverage you choose.
How We Rate Car Warranty Companies
Our review team extensively researches extended car warranty providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: Warranty providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), work with reliable partners and administrators, and have a long history in the warranty industry score well in this category.
- Coverage Plans: We take a close look at the coverage plans available through each provider, including how many are offered, maximum term limits, plan exclusions, and more. We also evaluate the added benefits companies include with their warranty plans, such as roadside assistance and trip interruption benefits.
- Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and coverage plans to get a sense of a provider’s average costs. We see how each company’s pricing, deductible options, and discount opportunities compare to competitors when determining this score.
- Transparency: We evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews and complaints from sites like the BBB and Trustpilot. Our team also reaches out to customer service reps during our secret shopper analysis to get a sense of the customer experience with each company.
