How Much Does CarShield Cost?

Key Points:

• CarShield extended warranty plans typically cost between $110 and $150 per month, depending on coverage level, deductible, and other factors.
• Flexible month-to-month plans help CarShield stand out in the extended car warranty industry.
• CarShield features deductible options from $0 to $250.

CarShield is one of our top-rated extended car warranty providers. It’s also one of the most affordable options on the market, which is why our team gave CarShield our Best Flexible Payment Plans award. In this article, we’ll break down the cost of CarShield’s extended warranty plans and share our experience gathering quotes from the company.

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.

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CarShield Cost

CarShield is one of the most affordable extended warranty providers in the car warranty industry. We were quoted $149.99 per month for a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty on a 2022 Ford Explorer and $149.99 for a powertrain plan on a 2017 Honda Civic. Each quote required a down payment equivalent to a monthly payment.

Both of these quotes were for unlimited terms with month-to-month payments. This flexibility is another reason we rate CarShield so highly.

CarShield Price Range

For both limited and unlimited terms, plans can be as high as $150 and as low as $110 monthly. The low end of this range is an example of how much it might cost to combine the lowest coverage with regularly-offered discounts. A $120 per month payment is a more reasonable expectation.

CarShield Deductible

CarShield contracts offer a range of deductibles, with $100 being the most common choice. All deductible options include $0, $50, $100, $150, $200, and $250. If you have a deductible, CarShield will pay the repair shop directly, leaving you with a small payment that would otherwise cost more without an extended warranty.

Annual Average Cost Of CarShield

Since most plans range between $110 and $150 per month and the typical deductible cost is $100, our researchers have estimated that the annual average cost of a CarShield plan ranges from $1,320 to over $1,800 per year. 

Is CarShield Expensive?

CarShield’s prices are lower than the competition’s. Your specific extended car warranty cost depends on the program you select as well as your vehicle’s mileage, model, make, age, mechanical issues, service history, and coverage status.

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Our Extended Car Warranty Survey

In October 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 people who had purchased extended car warranties. CarShield was the most popular third-party provider in the survey, with 124 respondents buying through the company. Of these CarShield warranty owners, 56 percent bought bumper-to-bumper plans. About 28 percent opted for mid-level protection, with the rest choosing powertrain warranties.

As for cost, our survey showed that most CarShield warranty owners paid between $1,500 and $3,000 total for their plans. 

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CarShield Extended Warranty Cost: Plans Breakdown

CarShield has six different car warranty plans, all with varying coverage levels ranging from basic powertrain to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper. CarShield also has specialized plans for ATVs and even high-tech electronics. Generally, as an industry norm, a higher coverage usually means you will pay higher prices.

One thing that stands out about CarShield, though, is that the different coverage levels all seem identical. CarShield can do this because of its flexible month-to-month payment options and the eligibility restrictions on some coverage plans. 

For example, you may be able to get the same price on a bumper-to-bumper Diamond plan and a plan with less coverage if you drive a vehicle that is newer and less costly to cover. Conversely, suppose you own a car with higher mileage that’s more expensive to cover, in this case there’s a good chance you will not be eligible for a higher coverage level. However, you can get an affordable powertrain plan at nearly the exact same cost.

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CarShield Pricing and Payment Policies

While most people think CarShield’s costs are something only to consider when deciding whether to purchase a warranty or receive a quote from the company, the cost of CarShield follows customers throughout the entire buying process and the life of the warranty in different ways. We discuss these issues below:

CarShield Quote

You can get a CarShield extended warranty quote online or over the phone. When we called to inquire about the quotes we used in this CarShield review, the experience was simple. However, the representative was persistent when we said we wouldn’t follow through with the purchase. The hold time was less than one minute, and the process took about 10 minutes.

CarShield Cancellation Policy

Your account does not automatically cancel if you miss a monthly installment. If this does happen, arrange a phone call with CarShield’s payment department. Claims cannot be paid for past-due accounts, and you only have a limited time to make a payment. 

Just as important as the waiting period is, the cancellation policy is as well. If you aren’t happy with your coverage, CarShield has a 30-day money-back guarantee where it will refund your payment in full directly to your Visa or Debit Card.

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CarShield Payment

One thing that separates CarShield from competitors is its flexible month-to-month payment plans. Because of this, you can opt out of a CarShield contract at any point. This flexible, rolling payment structure prevents you from being locked in, so you can have coverage when needed. 

Most credit cards can be set up to make automatic monthly payments to CarShield through your online account. Payment setup is easy and works well with the company’s structure.

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CarShield Cost Reviews

With quotes and plans starting at $110, CarShield provides the most affordable extended warranties on the market. With that said, there are better providers in terms of the claims process and customer service. When dealing with CarShield, you essentially deal with a trade-off between low costs and convenient claims.

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Extended Car Warranty Cost Basics

The cost of an extended warranty depends on factors like the level of coverage you receive, your vehicle’s make, model, age, mileage, and location. While these factors for extended warranty costs are the basics, you can get lower prices by researching, getting quotes and comparing costs from multiple providers, and bargaining with the warranty company during the negotiation process.

*Based on data from our users.

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CarShield Cost: Conclusion

In this guide to CarShield cost, we looked at price ranges, average prices, payment structures, and more. We also reviewed CarShield’s cost and provided tips and details to help you get a lower price on an extended car warranty with CarShield or any other provider.

Keep reading our full CarShield review.

CarShield Costs: FAQ

Below are some frequently asked questions about CarShield cost:

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.