CarShield Coverage
CarShield offers five extended warranty plans with coverage levels ranging from affordable powertrain to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper protection.
Looking to extend the life of your car? We researched and reviewed over 40 companies to determine which are the best extended warranty providers in the industry. Through that research, we chose CharShield as one of our top picks.
Carshield coverage plans range from essential components to bumper-to-bumper, and can provide peace of mind for most drivers. With a mileage limit of 300,000, CarShield’s coverage can benefit both new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs. Keep reading to see if CarShield is right for 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.
CarShield Coverage Plans
CarShield’s five levels of coverage include options for technology and motorcycles/ATVs. The chart below provides a closer look for CarShield coverage for each of its plans:
| CarShield Warranty Plan | Overview |
|---|---|
| Diamond | CarShield’s most comprehensive car warranty is similar to a new car factory warranty plan. Covers everything from engine and transmission failures to starter and fuel pump issues with only a few exclusions. |
| Platinum | Covers the engine, transmission, air conditioning, electrical system, and more. Best for drivers looking to protect high-mileage cars. |
| Gold | Covers a variety of major and minor vehicle parts, including your water pump, alternator and starter. |
| Silver | CarShield’s most affordable coverage is a basic powertrain plan protecting the most important parts of your vehicle, including the drive axle, transmission, and water pump. |
| Aluminum | Covers most electrical and computer-related problems, including the engine control module and starter. |
| Motorcycle and ATV | Comprehensive and powertrain coverage for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles. |
| Electric Vehicles | Covers electric vehicles (EVs) with either basic protection for the electric drive unit or fuller Platinum EV coverage. |
CarShield extended warranty plans can cover hundreds of vehicle components or just the essentials after your manufacturer’s warranty expires. Take a closer look at CarShield warranty coverage in the table below:
| Covered Part | Diamond
Plan | Platinum
Plan | Gold
Plan | Silver
Plan | Aluminum
Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Drive Axle(s) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel Pump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Transfer Case | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Water Pump | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Air Conditioner | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel Delivery System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Fuel Injector | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Steering | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Braking System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Alternator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Instrument Cluster | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| GPS/Navigation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Factory Audio | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Starter | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Power Windows | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Radiator | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Wiring Harness | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Full details are listed in sample contracts available on CarShield’s website.
CarShield Coverage Benefits
CarShield offers more than just an extended car warranty. In addition to covering repairs, CarShield warranties come with a number of added perks that can make your life easier. Please keep in mind that not all benefits come with every plan, and amounts of coverage vary.
- Trip interruption coverage: If your car breaks down more than 100 miles from home, CarShield will reimburse you up to $125 per day (up to $500 total) for food and lodging while your car is getting repaired.
- Rental car reimbursement: If you need to rent a car since your car is in the shop, CarShield will reimburse you.
- Emergency roadside assistance: 24-hour roadside assistance is available if you need a tow, jump-start, tire change, locksmith service, winching, or fuel delivery.
What Does CarShield Not Cover?
CarShield warranties won’t cover every auto repair, so it’s important to be aware of exclusions before signing a contract. The items CarShield doesn’t cover include:
- Repairs performed without prior authorization
- Pre-existing conditions
- Damage from a lack of maintenance
- Theft or vandalism damage
- Environmental damage
- Damage due to misuse of the car (racing or off-roading)
- Vehicle alterations or modifications
- Damage from normal wear and tear
- Oil leaks that are not a result of engine failure
- Odometer tampering
CarShield Coverage Prices
According to our research, the average cost of high and mid-tier CarShield vehicle protection plans is around $130 per month, with lower-tier plans as cheap as $99 per month. The company offers plans with a convenient monthly payment designed to make coverage affordable. As with any warranty, rates vary based on a vehicle’s mileage, age, and other factors.
Like other reputable extended car warranty companies, Carshield offers free quotes directly on its website. If you have questions about plan pricing or what’s included in comprehensive coverage, reach out to CarShield customer service.
Carshield Coverage Review
In our CarShield review, we gave the company a 4.8 out of 5.0-star rating for coverage (it is rated 4.4 out of 5.0 overall). Essentially, the company’s coverage rating is higher than its overall rating. See the table below for CarShield’s ratings in all our review categories:
| Overall Rating | 4.4/5.0 |
|---|---|
| Reliability | 4.6 |
| Coverage Plans | 4.8 |
| Pricing | 4.2 |
| Transparency | 4.8 |
| Customer Experience | 3.8 |
We gave CarShield high marks for listing its sample contracts online and for its wide variety of coverage options. We also gave it our Best Flexible Payment Plans award for offering flexible payment plans.
For more info on CarShield as a whole, including all ratings categories related to the warranty provider, check out our comprehensive CarShield reviews article.
How Does CarShield Coverage Work?
With a mileage limit of 300,000, CarShield coverage can benefit both brand new and high-mileage used cars. Most cars, trucks, SUVs, and crossovers are eligible for coverage. Rules and restrictions regarding CarShield coverage include:
- Mileage Limit To Be Eligible For Coverage: The company will cover vehicles with up to 300,000 miles.
- When Your Coverage Begins: CarShield’s waiting period for coverage is either 30 days and 1,000 miles or 90 days and 200 miles from date of plan purchase. This policy is designed to protect CarShield from covering pre-existing conditions.
- Transferring Coverage: In addition, CarShield allows you to transfer your coverage if you sell your vehicle while it’s still under contract. Those who are eligible can pay a $50 administrative fee to have it transferred to the new owner.
- Coverage Network: If you find yourself in need of car repairs while under contract, you can take your vehicle to either the dealership or any repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) for covered repairs.
How To Use Your CarShield Plan
If you have a CarShield auto warranty plan, you may be wondering what the process is for filing a claim. Follow these steps to file a claim and use the coverage provided in your CarShield plan:
- Take your vehicle to a mechanic within CarShield’s network.
- Once at the repair shop, give them your contract and report breakdown to the CarShield’s claims department. You may also be asked to provide maintenance records.
- Your mechanic will provide a written repair estimate to CarShield.
- If your claim is approved, the administrator will pay the mechanic directly and you will be responsible for paying your deductible.
It’s important to note that CarShield has a list of exclusions, so be sure to check those before filing a claim.
CarShield Coverage: Our Take
In this guide, we looked at CarShield’s plans, coverage, exclusions, and benefits. We looked at the various components CarShield’s coverage protects and how it works. Overall, we believe CarShield is a great option if you’re looking for an extended warranty. The company offers many coverage levels to choose from, so you can find one that fits your needs. CarShield also has few eligibility requirements and a wide network of certified repair facilities.
Other Recommended Providers
Our team recommends comparing CarShield against quotes and coverage options from other extended warranty companies. After extensive research, we’ve chosen Endurance and Carchex as our top picks.
Endurance: Best Overall
During our research, Endurance earned our award for Best Overall provider thanks to the company’s wide selection of warranty plans, coverage transparency, and affordable plan pricing. Endurance is also a direct warranty administrator, meaning you won’t have to work with third parties at any stage of your warranty coverage.
Endurance has positive customer ratings on both its BBB and Trustpilot profiles, with reviewers highlighting professional and thorough customer service representatives. All plans offered by Endurance are backed by the company’s 30-day money-back guarantee and include perks like roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage.
Read more about the company in our Endurance warranty review.
Carchex: Best Industry Reputation
Carchex boasts the best industry reputation of any provider we reviewed. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB and partners with well-known auto industry names like Kelley Blue Book, Carfax, RepairPal, and DMV.org. With these partnerships, Carchex provides a well-rounded and informative experience for drivers at any stage of car ownership.
Carchex offers five warranty plan options with terms up to 10 years or 250,000 miles. Some Carchex plans come with roadside assistance, towing, and trip interruption coverage and deductibles ranging from $0 to $100. Carchex works with a variety of warranty administrators to guarantee coverage for customers, so reviews may reflect varying claims experiences.
Read more in our Carchex warranty review.
CarShield Coverage: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about CarShield coverage:
Does CarShield cover motorcycles?
Yes, CarShield has specialty plans that cover motorcycles.
Does CarShield cover transmission?
Yes, all CarShield plans cover the transmission.
Does CarShield cover brakes?
While CarShield cover parts in the brake system, they don’t cover shoes, rotors, or brake pads because those parts are considered wear and tear items.
What is the mileage limit on coverage from CarShield?
CarShield’s vehicle service contracts can cover your car for up to 300,000 miles.
Does CarShield cover old cars?
Yes, CarShield covers many user cars, even high mileage vehicles that are older. While the price to cover older vehicles is typically higher, CarShield offers plans that cover parts most likely to fail such as the engine, transmission, and drive axles.
Does CarShield cover body damage?
No. Generally, body damage isn’t covered in CarShield plans because this is considered cosmetic. Instead, CarShield plans cover repairs related to mechanical breakdown.
Does CarShield cover catalytic converters?
No. American Auto Shield, the company that administers many of CarShield’s plans, does not include coverage for catalytic converters in its add-on emission coverage, even though other emission components like the oxygen sensor and EGR are covered.
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.
