CarShield vs. Endurance

We’ve compared CarShield and Endurance head to head to see which company has the better extended warranty coverage, price point, industry reputation, and customer reviews. Find out which car warranty provider comes out on top in this comprehensive review of CarShield vs. Endurance.

Both companies sit at the top of our best extended car warranty review. An extended warranty can save you thousands of dollars in the long run, but it’s best to compare quotes from multiple companies before purchasing a contract. Click above to receive free, no-obligation quotes from CarShield and Endurance.

Key Points:

• We rate CarShield 4.4 out of 5.0 and name it Best Monthly Payments.
• We rate Endurance 4.7 out of 5.0 and name it Best Coverage.
• CarShield has an A rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) while Endurance isn’t rated at this time.

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.

Endurance Vs. CarShield

CarShield and Endurance are both reputable extended car warranty providers with a variety of plans to offer.

And below, you can see how CarShield and Endurance compare in each of our ratings categories, including reputation, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer experience.

CarShield Highlights

Since 2005, CarShield has serviced customers throughout the U.S. from its headquarters in Saint Peters, Missouri. The provider has the best coverage for drivers on a budget, and we named it the Best Monthly Payments in our 2023 best extended car warranty review. The company offers six comprehensive coverage plans that are administered by American Auto Shield, a highly rated contract developer.

CarShield warranties can protect your vehicle up to 300,000 miles, and the company is one of the only providers that offers coverage for specialty vehicles like all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles.

Endurance Highlights

Endurance earned the No. 1 spot in our industry-wide review, and we named it the Best Overall. Established in 2006, the company is based in Northbrook, Illinois. Endurance is unique in that it works directly with customers and underwrites its own contracts.

Endurance offers six coverage levels that range from basic powertrain protection to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper extended warranty coverage. The company also provides a free first year of membership in the Endurance Elite Benefits program. This is a benefits program that guarantees key fob repairs and replacements, tire changes, and more.

CarShield vs. Endurance: Coverage

CarShield and Endurance both offer six coverage plans but with different terms lengths and specialty coverages. CarShield coverage extends up to 300,000 miles, while Endurance warranties last up to 8 years/200,000 miles. Below, we’ve compared CarShield and Endurance extended car warranties head to head.

Bumper-to-Bumper: Diamond vs. Supreme

CarShield’s Diamond and Endurance’s Supreme plans provide exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper coverage, which cover most of your vehicle’s mechanical and electrical components. Exclusionary contracts list the parts that aren’t covered because the plans are so comprehensive. Excluded items include:

• Wear-and-tear items like brake pads and shoes
• Wiper blades
• Maintenance services like oil changes and air filter replacements
• Damage due to misuse, abuse, neglect or improper use of fluid or fuel

Stated-Component Coverage: Platinum vs. Superior

Stated-component coverage protects fewer parts than the bumper-to-bumper plans, and lists each protected component in the contract. Here’s a comparison of these two plans from CarShield and Endurance.

Powertrain Plus: Gold vs. Secure Plus

Enhanced powertrain coverage protects many vital car parts, like the engine and transmission, as well as some additional components. Here’s how CarShield’s and Endurance’s warranties compare:

Powertrain: Silver vs. Secure

Basic powertrain coverage protects the key parts that make a vehicle move. See how each company’s powertrain plan compares:

Specialty Protection: Aluminum vs. Select Premier

The Aluminum plan from CarShield provides specialty coverage for cars with high-tech systems and luxury vehicles.

The Select Premier plan is Endurance’s coverage plan for high-mileage vehicles. It does not provide coverage for the brakes or suspension of your vehicle, but it does protect other vital car parts, including:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Transfer case
• Drive axle assembly
• Air conditioning and heating
• Electrical
• Luxury electrical
• Cooling system
• Fuel system
• Seals and gaskets

Additional Coverage Plans

CarShield’s Motorcycle & ATV plans provide extended warranty coverage for non-standard vehicles. American Auto Shield administers several coverage tiers under this umbrella contract, many of which are paid on a monthly basis.

The EnduranceAdvantage plan combines extended car warranty coverage with maintenance service. Receive coverage for vitals parts and systems, as well as for oil changes and tire rotations.

CarShield Cost vs. Endurance Cost

CarShield offers the best car warranty for drivers who want flexible monthly payments, but Endurance provides more comprehensive coverage and benefits with every plan.

We reached out to both providers to find out which offered better bumper-to-bumper coverage. We received quotes for a 2018 Ford Explorer with 45,000 miles on the odometer. Endurance and CarShield offered the following terms for their bumper-to-bumper warranty plans with a $100 deductible:

The Endurance’s Supreme plan is longer-lasting, but it costs more than CarShield’s Diamond plan.

We also received quotes for powertrain plans from each provider. These contracts covered a 2013 Honda Civic with 88,000 miles. Both plans also included a $100 deductible.

CarShield Reputation vs. Endurance Reputation

Both CarShield and Endurance boast positive customer reviews on Trustpilot but  below-average scores on the BBB. Here’s a breakdown of each provider’s industry-wide reviews:

CarShield Customer Reviews

Positive CarShield customer reviews detail high levels of customer satisfaction with sales representatives and the company’s easy cancellation process.

Negative customer reviews shine a light on mailers containing false statements about expired extended car warranty coverage.

Endurance Customer Reviews

Satisfied Endurance customers report customer service representatives going above and beyond to help customers resolve issues with coverage. Many contract holders also detail their ease getting coverage for claims.

Negative Endurance customer reviews report dissatisfaction with unsolicited mailers with vague information, impolite customer service representatives and pushy sales tactics with agents over the phone.

CarShield and Endurance: Our Take

Endurance provides a better experience for customers who want a direct provider rather than a warranty broker. Endurance also has a slightly higher industry ratings and better customer service. However, CarShield offers more affordable pricing for its plans and is better suited for budget-conscious customers.

Other Top-Rated Providers to Consider

Endurance and CarShield are two of our highest-rated providers. However, it’s a good idea to get multiple quotes when shopping for extended warranty coverage. We also recommend CARCHEX.

CARCHEX: Best for High-Mileage Cars

Established in 1999, CARCHEX works with impressive partners like Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com and CARFAX. The provider offers five coverage plans that can extend up to 10 years/250,000 miles. Here’s what you should know about CARCHEX before buying in:

• Available in 50 states
• Repair coverage available at any licensed repair shop
• No-Haggle, Low-Price Everyday Guarantee^TM
• Doesn’t cover high-end luxury vehicles like Lamborghini or Ferrari

Read our CARCHEX review to learn more about this provider, and get a free, no-obligation quote below.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: FAQ

Below are a few frequently asked questions about CarShield vs. Endurance: