Is CarShield Legit?
Yes, CarShield is legit, and when you compare CarShield to other top car warranty providers, it’s clear CarShield is a great choice for flexibility.
Key Points:
- CarShield has been in business for over a decade and has covered over 2 million vehicles to date.
- CarShield has a low customer score on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) but high ratings from tens of thousands of reviews on Trustpilot.
- While CarShield is legit, we recommend also comparing quotes from Endurance and Carchex.
Whether you read about CarShield in a mailer or saw Ice-T repping the brand on TV, you might be wondering: is CarShield legit? The good news is that CarShield is a legitimate company. However, it has a low customer score on the BBB, which we’ll get into later in this article. We’ve compared the best extended car warranty companies and CarShield is among our top five picks.
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.
Is CarShield A Legitimate Company?
Yes, CarShield is a legitimate vehicle service contract provider. CarShield’s plans cover specific repairs outlined in a contract and repairs can be done by any licensed mechanic.
In our study of the best extended car warranties we gave CarShield an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5.0. Our rating includes individual scores for reliability, coverage, price, transparency, and customer service. Below, you can see how we rated CarShield in each of these categories.
| Review Category | Our Rating |
|---|---|
| Reliability | 4.6 |
| Coverage Plans | 4.8 |
| Pricing | 4.2 |
| Transparency | 4.8 |
| Customer Service | 3.8 |
| Overall Rating | 4.4 |
CarShield Industry Ratings
CarShield has earned a customer review score of 4.2 out of 5.0 on Trustpilot based on over 48,490 customer reviews. CarShield has a higher number of reviews than any other warranty provider on the site.
Other ratings include an A rating with a 1.56-star rating from 2,500 customers on the BBB.
CarShield offers five coverage levels that protect against mechanical breakdowns and come with roadside assistance. The provider also offers specialty coverage for fully-electric vehicles.
Is CarShield Reputable?
While CarShield has been a legitimate car warranty provider in the industry, it has a below-average BBB customer review score resulting from many customer complaints on the platform.
CarShield has come under fire from the BBB for allegedly misleading customers through advertisements and failing to address customer concerns after being contacted. In one instance, the BBB took issue with a CarShield mailer that created a false sense of urgency, according to the platform.
Keep in mind that CarShield has covered over 2 million vehicles to date. This means the negative reviews only consider a small fraction of CarShield’s customers.
CarShield Customer Service And Industry Reputation
In our CarShield review, we rated CarShield 3.8 out of 5.0 for customer service. While it has a low rating on the BBB, tens of thousands of positive reviews on Trustpilot outweigh the BBB score. On average, Carshield customers have positive experiences with the company.
We also rated CarShield 4.6 for its reliability. This score takes into account CarShield’s longevity since it was founded in 2005. We also look at awards for CarShield, which include the 2017 Inc. 5000 list of fastest-growing companies, the 2018 Glassdoor Employees’ Choice Award and the St. Louis Dispatch 2020 Top Workplace.
Is CarShield Worth It?
Considering CarShield’s wide variety of coverage options and high mileage limits, we rank the provider among our top five picks. If you read the contract and know what’s covered, a plan with CarShield can be worth it. Here’s a quick overview of what CarShield offers:
| Aspect | What CarShield Offers |
|---|---|
| Plans | CarShield has five plans that range from basic powertrain coverage to factory-level bumper-to-bumper protection. It also has a plan designed for high-tech components and one specific for electric vehicles. |
| Terms | CarShield can cover up to 300,000 miles on some plans, which is the highest mileage limit in the industry. |
| Perks | All plans come with roadside assistance, trip interruption, and rental car coverage. |
| Pricing | CarShield’s monthly rates are average for the industry and range from $109.99 to $139.99 per month. It offers flexible month-to-month contracts and a choice of deductibles. Most other providers only offer fixed-term contracts. |
What Company Is Better Than CarShield?
It’s a good idea to read CarShield reviews and evaluate whether or not CarShield is suitable for you. While CarShield has month-to-month payment offerings, it may not be the best choice for everyone. To compare rates and coverage and decide what company best fits your needs, we recommend getting quotes from more than one provider.
If you’re considering buying a policy, consider the pros and cons of an extended warranty and ask many questions. Know what the claims process entails and speak to someone who has filed a claim with the company before making a decision. And most importantly, don’t wait until you need to use your coverage to find out whether or not it works. Do your research ahead of time to ensure you’re getting the protection you need.
If you’re looking for the best coverage, we recommend Endurance and Carchex.
Endurance
Endurance offers six standard coverage levels. This includes a unique plan that combines warranty coverage with regular maintenance like oil changes. All of Endurance’s programs come with roadside assistance, trip interruption, and rental car coverage. Endurance also offers one free year of Elite benefits, which includes key fob replacement and road hazard tire repair.
Keep reading: Endurance Warranty Review
Carchex
Carchex offers five coverage levels with extra perks like roadside assistance and trip interruption. Our extended warranty study found that the company stands out regarding industry reputation. Carchex has earned an A+ rating by the BBB and is endorsed by several industry leaders like Kelley Blue Book.
Keep Reading: Carchex Warranty Review
Is CarShield Legit?: Conclusion
CarShield can be an excellent choice for those looking for an affordable extended car warranty with short-term coverage options or for high mileage limits. Make sure to compare multiple quotes when you shop and understand what’s included in your policy before signing a contract.
Is CarShield Reputable?: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions on the legitimacy of CarShield:
Is CarShield a rip-off?
CarShield is not a scam or a rip-off, but it is a below-average company as far as customer service goes. While CarShield is a legitimate company that has been providing vehicle service contracts for over 16 years, it has a history of complaints reported to the Better Business Bureau regarding its sales practices, billing and collections, customer service, and refund process.
What is the BBB rating for CarShield?
CarShield has received an A rating from the Better Business Bureau, but has a high amount of customer complaints within the last three years. The BBB advises consumers to use caution if considering doing business with CarShield because of complaints about misleading sales and advertising practices, failure to cover repairs, and other issues.
Is CarShield BBB accredited?
Yes, CarShield recieved accreditation with the Better Business Bureau on March 29th, 2024.
Is CarShield reputable?
CarShield is a reputable car warranty company that can be a good choice for those seeking high mileage limits or flexible contracts. We give CarShield a rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 for reliability.
What are the cons of CarShield?
There are a few potential downsides to CarShield. First, they have a relatively high number of complaints compared to some of the other providers. Also, the customer service can be a bit slow in responding.
How We Rate Warranty Providers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of extended auto warranty providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Reputation: It’s important that an extended car warranty company is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a long history of reliable service score well in this category. We also evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
- Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits like roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.
- Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.
