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Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Extended Warranty Comparison

Affiliate Disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase coverage from the extended warranty providers outlined here. These commissions come to us at no additional cost to you. Our research team has carefully vetted dozens of extended warranty providers. See our Privacy Policy to learn more.  

Protect My Car has made the decision to stop selling vehicle service contracts to new customers. However, its commitment to existing customers remains unchanged, with continued support and claims processing. Feel free to review the details provided below for comparison, or consider exploring other warranty companies here.

  • We compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX to help you decide which provider best fits your needs.
  • CARCHEX earned a higher overall rating from our review team, but Protect My Car may be better for drivers looking for longer financing with lower monthly payments.
  • Two other top-rated providers to consider are Endurance and CarShield, which also ranked high on our list of the best extended car warranty companies.

Trying to decide between Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX? Protect My Car and CARCHEX are two of the most popular extended car warranty companies in the industry.

In this head-to-head analysis, we’ll review the two providers’ coverage options, warranty costs, customer reviews, and more. To compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX prices for your vehicle, you can get a free, personalized quote from each company.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.4/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Affordability: 4.5/5.0
Transparency: 5.0/5.0
Customer Service: 4.4/5.0
idée We recommend Endurance as the best warranty provider
  • Best Overall
  • Coverage Plans: 6 options plus maintenance plan
  • Odometer Limit: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Free Cancellation: 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Factory-level bumper-to-bumper plan Free membership for first year
Multiple powertrain/mid-level choices $500 collision discount
Scheduled maintenance coverage Tire repair or replacement
24/7 emergency roadside assistance Total loss protection up to $1,000
Trip interruption reimbursement Key fob replacement and repair
Rental vehicle coverage Endurance mobile app
Towing allowance $250 credit with shopping or dining partners

Overview of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

We evaluated Protect My Car and CARCHEX as part of our comprehensive review of major extended auto warranty providers. Here’s how the two vehicle protection companies compare:

  Protect My Car CARCHEX
Industry Standing 4.3 5.0
Coverage 4.7 4.6
Affordability 4.2 4.0
Customer Reviews 4.4 4.0
Overall Rating 4.4 4.4

Both companies have over 14 years of experience and sell policies across the U.S. CARCHEX is available in all 50 states, while Protect My Car is only available in 44 states, excluding Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.

While both providers have received positive customer reviews, Protect My Car reviews have been more positive on average than CARCHEX reviews. However, from an industry-standing perspective, CARCHEX has a much better reputation, holding an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and many significant endorsements.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Coverage

When deciding between Protect My Car and CARCHEX, one of the most important factors to consider is the quality of coverage offered by each provider. 

Our review team scored both companies highly in terms of coverage, but there are a number of key differences that become apparent when looking at a side-by-side comparison of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX plans:

  Protect My Car CARCHEX
Coverage Rating 4.7 4.6
Coverage Levels 3 5
Highest Mileage Limit 125,000 miles 250,000 miles
Waiting Period for Coverage 30 days and 1,000 miles 30 days and 1,000 miles
Sample Contracts Available Yes Yes

CARCHEX offers more levels of coverage and higher mileage limits than Protect My Car. In addition to these advantages, CARCHEX has both a basic powertrain warranty plan and an exclusionary warranty plan, which is similar to a bumper-to-bumper warranty — neither of which is offered by Protect My Car.

However, our review team gave Protect My Car a higher rating for best coverage because its advantages are likely more important to most customers shopping for an extended warranty, especially for owners of high-mileage vehicles.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Cost

Protect My Car and CARCHEX both earn high ratings for affordability – but for different reasons. CARCHEX has low-cost extended warranty plans, while Protect My Car has more expensive plans that can be financed over a long period of time, resulting in smaller monthly payments.

The cost of an extended warranty from Protect My Car or CARCHEX depends on factors such as the plan you select, your deductible, and your vehicle’s model and mileage. Protect My Car offers payment plans between 36 months and 60 months, which is much longer than most other providers in the industry.

We reached out to both companies for a quote on a 2018 Toyota Camry with 28,000 miles. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX prices:

  Protect My Car CARCHEX
Plan Supreme Titanium
Term Length 4 years/100,000 miles 5 years/100,000 miles
Price $99.26 for 42 months $136.17 for 18 months
Down Payment $102.00 First month’s payment
Total Price $4,270.92 $2,451.06
Price Per Year of Coverage $1,067.73 $490.21
Deductible $100.00 $100.00

Although Protect My Car is much more expensive per year of coverage, it rates higher in our methodology in terms of cost, scoring a 4.2 out of 5.0 compared to CARCHEX’s 4.0 stars. Protect My Car is a better choice for drivers who would prefer to pay a lower monthly premium over a longer period of time, but drivers who can budget for higher monthly costs may prefer CARCHEX’s shorter financing terms and lower overall price.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Customer Reviews 

Protect My Car and CARCHEX have received hundreds of online customer reviews via the BBB and Trustpilot. Protect My Car tends to be more highly rated by consumers, but CARCHEX earns the support of numerous experts from Kelley Blue Book to the BBB.

In the table below, you’ll find a Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX comparison of industry standings and customer experiences.

  Protect My Car CARCHEX
BBB Accreditation No Yes
BBB Rating A+ A+
BBB Customer Rating 4.4 out of 5.0 stars with over 600 reviews 2.0 out of 5.0 stars with over 100 reviews
Number of BBB Complaints in the Last Three Years 162 128
Trustpilot Rating 4.6 out of 5.0 stars with over 2,000 reviews 3.3 out of 5.0 stars with over 1,400 reviews

*Data accurate at time of publication.

While CARCHEX holds a lower BBB customer score, its accreditation and A+ rating from the BBB itself bodes well for the company’s reliability. Protect My Car is neither accredited nor rated by the BBB, but its volume of customer reviews reflect high levels of satisfaction. Because each provider has its pros and cons when it comes to reputation, we rated Protect My Car 4.4 out of 5.0 stars in this category, and CARCHEX 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

To get a better understanding of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX customer reviews, we’ll share sample positive and negative reviews for each provider below. Many customers of both companies report positive experiences with their service, but some customers mentioned miscommunication issues with claims and cancellation requests.

Positive Reviews:

Protect My Car

“[The sales associate] was very personable, professional, and very knowledgeable about his products.”

– R. Taylor via BBB

CARCHEX

“I had heard horror stories of trying to utilize warranties when needed, but this was far beyond my greatest expectations … I will definitely be considering a CARCHEX warranty with the next used car I get!”

– Andrew R. via BBB

Negative Reviews:

Protect My Car

“When I called them, they made it sound like a five-star service, so I bought a plan. I needed my car repaired in a few days, but nobody told me I needed to wait 30 days and drive 1,000 miles before I could use the plan…”

– David Monroy via Trustpilot

CARCHEX

“They promised me a PDF copy of the contract, and I had to call two additional times to get it. They said they would send a copy of the contract via the mail, but they never did. They said that I would have a $0 deductible, but I got a $100 deductible once I saw the contract…”

– Renee via Trustpilot

Final Thoughts on Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

Both Protect My Car and CARCHEX are high-quality providers worth considering for an extended warranty. Each ranked highly on our list of the most reputable extended car warranty companies in the nation and provides great coverage, pricing options, and service.

Between Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX, we rated CARCHEX slightly higher overall. But the best company for your car and peace of mind depends entirely on what you are looking for.

  Protect My Car CARCHEX
Coverage Levels 3 5
Sample Contracts Available Yes Yes
Deductible Varies Varies
Years in Business 16 22
Accepted Repair Sites Any licensed auto repair shop Any licensed auto repair shop
Transferable Plan Yes Yes
Cancellable Plan Yes Yes
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee Yes Yes
Endorsements Jeb Bush CARFAX, RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, SiriusXM, Pat Goss
Get Free Quote Call 888-430-0227 or fill out this simple form Call 866-254-0205 or fill out this quick form

Other Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

When considering an extended warranty, it’s a good idea to compare costs and coverage from multiple companies. Along with Protect My Car and CARCHEX, we recommend getting quotes from Endurance and CarShield.

Endurance
4.6
Industry Standing: 4.4/5.0
Coverage: 4.9/5.0
Affordability: 4.5/5.0
Transparency: 5.0/5.0
Customer Service: 4.4/5.0
idée We recommend Endurance as the best warranty provider
  • Best Overall
  • Coverage Plans: 6 options plus maintenance plan
  • Odometer Limit: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Free Cancellation: 30-day money-back guarantee
  • Longest Term: 8 years of coverage
  • Discounts: $300 same-day signup discount, $250 shopping voucher, and others
Plan coverage includes Endurance Elite perks™
Factory-level bumper-to-bumper plan Free membership for first year
Multiple powertrain/mid-level choices $500 collision discount
Scheduled maintenance coverage Tire repair or replacement
24/7 emergency roadside assistance Total loss protection up to $1,000
Trip interruption reimbursement Key fob replacement and repair
Rental vehicle coverage Endurance mobile app
Towing allowance $250 credit with shopping or dining partners

Endurance: Best Overall

Known for its strong benefits package, comprehensive coverage plans, and excellent customer service, Endurance is our No. 1 recommended provider. Endurance offers warranty coverage in every state except California, and unlike most other extended warranty companies, it doesn’t work through third-party plan administrators. Instead, it sells plans directly to consumers.

The Endurance Elite Benefits, which comes free for one year for every new customer, provides unique benefits including total loss protection, two tire replacements or repairs per year, and a collision discount, as well as standard benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, and rental car reimbursement. You can read more about this provider in our full Endurance warranty review.

CarShield: Most Affordable

Our review team also rated CarShield among the top five extended warranty companies in the industry.

CarShield is a great choice for automobile owners on a tight budget, as we found that it offers the lowest-priced extended warranty plans of any reputable provider. CarShield’s bumper-to-bumper coverage was $1,000 cheaper than some other providers, and it doesn’t require a down payment. 

You can read more about this provider’s strengths and weaknesses in our comprehensive CarShield review.

Our Methodology

Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.

  • Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
  • Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
  • Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
  • Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.