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Vehicle service contracts, colloquially called extended warranties, are agreements that are designed to cover specific kinds of mechanical breakdowns. While these are similar to the warranty that comes with a new car when you buy it at the dealership, because it’s offered by a third-party vendor, it is not technically a “warranty”.
Extended warranties are a hotly debated topic in the car-buying world (in part because we’ve all been bombarded with phone calls trying to sell us on them). Our standard advice is to do your research on a variety of “extended warranty” providers and weigh the pros and cons of buying one versus not having one. We don’t suggest buying a vehicle service contract when you buy your car, unless you absolutely need to finance it (at which point other questions come to mind), and if you do purchase a VSC from the dealer, be sure to negotiate the price! You can buy a VSC at any point in time, as long as your car is eligible.
When it comes to the debate on Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX as a provider, you’ll need to examine several things before you make a decision.
In our extended warranty comparison, we’ll examine the CARCHEX and Endurance extended warranty costs, what’s covered under their plans, and the reviews of past customers that relate to each company. All of this information will allow you to make an educated decision.
Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX: Company Background
Understanding some basic information about a company can help you to decide if you want to do business with them. While you won’t be able to tell everything from a company’s BBB page or customer reviews, looking at these things is the best way to determine how a company might treat you.
Endurance Warranty
Endurance Warranty has been in business for 15 years. The company is based out of Illinois. They currently have a C+ rating with the BBB; however, they are not BBB-accredited.
Endurance Warranty’s BBB page currently has a warning that talks about misleading advertising practices that have been carried out by the company. The BBB has received multiple complaints about mailers that contain deceptive features and copy that makes them seem like government documents. The complaints from customers are part of the consideration in our review and overall recommendation.
CARCHEX
CARCHEX has been in business for 22 years. They currently have an A+ rating with the BBB and they are a BBB-accredited company. They are based out of Maryland.
There are currently no warnings or alerts on CARCHEX’s BBB page. In fact, there is actually some “additional information” presented that states that CARCHEX was a finalist for a Maryland business award, which is a good sign. This is a rare thing to find in a VSC company.
Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX: Coverage
Both companies provide similar coverages, however, there is one crucial difference; CARCHEX does not sell vehicle service plans directly. Instead, they sell you plans that are administered by a third-party company. While you’ll always be interacting with CARCHEX when you set up your plan and file a claim, the plan itself will be managed by a separate company.
What Is the Same Between the Companies?
When it comes to the battle of CARCHEX vs. Endurance Warranty, it’s easy to focus on the differences. Before we jump into those, let’s take a look at the areas in which they are similar.
Both providers offer different levels of coverage to help you choose a plan that will be the right fit for your needs. You may want simple powertrain coverage. Maybe you want a bumper-to-bumper plan. Either way, you’ll be able to customize your coverage with CARCHEX or Endurance Warranty.
Another similarity is the flexibility provided in the places that you can take your cars for repairs. Both companies offer plans that allow you to take your car to any certified mechanic shop for repairs. The vehicle service contract provider will pay the shop directly and you won’t have to wait for reimbursement. Make sure to call the mechanic ahead of time to ask whether they accept your VSC, since it is possible that they might not.
In this CARCHEX vs. Endurance Warranty review, we’ll be going over plenty of differences between plans and providers. However, one thing is constant for every plan sold through either company: there is no coverage for damage related to abuse, misuse, or neglect.
All issues must be related to a manufacturer’s defect in order to be covered. Other than the special plans offered for maintenance, there is no coverage provided for components that are designed to wear and tear. This includes components such as brake pads and timing belts.
Both plans also require that you keep records of every visit to the mechanic, whether it’s for a repair or for standard maintenance. If you are not able to provide these records, it’s quite likely that your claim will not be covered.
How much do these plans cost? As we’ve discussed in a past article on vehicle service contracts, the cost of a VSC is based on the VIN of the car in question and its mileage. Each VSC provider uses its own algorithm to come up with quotes based on this information. As such, the only way to know the Endurance Warranty cost or the CARCHEX cost is to request a quote with your unique vehicle information.
While we’d like to settle the Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX debate based on their prices, we won’t be able to do that, as prices vary dramatically between cars.
What Does Endurance Warranty Cover?
How does Endurance insurance stack up? Endurance Warranty provides six levels of plans, each with a unique level of coverage.
Secure: This basic plan provides coverage for powertrain components, such as the engine, drivetrain, and transmission.
Select Premier: This plan provides additional coverage for some electrical components, cooling system components, and fuel delivery system components.
Secure Plus: This program has the same coverage as the previous plans, with the addition of steering components.
Superior: As the highest component coverage plan, this plan covers almost every component in your vehicle, other than seals and gaskets.
Supreme: This “bumper-to-bumper” plan, also known as an exclusionary plan, provides coverage for everything that’s not specifically mentioned.
Endurance Advantage: This plan provides basic mechanical breakdown coverage, along with coverage for maintenance services.
Make sure to read any contracts that you’re given so that you can have a clear understanding of what’s covered under your vehicle service contract.
With so many plans being offered, it can be confusing to understand which one is best for you. In fact, we only have one sample contract available from Endurance Warranty to investigate. As such, you’ll need to investigate the specific coverage of the plan that you choose.
What Does CARCHEX Cover?
CARCHEX has five levels of plans to choose from, each with a coverage term ranging from 5-10 years. The five levels are:
Bronze: As the most affordable plan offered, the Bronze plan provides basic powertrain coverage, which includes coverage for your engine, transmission, cooling system, and drive train.
Silver: This plan adds to the previous plan, providing coverage for the air conditioning system, some electrical components, and the fuel delivery system, too.
Gold: Sold as the plan that’s best for cars with over 60,000 miles, this plan is said to cover most major systems in the car. It adds coverage for steering and braking, in addition to the coverage to the previous plans.
Platinum: This plan offers the highest stated level of component coverage, with coverage for a greater number of electrical components, heating and cooling coverage, and suspension.
Titanium: As their only exclusionary plan, anything that is not specifically excluded is covered under this plan.
CARCHEX provides sample contracts for one plan at each level. Take note that this doesn’t mean that the plan you are looking at will be the same as the one in the sample contract. You’ll need to request a quote and request a specific contract for the plan that you’re interested in. Examine this contract carefully and make sure that the coverage that you’re after is clearly stated within the contract.
CARCHEX has deductibles that range from $0 to $200, based on your selections and the vendor you choose. When it comes to the debate between CARCHEX vs. Endurance Warranty, CARCHEX is the only one with a $0 deductible option.
What Perks Do They Offer?
Many vehicle service contract providers package their services with other benefits to tempt people into becoming customers. We discovered that both providers have similar benefits. They both offer the following benefits with any of their plans:
24/7 roadside assistance, including lock-outs, battery jump starts, fuel delivery, and limited towing coverage
Limited trip interruption benefits
Rental car reimbursement
Endurance Warranty enrolls every new member in their Endurance Elite Membership program. Being in this program provides several additional benefits that are worth having, such as:
ID theft protection
Key fob replacement
Tire replacement or repair
Personal concierge services for reservations, emergencies, and other uses
This means that customers of Endurance Warranty will have plenty of useful benefits available that come with their plan, at least for the first year. You’ll have to make sure that you cancel this membership by the second year; otherwise, you’ll be on the hook for the cost of the membership.
We’d like to see more perks coming from CARCHEX, but it’s not a major drawback of their service. We’d never suggest buying a VSC based on the perks that come with it. Instead, it’s best to make your decision based on the cost, coverage, and company reputation.
Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX: Customer Reviews
Both Endurance Warranty and CARCHEX have been serving the automotive world for over a decade. This means that you should have plenty of evidence about how they might treat you based on the ways that they’ve treated past customers.
Today, we’ll look through some of the common themes of the reviews so that you can see the types of complaints that people are making against these companies, along with the types of practices that consumers are praising.
Endurance Warranty Customer Reviews
Endurance Warranty has a rating of 3.59 out of 5 on the BBB customer review site. This rating is the average of 1,088 customer reviews. Having such a high number of reviews makes their 3.59 rating seem like an accurate representation of their service. Let’s take a look at a few of the reviews they’ve received.
John H., one-star review
“Endurance scammed my 84-year-old mother for a year. They signed her up through aggressive tactics. Then, once I learned what my mom was paying to cover a car — my mom literally drove 18 miles total in 2020 — I called to cancel my mom’s contract. The ensuing phone call was over 15 minutes long as the customer service person I spoke with was overly rude and extremely condescending and berating to both my mother and me. Now, to finalize the ending of the contract, I have to get my mom to sign the cancellation form in front of a notary. This company is the worst and takes advantage of the elderly!”
La’Shawn B., five-star review
“The level of customer service I received was outstanding, which made my overall experience spectacular. The staff was well-informed and helpful. My questions and concerns were promptly addressed. I will definitely recommend this company to all my friends and family.”
Cori R., one-star review
“I thought I purchased the most comprehensive coverage available. I was shocked when the dealership called me back and said Endurance would not cover any of the repairs (tension drive belt, alternator drive belt, spark plugs, engine partitions, right rear comfort armrest that was draining the battery, etc)… All those repairs ($4k) were on me, and if I didn’t get them fixed, the Endurance agent told me they wouldn’t cover the engine or alternator if they needed repair. I pay $114 a month for this coverage. Complete garbage. Canceling ASAP! Do not recommend!”
Keep in mind that Endurance currently has an alert on their BBB page saying that they engage in intentionally confusing marketing tactics. This fact makes the first review seem entirely reasonable, and that’s not okay with us.
The middle review was a great example of the type of reviews that are all over their BBB page. There are plenty of satisfied customers who have just signed up, but haven’t filed any claims yet.
CARCHEX Customer Reviews
CARCHEX has a rating of 2.26 out of 5 on the BBB customer review site. This rating is derived from an average of 102 customer reviews. While it’s surprising that there aren’t more reviews to look through, it’s still plenty to use to evaluate CARCHEX.
Jordan K., one-star review:
“Bought an extended warranty. On October 7, 2020, CARCHEX received a complete packet from me about cancellation and told me I would be receiving a refund in 45-60 days. Here it is, December 23, 2020, and I still have not received a refund. They are great at taking your money in seconds, but when it comes to refunding it, they are horrible. This needs to be settled, one way or another.”
Mick O., five-star review:
“I was considering getting a secondhand car and called CARCHEX for a warranty quote. I did this apprehensively because I’ve heard about the horror stories of high-pressure sales, never-ending phone calls, and so on. I withheld my number and gave them a call. I gave Ryan my details and details about the car I was thinking about getting. He came back with a reasonable quote and told me what that covered. I glossed over that. He then made sure I understood the exemptions and what the warranty would ONLY cover. He then explained to me why the car I was looking at was so cheap — repairs run to multiple thousands for everything. He gave me some really good advice on buying a car and the pitfalls. He actively dissuaded me from the warranty and the approach I was thinking about. He’s a really great salesman — he put the customer first, not selling a product that might do half of what I wanted. I will definitely use this company again and would highly recommend their salesman, Ryan C.”
Dennis H., two-star review:
“Seemed good. Now, I’ve canceled my warranty after 4 days. Fighting to get my money back, getting a run-around. Said I had to respond to an email, but they don’t send an email. Called twice now.”
Response from CARCHEX:
“Thank you for your review. We have reached out to you and processed your request to cancel. With your purchase being inside our 30-day money-back guarantee period, your refund will appear in your account in 2-3 business days. Please give us a call if you have any additional questions or concerns. We can be reached at our phone number. Best, CARCHEX Customer Service Team.”
When going over the CARCHEX reviews, one of the first things we noticed was that almost every review has an official response from CARCHEX. That’s something that we love to see.
Most of the reviews tended to be about buying or refunding the policy, not speservicing it. This could be taken as a good thing, since there weren’t many reviews complaining about a lack of coverage. We’re happy to see one review detailing a time a customer service representative went above and beyond, too.
Endurance Warranty vs. CARCHEX: Who Do We Recommend?
When comparing Endurance Warranty and CARCHEX, we’ve examined background information, coverage details, and customer reviews. While both companies have mixed reviews, if you were to choose between the two, we would recommend CARCHEX over Endurance Warranty. This is because of the aggressive tactics being used by Endurance Warranty that we do not agree with.
It’s worth remembering that CarEdge also offers vehicle service contracts.
Our VSC has transparent pricing, and you can meet with one of our team members to have all your questions answered for free. Not to mention, AUL (our partner) has great customer reviews.
We chose to work with AUL due to their excellent plans, affordable cost, and great customer reviews. Still not sure? Schedule a 15-minute consultation call with us. We’ll be happy to walk you through VSC options, even if you don’t choose ours. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.
One thing that every car owner knows is that a repair bill can strike at the most unexpected time. One way that some consumers choose to protect themselves against these unexpected expenses is by purchasing a vehicle service contract (VSC), known colloquially as an “extended warranty”. A VSC will pay for mechanical breakdowns that are related to a manufacturer defect.
We strongly encourage and advise people to fully research what a VSC will cover, their cost, and which companies are reputable in the space before making a purchase. Two factors to keep in mind as you do your research are your personal risk tolerance and the average cost of repairs for your specific vehicle.
Today, we’re going to examine two companies that offer vehicle service contracts: CarEdge and Endurance Warranty. We’ll discuss the background of each of these companies, what their VSCs are designed to protect, and highlight a few customer reviews. Our hope is that by reading this you’ll be able to make an informed decision.
CarEdge vs. Endurance: An Overview of the Companies
Before spending thousands of dollars on a VSC, we encourage you to learn about the companies providing them. Independent research is a must, however we’ve done some of the due diligence for you.
CarEdge and AUL Corporation
CarEdge was founded in 2020. We specialize in providing a number of solutions to our members to help them secure a great deal on a new car. As a part of our comprehensive tools for car buyers, we also offer vehicle service contracts through our partner company, AUL.
We interviewed many different extended warranty administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation. There are a lot of “fly by night” companies out there, and AUL is not one of them.
AUL Corporation has been in business for 31 years. They are fully accredited with the BBB and have an A+ rating. Their BBB rating is 4 out of 5 based on 54 customer reviews, with corporate headquarters in Napa, California.
The reason we chose to work with AUL Corporation is because of their track record in the industry, commitment to customer service, and quality vehicle service contracts.
Endurance Warranty
Endurance Warranty has been in business for 15 years. They are based out of Illinois. They are not BBB accredited and they currently have a rating of C+ with the service. Their consumer rating is currently at 3.62 out of a potential 5.
As of this writing, Endurance Warranty’s page with the BBB has a warning that alerts consumers about misleading and confusing advertising practices. The BBB has gotten multiple complaints about mailers that contain deceptive wording and design features that make it seem like an official government document.
While Endurance ads commonly talk about plans being “extended warranties,” similar to the ones given by manufacturers, this is not truly the case. As the footer on their website shows, they actually offer vehicle service contracts.
However, Endurance is the underwriter for most of their plans, which can help when it comes time to file a claim.
CarEdge vs. Endurance: What Do the Vehicle Service Contracts Cover?
There are two big factors that need to be considered when you’re deciding which VSC to purchase: cost and coverage.
Costs
As we went over in our guide to vehicle service contracts, the cost of a VSC is based on your VIN and the mileage of your vehicle. As such, your cost and quote may be quite different from the quotes that other consumers receive for their vehicle.
You’ll need to request quotes from any prospective company to compare prices. Keep in mind that you may be able to use quotes to negotiate offers from other companies.
Here at CarEdge, we promise to always be transparent in our pricing. Currently, our pricing model charges a flat $500 markup on every VSC we sell. If we are required to change our pricing in the future, we will always provide a reason for the change. Our priority is transparency, so we encourage potential customers to reach out if they have any questions.
In CarEdge account you can “self-quote” your VSC
CarEdge Coverage
CarEdge’s VSCs are administered by AUL Corporation and are insured by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida. We interviewed many different VSC administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation.
AUL offers a comprehensive selection of coverage options under the umbrella of 15 different plans. These plans range from exclusionary coverage that will cover almost everything on your vehicle to stated coverages that are more hyper specific, along with some customizable levels of coverage.
Here at CarEdge we sell AUL’s Sentinel brand of products. There are four coverage options we are able to provide:
Supreme Plus
Supreme
Premier
Powertrain.
Supreme Plus is the highest level of coverage that most closely mimics a manufacturer’s new car warranty. Supreme, Premier, and Powertrain are all stated coverages that are more limited in scope. In the spirit of transparency, you can view a sample contract as well as a breakdown of specifically what is and isn’t covered by each level of coverage by logging into your CarEdge account.
Take note that there is no coverage for issues that relate to abuse, misuse, or neglect. VSCs are intended to protect you from manufacturer defects, not other forms of breakdowns, like forgetting to change your oil or getting into a car accident.
All of the plans from AUL come with a few notable perks, including:
24/7 roadside assistance with towing
Trip interruption coverage of up to $100 per day for up to 3 days
Rental car reimbursement
Please note that our VSCs are not currently available to customers in California, Florida, or Massachusetts.
Customers will be able to choose any repair shop that has been certified by ASE or AAA. This includes any local dealerships. Covered repairs will be paid directly to the repair shop. However, repairs must have prior authorization before they begin, and because AUL has long standing relationships with dealers, a service advisor will handle this on your behalf.
A deductible may be applied, depending on the type of plan you choose. As with any VSC, you should be fully aware of the deductible before you sign the contract.
Endurance Warranty Coverage
Endurance Warranty offers six tiers of plans to choose from, each with different levels of coverage. Let’s walk through each of these tiers.
Secure
As the lowest tier plan, this plan covers the powertrain, which includes the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
Select Premier
This plan builds upon the Secure plan by adding coverage for fuel delivery systems, cooling system components, and electrical components.
Secure Plus
With the addition of coverage for the steering components, this plan builds upon the previous two plans’ coverage.
Superior
This program has the highest level of stated coverage, which means that it contains a list of components that are covered. It covers nearly every component, with the exception of seals and gaskets.
Supreme
As the only exclusionary plan offered, this program will cover everything on your vehicle that is not specifically itemized as an excluded component.
Endurance Advantage
This plan provides basic coverage for mechanical breakdowns, including coverage for some maintenance services. This is not something that is found in very many VSC plans.
Much like AUL Corp., there is no coverage for any issues related to neglect, misuse, or abuse. You’ll still be responsible for making sure any routine maintenance is kept up-to-date, as well.
Covered repairs may be completed at any shop that is ASE or AAA-certified. The invoice will be paid directly by Endurance Warranty over the phone. You may be responsible for a deductible, depending on your plan.
CarEdge vs. Endurance: The Customer Reviews
Reading customer reviews is a great way to determine how a company treats current and past customers. Let’s take a look at what past customers have had to say about each company.
CarEdge Customer Reviews
Instead of looking at CarEdge reviews, we’re going to look at reviews for AUL Corporation. We are doing this because the reviews for CarEdge often focus on the other solutions that we offer to our members, such as our Market Price Report or our informational YouTube channel. Our reviews are quite good for both of those!
Since AUL manages the VSCs, we will showcase a handful of their reviews below.
Rosemary S., 5-star review, BBB site
“AUL has exceptional service customer support. I highly recommend them as your next warranty provider.”
KC C., 5-star review, BBB site
“AUL employees, who I have worked with for over 14 years, do an excellent job of trying to help dealers and their customers. I am very happy with the service and follow-up I have experienced over the years.”
Peter D., 1-star review, BBB site
“AUL is not a dealership level of mechanical breakdown insurance provider. They will often decline repairs as pre-existing and not pay normal retail dealership prices as they will attempt to ship in used parts or AutoZone parts. Most people don’t go to the dealership for used or brand X parts. If you are okay with these policies, find an independent shop that will accept AUL. My dealership stopped honoring AUL when AUL refused to use factory parts and shipped in gray market parts from out of state.”
AUL Corporation Response to Peter D.
“Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your concerns. You are correct that AUL is not responsible for fixing a car that you sold with known issues. We have never shipped or supplied parts from AutoZone and any part we do supply is completely covered by AUL. Any rental needed due to supplied parts issue would be covered, as well, so please give us a call to review. Thank you.”
We had to dig all the way back to October 2019 to find this 1-star review, and we are quite satisfied with the response from AUL. Otherwise, the majority of consumers who are leaving reviews for AUL are saying that they’ve had a positive experience.
Endurance Warranty Customer Reviews
We know that Endurance Warranty has had their BBB rating impacted by complaints of their advertising practices, but what do current customers think of them? Below, we’ll explore a few notable customer reviews.
Joel G., 1-star review, BBB site
“Sold the covered vehicle. Takes an act of Congress to cancel — they want a notarized letter with the mileage of the vehicle I traded in a month ago to cancel. They keep sending me bills for a policy.”
Bashaan C., 4-star review, BBB site
“My experience with Endurance customer service was great and very helpful. I’m very satisfied with the person who helped me today. Thanks.”
Ca S., 4-star review, BBB site
“Just signed up and other than having to wait 30 days and 1,000 miles, I am very pleased with them so far. Did a comparison shop between other companies and this one seems to be the best when it comes to cost, coverage, and quality customer service.”
CarEdge vs. Endurance: Who Do We Recommend?
It might not surprise you to find out that in the battle of CarEdge vs. Endurance, we recommend working with us. Our partnership with AUL Corporation allows us to provide a top-quality VSC to our members. We chose to work with AUL due to their excellent plans, affordable cost, and great customer reviews. Still not sure? Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.
2024 Update: CarShield is facing a lawsuit from the FTC over misleading customers about the limitations of their contracts. Learn more about this lawsuit. For the time being, we advise looking elsewhere for your car’s extended warranty.
When you’re buying a car, one way to avoid potentially expensive repair bills is to investigate vehicle service contracts (VSCs). Colloquially known as extended warranties, vehicle service contracts protect you against mechanical breakdowns caused by manufacturer defects. Instead of a repair bill, all you might have to pay is a relatively small deductible.
While we think that VSCs can be a great option to minimize risk, we recommend researching them extensively to ensure they make sense for you. This typically means that you’ll need to consider your personal risk tolerance, along with the average cost of repairs for your vehicle, to know whether a VSC is a worthwhile purchase.
Today, we’re going to take a look at two companies that offer extended warranties: CarEdge and CarShield. In this post, we’ll go over who these companies are, what their VSCs cover, and showcase some customer reviews.
CarEdge vs. CarShield: An Overview of each Company
Understanding some basic information about a company can help you to get a feel for how they operate. It also paints a picture of how they might treat you if you become a customer.
CarEdge and AUL Corporation
CarEdge was founded in 2020. We specialize in providing a number of solutions to our members to help them secure a great deal on a new car. As a part of our comprehensive tools for car buyers, we also offer vehicle service contracts through our partner company, AUL.
We interviewed many different extended warranty administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation. There are a lot of “fly by night” companies out there, and AUL is not one of them.
AUL Corporation has been in business for 31 years. They are fully accredited with the BBB and have an A+ rating. Their BBB rating is 4 out of 5 based on 54 customer reviews, with corporate headquarters in Napa, California.
The reason we chose to work with AUL Corporation is because of their track record in the industry, commitment to customer service, and quality vehicle service contracts.
CarShield
CarShield has been in business for 16 years. They operate out of Missouri. They are not accredited with the BBB and they currently have an F rating through the service. Their customer rating is 1.45 out of a possible 5.
Instead of managing the plans that they sell directly, CarShield sells plans that are managed by third-party companies. At the time of purchase, CarSheild fully discloses which company sells the plan that you’re buying.
CarEdge vs. CarShield: What Do the Vehicle Service Contracts Cover?
You need to consider two factors when deciding which VSC to purchase: Coverage and cost.
Costs
As we went over in our guide to vehicle service contracts, the cost of a VSC is based on your VIN and the mileage of your vehicle. As such, your cost and quote may be quite different from the quotes that other consumers receive for their vehicle.
You’ll need to request quotes from any prospective company to compare prices. Keep in mind that you may be able to use quotes to negotiate offers from other companies.
CarEdge promises to always be transparent in our pricing. Currently, our pricing model charges a flat $500 markup on every VSC we sell. If we are required to change our pricing in the future, we will always provide a reason for the change. Our priority is transparency, so we encourage potential customers to reach out if they have any questions.
In CarEdge account you can “self-quote” your VSC
CarEdge Coverage
CarEdge’s VSCs are administered by AUL Corporation and are insured by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida. We interviewed many different VSC administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation.
AUL offers a comprehensive selection of coverage options under the umbrella of 15 different plans. These plans range from exclusionary coverage that will cover almost everything on your vehicle to stated coverages that are more hyper specific, along with some customizable levels of coverage.
Here at CarEdge we sell AUL’s Sentinel brand of products. There are four coverage options we are able to provide:
Supreme Plus
Supreme
Premier
Powertrain.
Supreme Plus is the highest level of coverage that most closely mimics a manufacturer’s new car warranty. Supreme, Premier, and Powertrain are all stated coverages that are more limited in scope. In the spirit of transparency, you can view a sample contract as well as a breakdown of specifically what is and isn’t covered by each level of coverage by logging into your CarEdge account.
Take note that there is no coverage for issues that relate to abuse, misuse, or neglect. VSCs are intended to protect you from manufacturer defects, not other forms of breakdowns, like forgetting to change your oil or getting into a car accident.
All of the plans from AUL come with a few notable perks, including:
24/7 roadside assistance with towing
Trip interruption coverage of up to $100 per day for up to 3 days
Rental car reimbursement
Making a Claim with CarEdge
Customers will be able to choose any repair shop that has been certified by ASE or AAA. This includes any local dealerships. Covered repairs will be paid directly to the repair shop. However, repairs must have prior authorization before they begin, and because AUL has long standing relationships with dealers, a service advisor will handle this on your behalf.
A deductible may be applied, depending on the type of plan you choose. As with any VSC, you should be fully aware of the deductible before you sign the contract.
CarShield Coverage
As mentioned above, CarShield’s VSCs are managed by a third-party company. And as a reminder, CarShield is currently facing a lawsuit over alleged deceptive practices, and therefore we advise extreme caution when considering coverage with them.
Regarding coverage options, CarShield has arranged all of its plans into six categories, with one of those categories including plans for motorcycles and ATVs. Of the five categories that pertain to cars, coverage ranges from simple powertrain coverage to exclusionary coverage.
Currently, CarShield makes sample contracts available for three policies in each tier. You may view the sample contracts of these policies on their website.
Just like the plans from CarEdge, there is no coverage for issues related to neglect, abuse, or misuse. Only issues related to any manufacturer’s defects will be covered.
Repairs may be completed at any repair facility that is ASE or AAA-certified. Repairs must be authorized before they begin and they will be paid for directly by the administrator of the VSC.
Some of their plans may come with added benefits, but CarShield does not highlight these benefits on their website. You’ll need to review the contract that they give you to determine if there are any additional benefits available.
CarEdge vs. CarShield: Exploring Customer Reviews
How can you tell what kind of treatment you might get while filing a claim if you become a customer of one of these companies? One of the best ways to find out is to read customer reviews.
CarEdge Customer Reviews
When you look at reviews of CarEdge, many of them surround the solutions that we provide to our members or discuss on our YouTube channel instead of mentioning our VSCs. Because of this, instead of going over CarEdge reviews, we will highlight AUL customer reviews. Because AUL is managing the VSC, we believe that highlighting their reviews is more pertinent.
Below are some of the reviews that we believe summarize the opinions of the average AUL customers.
Jeff S., 5-star review, BBB site
“Everyone is so nice and listens. I am glad I bought an AUL plan on my Silverado, as things just happen when you least expect them to. Had no issues getting claims paid. It was like money in the bank and no wait for payments. The shop said, ‘You can leave now. It’s taken care of and paid by AUL.’”
Agnes H., 5-star review, BBB site
“I have worked with AUL for over 9 years. They have been professional in all of our communications and proactive in their planning. I highly recommend them as they are a fantastic partner.”
Scott S., 5-star review, BBB site
“Always are quick to answer (no robocalls or operators) and they are understanding of our needs and quickly connect us to the department that I need to speak with. They are a top-notch provider and emphasize customer service as their number one priority.”
CarShield Customer Reviews
CarShield has an F rating with the BBB, due to misleading and confusing advertising practices. Furthermore, CarShield has a current customer rating 1.45 rating out of 5. This rating is composed from a total of 887 customer reviews.
Let’s highlight a few reviews that seem to show the common themes across most of the reviews.
Brian M., 1-star review, BBB site
“Shady business tactics. A salesperson said I could sign up and cancel any time within 30 days for any reason. I went ahead and signed up. I changed my mind 3 days later and called to cancel. They tried to pressure me into staying. I kept saying no. They said they would cancel my policy. Next, I received an email saying I needed to send a letter to request my policy cancellation. I called back and was told I could send an email instead. I sent the email requesting to cancel my policy and received a reply telling me to call customer service. If they are this lousy about keeping their 30-day money-back guarantee, imaging trying to get them to pay a claim. “
Twohouses2, Reddit
“I started using CarShield 6 months ago, and when I went in 3 weeks ago to get the air conditioner fixed….and it was going to cost about $1,000 — CarShield denied my claim because a little hole was not included in the warranty. I had to pay the mechanic $200 to diagnose the problem before he called CarShield and then they said it wasn’t covered! Since this happened, I’ve read other bad things about them…. I’ve paid them $79 a month for 5 months as the monthly charge and was out the $200 for the diagnosis and they will not give me a refund! Not even for the $79 they took out on Sept. 4th. They have never put out any money on my car so they get an extra $395 that was free to them… it’s not right.”
The Battle of CarEdge vs. CarShield: Who Do We Recommend?
It might come as no surprise that we recommend using the services of AUL via CarEdge. They have excellent reviews and an A+ rating, while CarShield’s reviews and ratings leave much to be desired. In July 2024, news broke that the Federal Trade Commission has announced a lawsuit against CarShield for deceptive practices. This lawsuit highlights the complaints that CarShield customers have shared for years.
We decided to work with AUL thanks to their great customer service, reasonable cost, and excellent plans. Still not sure if a VSC is right for you? Give us a call! Schedule a 15-minute consultation call with us. We’ll be happy to walk you through VSC options, even if you don’t choose ours. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.
Vehicle service contracts (VSCs), colloquially known as extended warranties, are commonly purchased to mitigate the risk of a financially devastating repair bill. Instead of being hit with expensive repairs, your VSC will take care of manufacturer’s defects that arise with your vehicle. This means that all you are likely to have to pay is a deductible.
We believe that VSCs can be a great option for some people, but we strongly suggest you research them extensively and consider your risk tolerance before purchasing one.
Today, we’re going to examine two companies that offer vehicle service contracts: CarEdge vs. CARCHEX. We’ll go over who these companies are, what their VSCs cover, and examine some customer reviews.
It’s always worth understanding some basic information about a company before you start doing business with them. It helps to paint the picture of who they are and understand how they might treat you as a customer.
CarEdge and AUL Corporation
CarEdge was founded in 2020. We specialize in providing a number of solutions to our members to help them secure a great deal on a new car. As a part of our comprehensive tools for car buyers, we also offer vehicle service contracts through our partner company, AUL.
We interviewed many different extended warranty administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation. There are a lot of “fly by night” companies out there, and AUL is not one of them.
AUL Corporation has been in business for 31 years. They are fully accredited with the BBB and have an A+ rating. Their BBB rating is 4 out of 5 based on 54 customer reviews, with corporate headquarters in Napa, California.
The reason we chose to work with AUL Corporation is because of their track record in the industry, commitment to customer service, and quality vehicle service contracts.
CARCHEX
CARCHEX has been in business for 22 years. It is fully accredited with the BBB and has an A+ rating with them. It currently has a rating of 2.24 out of 5 with the BBB, based on 103 customer reviews. The company operates out of Maryland.
CARCHEX does not directly administer VSCs. Instead, they act as a broker, which means that they have partnered with a handful of other companies to sell various kinds of VSCs.
What Do the Vehicle Service Contracts Cover?
There are two primary factors to consider when comparing vehicle service contracts: cost and coverage.
Costs
As we went over in our guide to vehicle service contracts, the cost of a VSC is based on your VIN and the mileage of your vehicle. As such, your cost and quote may be quite different from the quotes that other consumers receive for their vehicle.
You’ll need to request quotes from any prospective company to compare prices. Keep in mind that you may be able to use quotes to negotiate offers from other companies.
Here at CarEdge, we promise to always be transparent in our pricing. Currently, our pricing model charges a flat $500 markup on every VSC we sell. If we are required to change our pricing in the future, we will always provide a reason for the change. Our priority is transparency, so we encourage potential customers to reach out if they have any questions.
In CarEdge account you can “self-quote” your VSC
CarEdge Coverage
CarEdge’s VSCs are administered by AUL Corporation and are insured by American Bankers Insurance Company of Florida. We interviewed many different VSC administrators in advance of deciding to work with AUL Corporation.
AUL offers a comprehensive selection of coverage options under the umbrella of 15 different plans. These plans range from exclusionary coverage that will cover almost everything on your vehicle to stated coverages that are more hyper specific, along with some customizable levels of coverage.
Here at CarEdge we sell AUL’s Sentinel brand of products. There are four coverage options we are able to provide:
Supreme Plus
Supreme
Premier
Powertrain.
Supreme Plus is the highest level of coverage that most closely mimics a manufacturer’s new car warranty. Supreme, Premier, and Powertrain are all stated coverages that are more limited in scope. In the spirit of transparency, you can view a sample contract as well as a breakdown of specifically what is and isn’t covered by each level of coverage by logging into your CarEdge account.
Take note that there is no coverage for issues that relate to abuse, misuse, or neglect. VSCs are intended to protect you from manufacturer defects, not other forms of breakdowns, like forgetting to change your oil or getting into a car accident.
All of the plans from AUL come with a few notable perks, including:
24/7 roadside assistance with towing
Trip interruption coverage of up to $100 per day for up to 3 days
Rental car reimbursement
Please note that our VSCs are not currently available to customers in California, Florida, or Massachusetts.
Customers will be able to choose any repair shop that has been certified by ASE or AAA. This includes any local dealerships. Covered repairs will be paid directly to the repair shop. However, repairs must have prior authorization before they begin, and because AUL has long standing relationships with dealers, a service advisor will handle this on your behalf.
A deductible may be applied, depending on the type of plan you choose. As with any VSC, you should be fully aware of the deductible before you sign the contract.
CARCHEX Coverage
The plans offered by CARCHEX are arranged into five tiers, with each tier containing 3-6 individual plans offered by their partners. This results in a wide range of VSCs to explore and choose from. Coverage ranges from exclusionary coverage that will cover almost everything on your car to simple powertrain coverage.
Instead of going over the 23 different plans offered by CARCHEX, you can view the complete selection of plans on their website. Remember to examine sample contracts for each of these VSCs to help determine whether they are the right choice for you.
Each of CARCHEX’s plans will only cover breakdowns related to the manufacturer’s defects. Any breakdowns related to misuse, abuse, or neglect will not be covered.
You may have a deductible for covered repairs, depending on the plan you select. Make sure that you are aware of your deductible before signing any contracts.
Much like the VSCs from CarEdge, CARCHEX customers will be able to choose from any ASE or AAA-certified repair shop. You’ll also need prior authorization for repairs. The final bill will be paid directly by CARCHEX to the repair shop.
CarEdge vs. CARCHEX: Customer Reviews
In the battle of CarEdge vs. CARCHEX, customer reviews can help you to understand how a company might treat you. Will they be helpful and easy to work with or hard to reach and unprofessional? The best way to find out is to take a look at reviews from past customers.
CarEdge Customer Reviews
Reviews of CarEdge often center around our member solutions and YouTube channel, rather than our VSCs. For this reason, in the review section, we will go over AUL customer reviews. Because AUL is the company that administers the VSC, we believe that showcasing their reviews is more relevant. We do however have great reviews on our Google page!
Let’s go over a few reviews that summarize what the majority of customers are saying:
Brian G., 5-star review, BBB site
“AUL Reserve has been wonderful. In 2017, my transfer case in my BMW had to be replaced (expensive). AUL covered it 100%. In 2021, the blower motor & valve cover assembly in my same BMW had to be replaced. AUL COVERED IT 100%. I am so glad that I purchased the AUL Reserve Car Warranty the day I bought my car in 2016. Yes, I was worried that it would be a waste of money, but the opposite is true. It has saved me more than double what I paid for the coverage. I will sell my car when my warranty ends. BMWs are expensive to repair and driving one without a warranty is a risk that I’m not willing to take.”
Rey P., 5-star review, BBB site
“AUL has great service support, Philip was able to help me almost right away. He made my day when he called me to confirm that they will proceed with my claim. I’d just bought my MDX less than 6 months ago, and one night, it just died on me. It turns out it needs the engine replaced — an expensive job — and with all this madness going on right now, I was really worried. But I’m so glad I bought the extra warranty with AUL and will definitely recommend it to my friends and coworkers.”
Chris L., 1-star review, BBB site
“AUL will cover minimal service with no problem. An electric window does not roll up; they’ll take care of it. A broken pipe, no problem. The moment your transmission goes out, sorry, but you are on your own. It’s only worth it if they actually cover the major problems.”
AUL’s Response to Chris L.:
“Thank you for taking the time to let us know about your concerns. We are sorry to hear that you are not satisfied with your contract and would appreciate the opportunity to review your concerns. Please give us a call so we can take a look at what happened.”
Overall, AUL has taken great care to respond to negative reviews and make sure that any issues that are brought up in reviews are addressed. This is a sign of a great company and it’s one of the reasons why we partner with them.
CARCHEX Customer Reviews
How are customers of CARCHEX feeling about their VSC? Let’s take a look.
Javonna H., 1-star review, BBB site:
“I got this contract hoping that I would not need it for my daughter; however, I was wrong because she had an engine problem. We took it to a certified shop that stated that the engine head gasket was bad, causing smoke from the engine. He recommends another engine because the cost of repairing would be higher. CARCHEX was informed, but refused to authorize another engine, stating that the gasket was not covered. Therefore, another is not authorized. Now the vehicle is not driveable; therefore, I do not know what to do. What is a warranty if it does not cover the cost?”
Jane M., 5-star review, BBB site:
“I started my account with CARCHEX after a dismal experience with [COMPANY NAME REDACTED] who charge almost twice as much for the same coverage. The difference is after I received my card and papers, I was never able to get in touch with anyone via their website or email. I sent a few emails and never received a reply. Thus far, CARCHEX has proven to be accessible and responsive to any questions I might have. I feel positive that I am covered and will keep my eyes open for anything unusual. I expect perfection from these guys, as they present themselves very well.”
deutsch-technik, Reddit comment/review
“CARCHEX is just a warranty broker. They collect the information about your car and price shop on your behalf with multiple warranty companies. The actual warranty administrator is always through another company. Depending on that company, your experience will vary. I’ve used them before and the warranty administrator I ended up going with was Assurant Solutions, who always paid out on claims (didn’t fight me or the repair shop).”
CarEdge vs. CARCHEX: Who Do We Recommend?
Now that you know what to expect as you compare CarEdge vs. CARCHEX, you may not be surprised to discover that we recommend using CarEdge. Our VSC has transparent pricing, and you can meet with one of our team members to have all your questions answered for free. Not to mention, AUL has great customer reviews. CarChex, on the other hand, has questionable reviews and a large selection of plans that may be confusing to customers.
We chose to work with AUL due to their excellent plans, affordable cost, and great customer reviews. Still not sure? Schedule a 15-minute consultation call with us. We’ll be happy to walk you through VSC options, even if you don’t choose ours. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.
When it comes to buying a car, there are definitely no “magic words” that will convince a salesperson to give you an amazing deal, but there are a few phrases that can give you leverage in negotiations. Ready to learn how to negotiate with a car salesman? Great! Let’s get moving.
“I’d Like to Discuss My Trade-In Later”
Car buyers with a vehicle to trade should get familiar saying “I’d like to discuss my trade-in later.” When selling and buying a car at the same time it is best to treat them as two separate transactions. A salesperson will always want to “work their magic” on the numbers and make it look like you’re getting a better deal than it is when you negotiate the trade-in and the new vehicle purchase price at once.
So keep it simple with one of the most vital car buyer negotiation phrases. Every time that the salesperson brings up your trade-in while you’re talking about the new car, remind them that you’d “like to discuss my trade-in later.”
Chances are that you may even need to come up with a few versions of this phrase, since the salesperson is likely to bring up the value of your trade-in more than once.
The vehicle purchase process is terribly confusing. Here at CarEdge we strive to teach our members about all of the numbers involved in a car deal before they even contact a dealership so that they can stay in control of the process. One of the most vital (and obvious, albeit challenging!) numbers you should know, is the value of the car that you want to buy.
Unlike buying a refrigerator, a sofa, or literally any other item, buying a car entails hours of gamesmanship over what the “price” of the vehicle actually is. Be prepared to say “I know what the car is worth” to a salesperson, and feel confident that you actually do.
By the time you go to the dealership or begin email negotiations, you will have used the Market Price Report to know exactly how much you should be paying for your car. If you’re looking to buy a used vehicle, you will have run it through CarEdge’s Black Book vehicle valuation tool to get the same pricing information the dealer has, immediately leveling the playing field. The purpose of this phrase is to let the salesperson know that you’ve done your research and you know what you’re talking about.
“I Like This Car, But I Don’t Love It”
I’ve said it before, and you’ll hear me say it again … You don’t want to act too eager when you are buying a car. “I like this vehicle, but I don’t love it,” is one of the important phrases you can say to a car salesman to keep control of the conversation. Your salesperson should know that you like the car and that you might buy it, but you’re not so in love with it that you’re going to pay more than it’s worth.
Don’t say this phrase and expect any response. Just say it during your test drive to show that you still need to be convinced that the value is right. It’s one of our car buyer negotiation phrases that’s somewhat subtle, yet important. It’s all about keeping your cards close to your chest.
As an added bonus, this phrase can be a good reminder to yourself that you should walk away if you don’t get a good deal. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions of buying a car, but by repeating this phrase, you can stay in control of the negotiations.
Are you buying a new vehicle, or are you factory ordering a car? Great, ask to see the invoice price. Having the dealer’s invoice will give you much more information that you can use during your negotiations. In fact, this is one of the most important phrases you should say to a car salesman. When you know the dealer’s invoice price, you’ll be able to propose a fair deal with a fair amount of markup.
There’s nothing that a salesperson wants to hear less than this phrase. They want to sell you a car today, not tomorrow. Most salespeople know that if you leave the lot, you might not return. They would prefer to keep you there, make you happy, and sell you a car. However, if you aren’t reaching the right numbers in your agreement, it might be time to leave.
You deserve to be treated properly and to get a fair deal on your vehicle. That’s why this is our top suggestion for buyer negotiation phrases: It gives you a chance to stand up for yourself and retain control of the negotiations.
Use our step-by-step car buying guide
Do you want to learn more about how to negotiate with a car salesman like a pro? We created our step-by-step car buying guide to coach you through the phases of buying a vehicle like a pro. Check it out here!
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