Why Doesn’t CarEdge Sell Extended Warranties in California?

by Zach Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Third Party Extended Warranty Reviews

“We’re calling you to tell you about your vehicle’s extended warranty …” If you’re like most people, seemingly everyday you get a spam call from an “extended warranty” company. Extended warranties, officially known as vehicle service contracts (VSCs) suffer from a lack of information disclosure and are represented as something more than they are with marketing designed to sell instead of inform. VSCs can be a great benefit to car owners, especially when you know exactly what to expect and how it can help you.

We’ve been talking about VSCs (“Extended Warranties”) here at CarEdge, since we first started educating car buyers.  One of the first things we realized is that there was no one in the market providing honest information about VSCs to consumers. We decided to change that.

After conducting countless hours of research, and by leveraging our industry connections, we chose to partner with AUL Corporation to offer CarEdge members a VSC (“Extended Warranty”) at a great price. With AUL’s 31 years of experience in the industry and great customer reviews, we’re proud to work with them.

However, there is one issue: California is much more restrictive when it comes to VSCs. For this reason, we’re currently unable to sell them to California residents. 

Because transparency is important to us, today, we’ll take some time to discuss the reasons that we are currently unable to sell VSCs in California. We’ll also discuss the options that currently exist for California residents.

Remember, as a CarEdge member, you can schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation call with us to discuss VSCs. We’ll be happy to walk you through your VSC options. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.

Mechanical Breakdown Insurance: The “Extended Warranty” in California

Only one entity within the state of California can sell vehicle service contracts: car dealers. The car dealer lobbied the state of California to pass this monopolistic law that forbids any other business from selling vehicle service contracts to California residents who register their vehicle in the state.

So how do other third parties sell “extended warranties” in California? They actually sell mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI). Take note of the word “insurance,” as MBIs are actually regulated through the California Department of Insurance (CDI). 

As a consumer, when you buy MBI, you are essentially buying a contract between the insurance company and yourself, just like you would with any other kind of insurance. As such, the CDI will carefully scrutinize and regulate the rates and coverage provided by the insurance program.

MBI is similar to normal car insurance in that it’s well regulated for consumer protection. Even though it is technically an insurance policy, though, it functions much like any other vehicle service contract in California would.  

There are plenty of laws in California that regulate mechanical breakdown insurance. Because of these laws, the process is a little different than it is when you’re buying a standard extended warranty in other states. If you’re looking to dive deeply into this unique version of an “extended car warranty” in California, you can read more on the official California Department of Insurance website.

Mechanical breakdown insurance is the only form of mechanical coverage that can be purchased online in California. The CDI advises that consumers verify that any company that is selling MBI is licensed to sell it. To earn a license to sell an MBI policy, the policy itself has to be approved by the CDI. This means that they’ll go over every line, examine every level of coverage, and set standards that the company must abide by.

From the viewpoint of the consumer, the experience of using an MBI policy as compared to using a VSC will essentially be the same. It will simply feel like another form of an extended car warranty in California. You would take your car to a covered mechanic when a breakdown occurs and file a claim. From there, payment would be made directly to the shop by the coverage provider. 

But if you’re looking to buy a vehicle service contract in California, you still can. You just have a much smaller window to make your purchase decision and you’ll be limited in who you can purchase it from. Let’s take a look at when you can buy one and where you can get it.

Can You Even Buy a Vehicle Service Contract in California?

Do you want to take one guess as to when you can buy a vehicle service contract in California? That’s right…when you’re buying your car from a dealership. While the decision to restrict VSCs in California was done to protect consumers, it’s given dealerships far more leverage than they have in other states.

In most states, you can buy a VSC at any point in time (presuming your car is still eligible, according to the company’s criteria). However, those who are looking for a vehicle service contract in California can only buy their VSC from a dealership at the time that they are buying their car.

Unlike other states, VSCs sold in California have special requirements, too. A VSC must list the dealership itself as the obligor of the contract, rather than a third-party company, such as the AUL Corporation. The dealership must also work with a backup insurance company that will cover any repairs that they deny.

In essence, you can still buy a vehicle service contract in California, but you will likely end up paying too much for it. Remember, you can still negotiate the price of a VSC if you are going to be buying it at a car dealership.

When Will CarEdge Sell an Extended Car Warranty in California?

We are currently exploring every avenue that will allow us to sell a top-quality MBI policy in California. Our partner, AUL Corporation does offer a MBI product in California, and we are actively pursuing the required licensing to be able to sell to our members in California.

Our stance on extended warranties is that every consumer should research their costs for common repairs, consider how long they’re going to keep their car, and consider their tolerance for risk. Anyone who comes out of that process with the decision that it’s time to buy an extended warranty should be able to buy one from a top-quality, transparent provider, even if they live in California.

We want our members in California to have the exact coverage that they’re looking for, while being able to negotiate a great deal for their policy.  Keep checking our site for updates on this situation. We’ll do our best to keep all of our California members informed about when they will be able to buy a mechanical breakdown insurance policy from our partners.

Vehicle Service Contracts in Other States

For our members in other states, if you’re thinking about purchasing an extended warranty for your car, we recommend you get a quote from CarEdge. We will always be transparent in our pricing. Our current price model is to charge a flat $500 markup on all our VSCs. We will even offer a free consultation call to help you determine whether a VSC is the right decision for you. When you are ready to buy, you can now purchase a plan 100% online through CarEdge.

Endurance vs. CARCHEX Extended Warranty

by Zach Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Third Party Extended Warranty Reviews

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.

Remember, as a CarEdge member, you can schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation call with us to discuss VSCs. We’ll be happy to walk you through your VSC options. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.

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.

CarEdge vs. Endurance Extended Warranty

by Zach Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Third Party Extended Warranty Reviews

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.

We’ll be happy to walk you through your VSC options. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.

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.

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.

We were only able to obtain one sample vehicle service contract from Endurance. You can learn more about their coverage by reading through it, or you can view all of their plans on their website.

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.

CarEdge vs. CARCHEX Extended Warranty

by Zach Shefska | Last updated Jun 30, 2025 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Third Party Extended Warranty Reviews

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.

Remember, as a CarEdge member, you can schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation call with us to discuss VSCs. We’ll be happy to walk you through your VSC options. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.

Let’s hit the gas and get moving.

CarEdge vs. CARCHEX: Who Are These Companies?

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.

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.

Endurance vs. CarShield Extended Warranty

by Zach Shefska | Last updated Apr 24, 2023 | Extended Warranty Reviews, Third Party Extended Warranty Reviews

There’s a heated debate among car owners about whether it’s worth it to extend a car warranty via a vehicle service contract. A vehicle service contract (VSC) is similar to a manufacturer warranty, except it’s offered by a third-party provider. 

We think that buying a VSC is a great idea, as long as you negotiate the price if you’re buying it from a dealer (or better yet, just get it from us with our transparent pricing!).

CarShield and Endurance Warranty are two of the most frequently advertised third-party companies that offer vehicle service contracts. Today, we’re going to compare them by taking a look at the different levels of coverage made available by each company. We’ll examine some background information about each company and take a look at customer reviews. Ultimately we’ll determine which one (if either) we recommend as a good value for you.

Remember, as a CarEdge member, you can schedule a FREE 15-minute consultation call with us to discuss VSCs. We’ll be happy to walk you through your VSC options. Create a free CarEdge account to schedule your call today.

Let’s get started.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: Company Background

It’s always worth taking a deeper look into any company that you might do business with. Understanding the way that they operate is important since you want to work with companies that have integrity. For this reason, we’re going to briefly go over the company background for both Endurance Warranty and CarShield.

Endurance Warranty

Endurance Warranty is not a BBB-accredited business. It has a C+ rating with them. The company has been in business for 15 years and they operate out of Illinois. They have a less-than-ideal BBB rating due to some questionable advertising practices that they’ve engaged in. Particularly, they’ve sent out misleading mailers that aimed to confuse and manipulate consumers. For this reason, the BBB has downgraded the rating for Endurance.

Two other things to note: Endurance marketing commonly talks about their plans as being “extended warranties,” similar to the ones given by manufacturers. This is not actually the case, as you’ll find on the footer of their website. It is actually a vehicle service contract.

But Endurance does underwrite most of their plans. This means that they do have the ability to better help customers directly.

CarShield

CarShield is not a BBB-accredited business and it has an F rating with the service. They have been in business for 16 years and operate out of Missouri. Their poor BBB rating comes from complaints received and deceptive advertising tactics. The BBB believes that CarShield has intentionally manipulated consumers through its advertising tactics.

Like Endurance, CarShield’s marketing often refers to their plans as extended warranties. However, as you may notice on the footer of their website, what they offer are actually VSCs.

Because they are primarily a marketing company, this means that they cannot directly intervene on behalf of their customers.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: Coverage

It’s worth noting that CarShield is a third-party reseller of other vehicle service contracts. This means that you’ll be interacting with CarShield at every step of the process, including when you go to file a claim, but that the VSC will officially be backed by another company. 

With Endurance Warranty, all plans are directly provided by Endurance. It’s important to understand this distinction. Carshield is simply a reseller of another insurance company’s products, and Endurance is both the seller and the provider of the product.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: What Is the Same?

Before we dive into the differences between Endurance Warranty and CarShield, let’s discuss what is similar between the two.

The plans sold by both companies will only cover issues related to manufacturers’ defects. There is no coverage for anything wear-and-tear related, such as brake pads, on most of the plans offered by the companies. This is fairly standard in the “extended warranty” world.

There will be no coverage for misuse, abuse, or neglect, such as not having regular oil changes completed or missing routine maintenance. Some instances will call for proving that you had oil changes completed with maintenance records.

What do plans from Endurance Warranty and CarShield cost? Unfortunately, neither company makes their prices publicly available. As discussed when we’ve gone over vehicle service contracts in previous articles, pricing for any given contract will be determined based on VIN and mileage of the car being covered. That means that someone else’s CarShield cost might be much less than yours, based on which car they’re driving.

All plans offered by the companies will allow you to take your vehicle to any auto shop that is certified by the ASE, AAA, or RepairPal. This means that you will have your choice of mechanics. However, you should call ahead to make sure that a mechanic accepts your VSC so that you won’t get stuck with filing the claim, or worse yet, a bill. 

Both companies will work directly with the repair shop and pay them directly, meaning that you won’t have to wait for reimbursement.

Endurance Warranty offers six levels of car warranty coverage, while CarShield offers five plan categories. Both companies have plans that range from basic powertrain coverage to advanced bumper-to-bumper plans.

What Does Endurance Warranty Cover?

You can view an Endurance Warranty sample contract on their website. It’s always worth reviewing these sample contracts so that you can understand what is excluded, what’s covered, and any other pertinent details of the agreement.

Here is an overview of the coverage offered by Endurance Warranty:

• Supreme: This is their only exclusionary coverage program, which covers most electrical systems and many mechanical parts
• Superior: This is a named-component coverage plan that has hundreds of parts listed, in addition to everything shown in the Secure Plus plan below
• Secure Plus: Everything in the lower-tier Secure plan is covered, as well as steering, some brake components, and air conditioning
• Secure: This plan covers the engine, drive axle, and transmission
• Select Premiere: This plan covers high-mileage vehicles for most powertrain components
• Endurance Advantage: This selection provides basic coverage, along with maintenance coverage

These plans will only cover mechanical breakdowns that relate to a manufacturer’s defect. There is no coverage for issues that relate to abuse, misuse, or neglect.

What Does CarShield Cover?

You can view a few of CarShield’s sample contracts on their website. These contracts only discuss a handful of the programs available through CarShield, so you’ll need to contact them directly for additional sample contracts beyond the ones available online.

All of the plans that CarShield resells fit into the following categories:

• Diamond: As their only exclusionary program, this plan provides bumper-to-bumper coverage on anything that has not specifically been excluded.
• Platinum: This plan is advertised for high-mileage vehicles and covers most parts and many components
• Gold: Covers everything in the below plans,  but adds coverage for the air conditioning, power windows, starter, and alternator
• Silver: This is a standard powertrain warranty that provides coverage for all lubricated parts, plus the transmission, drive axle, and water pump
• Aluminum: This plan has specialized coverage for computer-related parts and nothing else

All of these plans provide coverage for mechanical breakdowns, but they do not cover breakdowns that are related to abuse, misuse, or neglect.

What Perks Do They Offer?

When it comes down to the battle of Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield, how do the perks stack up? Their perks are actually quite similar. 

Both companies offer:

• 24/7 roadside assistance with coverage for jump starts, flat tire services, and lockouts
• Towing coverage
• Trip interruption coverage
• Rental car reimbursement

CarShield’s towing coverage comes in the form of a $75 reimbursement, so you will be paying something out of pocket. With Endurance Warranty, towing is free within 25 miles.

When it comes to trip interruption coverage, Endurance Warranty provides up to $150 per day for 3 days, as opposed to CarShield’s offer of $50 per day for 3 days.

Rental car reimbursement offered by CarShield provides coverage of $40 per day for 4 days, while Endurance Warranty offers $30 per day for up to 5 days.

There are three other perks that are exclusive to Endurance Warranty:

• Tire repair and replacement
• Key fob replacement
• Identity theft protection

Each of the above benefits are available with the Endurance Elite Membership, which is included for one year at no extra cost with any Endurance Warranty auto warranty. However, if you sign up for it, you’ll be charged the next year (otherwise you’ll lose the above three benefits). Endurance Warranty does not make it clear how much the Elite Membership costs.

Endurance Warranty wins the battle of the benefits easily against CarShield’s modest benefit package. While this is worth noting, we don’t think that anyone should choose their VSC based on benefits. Coverage and cost are the things that matter much more.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: Customer Reviews

One of the best ways to determine how a company will treat you is to understand how it has treated its past customers. Both CarShield and Endurance Warranty have been in the industry for long enough to acquire quite a few reviews. 

We’ve scoured through these reviews to help paint a better picture of who these companies are and how you can expect them to treat you.

Endurance Warranty Customer Reviews

Endurance Warranty has a rating of 3.59 out of 5 stars on the BBB customer review site. This average is based on 1,081 reviews. With so many reviews, we’re assuming that the rating of 3.59 is an accurate representation of their business. Let’s examine some of the reviews.

Yakoya W., five-star review:

“[Everyone] who I spoke with during the entire process was extremely helpful, polite, kind, knowledgeable, and just amazing to me the entire phone call.”

Aubrey P., one-star review:

“Terrible warranty. Will mislead you and leave hanging with the repair bill. I contacted customer service the day before putting my car in the shop. Endurance customer service was very friendly and courteous, but don’t let that initial contact with the process fool you. They even told me my work was covered. The next day, the dealership called to tell me that my claim had been denied. They stated that I was covered for a replacement part, but not the gasket or seals to be replaced or just repaired. I told them that was never offered, nor explained when I was called with a solicitation to buy the Endurance warranty. Do your research. Look at CarShield or other vehicle warranty providers. This company will attempt to get out of paying your repair bill if it is large. They are in business to take advantage of you.”

Scott P., five-star review:

“Great customer service and policy protection; you won’t be disappointed and rates are acceptable.”

Most of the Endurance Warranty reviews follow this general pattern: A few good ones, then a bad one, then a few good ones, and so on. It seems like most of the bad reviews were from people who had their claims denied and had to pay for their repairs themselves.

CarShield Customer Reviews

CarShield has a rating of 1.44 out of 5 stars on the BBB customer review site. This average is based on 862 reviews. We can say that this rating is most likely an accurate representation of CarShield as a company. 

Let’s take a look at a few of the CarShield reviews.

LF, one-star review:

“We have had CarShield for over 2 years. When the transmission went out in our truck, we tried very unsuccessfully to get in touch with them. Constantly being told someone will call us back within an hour from claims…never happened. Tried for over a month and a half. Finally got tired of them and canceled them. I feel we were scammed by this company and I feel we should get all of our money back that we paid in. No one ever, ever get involved with CarShield!”

Roosevelt, five-star review:

“It went great. It’s amazing. If I had not had it, it would have cost me over $1,700 for my repair. I have it on my daughter’s vehicles, as well.”

Ed K., one-star review:

“Signed up two of my vehicles with this company and paid over $700 each in monthly payments, only to discover when I needed them and brought my Chrysler into the shop, I was told by the shop I have the worst insurance warranty ever available anywhere because they take forever, which they did. Four days later (with no rental), they denied my claim for needing a new power steering pump and hose that was leaking. And I had the best Platinum policy available. Wow…we learn the hard way. And according to other dealership mechanic shops, they prefer not to service your vehicle under CarShield Warranty.”

This small selection of CarShield reviews captures the tone of most of the reviews that we looked at for CarShield. People were upset that their breakdowns weren’t covered or they were happy that their breakdown was covered. There are a few CarShield reviews about deceptive advertisements, as well. Based on their 1.44 rating, we’re guessing that most people don’t end up with covered repairs.

Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield: Which Extended Warranty Do We Recommend?

It’s not a difficult decision between these two companies. In a head to head comparison, we would recommend Endurance Warranty vs. CarShield.

With the customer and BBB ratings, Endurance Warranty shows that they put more effort into assisting their customers. While there are still complaints about Endurance Warranty, they outstrip CarShield by a long shot.

If you’re thinking about purchasing an extended warranty, we recommend you get a quote from CarEdge, as well. We even offer free consultation calls to help you determine whether a VSC is right for you. We will always be transparent in our pricing. Our current price model is to charge a flat $500 markup on all our VSCs. Should we be required to change our pricing it will be reflected here and the reasoning behind the change. 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.