Warranty Company Comparison 2026

Compare Extended Warranty Companies —
See How Priority Auto Protection Stacks Up

CARCHEX, Endurance, and CarShield all promise coverage — but customers report denied claims, broker runaround, and fine-print surprises. Here's the unfiltered comparison.

No Broker Middleman Claims Handled In-House Month-to-Month Plans Any Licensed Shop
Get a Free Quote → See Full Comparison ↓

Or call: 800-610-7391 — Mon–Fri 9am–6pm

15,000+ drivers covered since 2010
Any licensed repair shop nationwide
$0 broker fee — direct provider
No FTC complaints or settlements
Same-day claim decisions on most repairs
Side-by-Side

Head-to-Head: PAP vs. CARCHEX vs. Endurance vs. CarShield

The numbers competitors advertise aren't the whole story. Here's what matters when your transmission goes out.

⭐ Priority Auto Protection CARCHEX Endurance CarShield
Monthly Cost $99–$199/mo $110–$200/mo $70–$160/mo $99–$170/mo
Contract Type Month-to-month
Cancel anytime		 Monthly or term
18-mo or upfront		 Term or monthly
1–5 yr options		 Month-to-month
Deductible Options $100, $200, $500 $100 standard $0–$500 $0–$500
Claims Process Direct — PAP handles
No inspector delays
Same-day most claims		 Broker → 3rd-party admin
Runaround reported		 Direct, but inspector
required for high-value claims
2-week delays common		 Broker → American Auto Shield
Used parts reported
BBB Rating A+ A+ (accredited)
1.91/5 customer stars		 A– or C (varies)
3.8–4.1/5 stars		 A+ since Mar 2024
2.13/5 customer stars
Trustpilot — 2.2 / 5 ⭐
1,500+ reviews — "Poor"		 3.6–4.0 / 5 ⭐
14,000 reviews		 4.2 / 5 ⭐
51,000 reviews
FTC Issues None None recent None recent ⚠ FTC $10M settlement 2024
168,000+ customers refunded
Max Mileage Up to 200,000 mi 250,000 mi No mileage cap 300,000 mi
Waiting Period 30 days / 1,000 mi 30 days / 1,000 mi 30 days / 1,000 mi 25 days / 500 mi
Repair Shops Any licensed shop
nationwide		 30,000+ licensed shops ASE-certified shops Any ASE-certified
But many shops refuse
CarShield (labor caps)
Provider Type Direct provider Broker Direct provider Broker

Data sourced May 2026 from BBB, Trustpilot, FTC settlement records. Pricing ranges are market averages and vary by vehicle.

Customer Pain Points

Why Customers Switch Warranty Companies

🚫

Claim Denials — The Fine Print Gotcha

The most common complaint across CARCHEX, Endurance, and CarShield: repairs customers believed were covered get denied. The reason is almost always buried exclusions in the contract — pre-existing conditions, maintenance omissions, or parts classified differently than expected.

160+ BBB complaints against CARCHEX in 3 years cite claim denials as the primary issue.
🔄

The Broker Runaround — Who Actually Handles Your Claim?

CARCHEX and CarShield are brokers — not the actual warranty provider. When you call about a claim, you're transferred to a third-party administrator you've never heard of. These administrators have a financial incentive to deny claims. PAP handles claims directly.

CarShield's claims administrator is American Auto Shield, LLC — not CarShield itself. Most customers don't know this until they file.
📋

Inspection Delays — Weeks Without a Car

Endurance, a direct provider, sends inspectors for high-value claims. This sounds like due diligence. In practice it means 2-week delays while your car sits in the shop and you're paying for a rental. PAP trusts your licensed mechanic's diagnosis — claims are approved directly.

1,200+ BBB complaints against Endurance per year — many citing inspection delays and coverage ambiguity.
Competitor Deep Dives

What You Should Know Before Buying

Each competitor has a distinct set of issues. Expand each to see the details.

CARCHEX 1.91 BBB stars · Broker model · 160+ complaints in 3 years
2.2 Trustpilot Broker
▾

Key Complaints

  • Claim denials for parts customers believed were covered
  • Broker confusion: multiple administrators, customers don't know who handles their claim
  • Cancellation difficulties — hard to cancel within 30-day window
  • Aggressive telemarketing calls after quotes
  • Review pattern: mostly 5-star or 1-star — polarized, not credible

The Numbers

  • 1.91 / 5 BBB customer stars (160+ complaints, 3 years)
  • 2.2 / 5 Trustpilot — 1,500+ reviews, rated "Poor"
  • $110–$200/mo pricing range
  • 5 coverage tiers from Bronze to Titanium
  • Coverage via American Auto Shield, Royal Administration, Allegiance, Zurich
Get a PAP Quote Instead → Full PAP vs. CARCHEX comparison →
Endurance Direct provider · 1,200+ BBB complaints/year · Inspection delays
3.6 Trustpilot Inspection Delays
▾

Key Complaints

  • Sends inspectors for high-value claims — 2-week delays are common
  • Coverage ambiguity: customers feel misled about what's actually covered
  • Misleading direct-mail: "Your rates are going up — lock in now" sent to non-customers
  • Reddit mechanics/service advisors consistently warn customers away from Endurance
  • 1,200+ BBB complaints per year — many unresolved

The Numbers

  • 3.6–4.0 / 5 Trustpilot — best among the three competitors
  • A– or C BBB rating depending on location
  • $70–$160/mo — cheapest entry of the three
  • 6 coverage levels including routine maintenance tiers
  • No mileage cap (strongest coverage feature)
Get a PAP Quote Instead → Full PAP vs. Endurance comparison →
CarShield $10M FTC settlement 2024 · 2.13 BBB stars · Broker model
FTC Lawsuit 2024 2.13 BBB Stars
▾

The FTC Settlement

  • July 2024: $10 million settlement with the Federal Trade Commission
  • FTC found ads overstated coverage — "never pay for covered repairs" was false
  • 168,000+ customers received refunds averaging ~$60
  • Celebrity endorsers (Ice-T, Chris Berman, Vivica A. Fox) were paid — not real customers
  • BBB upgraded from F to A+ in March 2024 — customer rating remains 2.13/5

Claims Issues

  • Claims administered by American Auto Shield, LLC — not CarShield
  • Shops report CarShield authorizes cheap used/refurbished parts, not new
  • Labor rate caps cause many ASE-certified shops to refuse CarShield claims
  • Repair delays: processing can take weeks on contested claims
  • Reddit mechanics consistently warn customers: CarShield claims are frequently disputed
Get a PAP Quote Instead → Full PAP vs. CarShield comparison →

See What PAP Covers Your Vehicle

Get a free quote in 2 minutes. Month-to-month. No broker. No inspection delays.

By submitting, you agree to be contacted by Priority Auto Protection. No spam. Cancel anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common Questions About Warranty Companies

CARCHEX has a 2.2-star Trustpilot rating and 160+ BBB complaints in 3 years. Customers frequently report claim denials, broker confusion (CARCHEX is a middleman — not the actual warranty provider), and difficulty canceling. If you want a direct provider that handles its own claims, Priority Auto Protection is a better fit: no broker, no runaround, claims processed in-house.
CarShield settled a $10 million FTC lawsuit in 2024 for deceptive advertising — ads promised coverage that the fine print excluded. A strong alternative is Priority Auto Protection: month-to-month plans (same flexibility), no FTC history, transparent terms, and claims handled directly without a broker middleman like CarShield's administrator, American Auto Shield.
Endurance is a direct provider like Priority Auto Protection, but sends inspectors for high-value claims — causing 2-week delays while your car sits in the shop. Endurance also has 1,200+ BBB complaints per year. PAP processes claims directly without inspector delays, and customers speak to our team (not a national call center) when they file.
All three major competitors — CARCHEX, Endurance, and CarShield — have significant complaint volumes about denied claims. CARCHEX and CarShield use third-party administrators who profit by denying claims. Priority Auto Protection handles claims in-house with no systematic denial incentive. We also provide a direct phone line (800-610-7391) so you speak to us, not a contractor.
Yes. In July 2024, CarShield settled a $10 million lawsuit with the Federal Trade Commission for deceptive advertising. The FTC found CarShield's ads promised coverage that the fine print excluded — particularly around which repairs were covered, rental car eligibility, and shop choice. Over 168,000 customers received refunds averaging ~$60. CarShield's BBB customer rating remains 2.13/5 despite a recent A+ accreditation.
A warranty broker (like CARCHEX or CarShield) sells you a plan but hands claim processing to a separate administrator. When you file a claim, you're dealing with a company you never heard of — not the one you bought from. A direct provider handles its own claims. Priority Auto Protection is a direct provider: you call us, we authorize repairs, we pay the shop. No middleman.
More Resources

Explore Coverage by Make & State

See plan options specific to your vehicle make or state — with coverage details and local repair shop eligibility.

Toyota Warranty Plans → Honda Warranty Plans → Ford Warranty Plans → Texas Warranty Coverage → North Carolina → Virginia Coverage → Georgia Coverage → Tennessee Coverage → Arizona Coverage → Indiana Coverage → Warranty Claims Guide → Warranty Glossary →

Ready for a Warranty That Actually Pays?

Month-to-month plans from $99/mo. No broker. No inspection delays. Direct claims handling. Cancel anytime.

Get My Free Quote →

Or call: 800-610-7391