Speed Reads
- CarShield takes our award for Best Monthly Payments due to its month-to-month payment structure that makes it a flexible and affordable option for customers.
- Autopom! has one of the best customer service ratings in the industry, with positive reviews about claims agents, so we give it the award for Best Claims Process.
- While both companies are closely rated, CarShield takes a slight edge for its superior pricing and coverage options.
If you’re shopping around for an extended warranty, you’ve probably heard about CarShield and autopom!, two of the auto protection industry’s top providers. But you’ll likely want to compare autopom! vs. CarShield side by side to decide which provider is right for you.
Our Motor1 reviews team has spent 1,475 hours total researching warranty companies to find the best coverage – looking at the pros and cons of 46 different companies and analyzing the reasons some drivers choose one over the other. In this comparison, we’ll cover both autopom!’s and CarShield’s plans, costs, and customer service reviews in detail so you can choose the best extended auto warranty for your needs and budget.
Our Autopom! And CarShield Warranty Review And Methodology
We review several auto warranty providers to find the best the industry has to offer each year. Providers are rated based on their scores in five main categories: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service.
| autopom! | CarShield | |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 4.8 | 3.9 |
| Coverage | 4.2 | 4.8 |
| Cost | 3.9 | 4.6 |
| Transparency | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Customer Service | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| Motor1 Rating | 4.3 | 4.5 |
*All ratings are out of 5.0 stars each.
How We Rated Autopom! And CarShield Warranties
To give you the most current information, we update our review standards several times each year. Below are more details for what we look for in each rating category:
Industry Standing
Providers are given a high score in this category based on any awards, ratings, or recognitions by trusted warranty evaluators, like Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, or the Better Business Bureau (BBB). We also consider customer reviews on sites like the BBB and Trustpilot, and how much experience a warranty provider has.
Autopom! responds more to its customer complaints, so it has a higher BBB score. This is why it has a higher industry rating from us. However, CarShield has been featured on ABC, CNN, AMC, ESPN, and more.
Coverage
Providers that offer several different coverage options are rewarded with a higher score in this category. If a company offers plans with long term limits and several benefits, its Coverage score increases. While both autopom! and CarShield provide comprehensive coverage plans for drivers, CarShield offers more options than autopom!, so it has a higher score in this category.
Cost
Providers that offer affordable coverage plans as well as deductible options can expect to see a higher score in the Cost category. If these same providers offer discounts, their score will increase.
CarShield’s overall prices for its warranties are slightly cheaper than autopom!’s, so it gets a higher rating. CarShield’s month-to-month payment structure also allows for more flexibility and affordability for its customers.
Transparency
When it comes to this category, if a company offers a money-back guarantee and allows customers to view sample contracts on coverage-plan pages, it will receive a high rating. Its website also has to be relatively clear and easy to navigate.
CarShield provides sample contracts and a 30-day money-back guarantee that involves a full refund. Autopom! Provides a prorated refund under the contingency that you haven’t used any of the coverage in the first 30 days of having it. With stricter guidelines and give-back on its refund process, autopom! has a lower transparency score than CarShield.
Customer Service
Strong customer reviews online bring providers high scores in this category. If a provider has a mobile app and offers an online chat option for customers, its score for customer service will increase as well. We usually browse websites like Trustpilot and the BBB to see common complaint patterns and things that customers like for each provider.
Overview Of Autopom! And CarShield
Looking at autopom! vs. CarShield, both are reputable extended car warranty companies with years of experience and loyal customer bases.
Autopom! has been in business for 13 years. It offers extended warranty plans in every state except California, where it offers a similar program known as mechanical breakdown insurance. Autopom! has an A+ rating from the BBB with accreditation, and it has high customer ratings on both the BBB (4.6 stars) and Trustpilot (4.8 stars), which praise the company’s smooth claims process.
CarShield has been in business for 18 years. Drivers in every state except California can get warranty plans from the provider. CarShield has a 4.0-star rating on Trustpilot based on over 36,000 customer reviews. The company does have an D rating from the BBB, however, which is related to previous marketing tactics and some customer service issues.
Autopom! Vs. CarShield: Coverage
As mentioned, we’ve reviewed 46 companies in the warranty industry to find the providers that stick out the most. This has also given us clarity in the coverage options that autopom! and CarShield offer. In fact, in a 2022 extended warranty survey conducted by our research team, 52 percent of respondents considered coverage to matter most when choosing a warranty provider.
So how do autopom! and CarShield stack up in terms of coverage? Both providers offer a good range of plans that can satisfy many drivers. The companies allow drivers to go to any licensed repair facility for coverage, and they both pay the repair shop directly after work is completed. CarShield offers six plans in total, while autopom! Offers three.
CarShield also stands out because it has an option for ATVs and motorcycles. Additionally, CarShield can cover vehicles for up to 300,000 odometer miles, while autopom! only covers up to 150,000.
Autopom! Coverage
Autopom! offers three levels of coverage:
| autopom! Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Exclusionary | Autopom!’s highest level of coverage is similar to a factory warranty. It covers almost any mechanical or electrical component, except for a list of exclusions. |
| Mid-Level | This plan covers most major systems of the car. It includes the engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, braking, air conditioning, and electrical systems. |
| Powertrain Plus | This plan is the best option for high-mileage vehicles, and it’s the most affordable. It covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, and air conditioning. |
Autopom! works with a number of contract administrators, so each of the plans outlined above can have different variations and additional options. This lets drivers customize their warranty coverage, but it also means you should take extra precautions to fully understand exactly what is and is not covered in your contract.
Drivers can get a few added perks with autopom!. Depending on the plan, autopom! gives customers:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption coverage
- Road hazard tire repair
CarShield Coverage
CarShield offers six main vehicle service contracts:
| CarShield Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Diamond | The highest level of coverage, this plan is similar to a factory bumper-to-bumper warranty and covers most parts, except for a list of exclusions. |
| Platinum | Platinum coverage is a good choice for vehicles that have already racked up a few miles. The plan covers most systems of the car, including the electrical system, engine, transmission, suspension, brakes, and more. |
| Gold | This plan covers most major systems, including the engine, transmission, drivetrain, electrical system, fuel system, and air conditioning. |
| Silver | This is CarShield’s powertrain warranty, its most affordable option. It covers major components like the engine, transmission, and drive axles. |
| Aluminum | This plan covers electrical and high-tech components, along with a few other systems like steering and fuel delivery. It works well when paired with an existing powertrain warranty. |
| Motorcycle & ATV | This plan is designed to cover specialty vehicles like motorcycles, ATVs, and other non-standard vehicles. |
To help drivers customize coverage, CarShield offers a couple of plan add-ons. For example, a luxury electronics package or an emissions parts package can be added to the Platinum plan.
The following benefits also come standard with CarShield:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Towing services
- Rental car coverage
- Trip interruption reimbursement
- Low commitment, month-to-month plans
- CarShield rewards and discounts
What Autopom! And CarShield Won’t Cover
An extended warranty covers mechanical breakdowns after your manufacturer’s warranty expires. These occur when a part fails or wears out beyond manufacturer tolerances. In other words, normal wear and tear isn’t covered. Many complaints about extended vehicle protection plans come from a misunderstanding of what is and is not covered.
Here are a few exclusions that are common to both autopom! and CarShield:
- Routine maintenance services like oil changes
- Any damage that results from a lack of maintenance
- Any damage that results from misuse or environmental events
- Cosmetic items like paint and upholstery
- Wear-and-tear items like brake pads and wiper blades
- Pre-existing conditions
Autopom! Vs. CarShield: Cost
For many people, staying under budget is the most important thing when shopping for an extended warranty. When looking at autopom! vs. CarShield, the latter generally offers lower prices overall. However, they can both be affordable options for different drivers, as extended warranty costs are determined based on a number of factors.
Our team conducted an extended warranty survey in 2022 that showed 42 percent of respondents reporting that they had 0 to 50,000 miles on their car when they bought their warranty. Although we collected a range of quotes, we tried to reflect the more popular choices customers tended to make.
Below, we’ll list a few sample quotes we received from both autopom! and CarShield, but you’ll need to reach out to both companies directly to see what kind of deals they offer for your vehicle and driver profile.
Autopom! Extended Warranty Cost
We received a number of quotes from autopom! for different vehicles. The prices shown below are for a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles and a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado with 55,000 miles. Each plan came with a $0 deductible.
| Vehicle | autopom! Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Exclusionary | 5 years/ 75,000 miles | $155.00 for 36 months | First month’s payment | $5,580.00 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Exclusionary | 5 years/ 50,000 miles | $160.00 for 36 months | First month’s payment | $5,760.00 |
| Honda CR-V | Mid-Level | 5 years/ 75,000 miles | $145.00 for 36 months | First month’s payment | $5,220.00 |
| Honda CR-V | Powertrain Plus | 4 years/ 48,000 miles | $130.00 for 36 months | First month’s payment | $4,680.00 |
CarShield Extended Warranty Cost
When researching CarShield prices, we used the same vehicles mentioned above. Each plan came with a $100 deductible, though drivers can also pick extended warranty plan options where they’ll pay $0.
| Vehicle | CarShield Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Diamond | Unlimited | $139.99 monthly | First month's payment | Varies |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Diamond | Unlimited | $199.99 monthly | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Honda CR-V | Platinum | Unlimited | $119.99 monthly | First month’s payment | Varies |
| Honda CR-V | Gold | Unlimited | $109.99 monthly | First month's payment | Varies |
Autopom! Vs. CarShield: Customer Service
While it’s nice to find cheap coverage, it’s also important to find a company with good customer service. Our team analyzed 3,850 customer reviews to find which companies offered the best customer experience. Comparing autopom! vs. CarShield, autopom! has better customer reviews overall.
Below is a summary of each company’s standing on the BBB and Trustpilot.
| autopom! | CarShield | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Accreditation | Yes | No |
| BBB Rating | A+ | D |
| BBB Customer Review Score* | 4.6 out of 5.0 | 1.3 out of 5.0 |
| BBB Complaints in Past Three Years | 0 | 3,443 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 out of 5.0 | 4.0 out of 5.0 |
*Rounded to the nearest tenth.
Autopom! Customer Service
On autopom!’s BBB page, positive reviews say the company’s customer service agents are knowledgeable and professional. Reviewers also say the prices are affordable. On the other hand, negative reviews point out issues with autopom!’s administrators. For example, one reviewer said that purchasing a plan was pleasant and easy, but filing a claim was a hassle. Autopom! is always available to help resolve issues with administrators.
CarShield Customer Service
At first glance, it looks like CarShield has a huge number of complaints. It’s important to know, however, that CarShield is also the most popular extended warranty provider we’ve reviewed.
The company has covered over 1 million vehicles since its inception, so those complaints account for less than 1 percent of CarShield’s customers. On top of that, our 2022 survey shows that 56 percent of our respondents that took an extended warranty from an independent provider bought from CarShield.
On CarShield’s BBB page, positive reviews mention great sales representatives and prompt service. Many reviews talk about a smooth claims process and say CarShield pays out what is expected for repairs.
On the other hand, negative reviews say some customer service representatives are hard to get in touch with when claims don’t go according to plan. Some drivers have said they expected certain car repairs to be covered when they were excluded instead. This issue isn’t unique to CarShield, and it shows how important it is to read your entire contract thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.
Autopom! Vs. CarShield: Conclusion
After comparing autopom! vs. CarShield, both providers offer reliable coverage and affordable prices. We named autopom! the provider with the Best Claims Process and CarShield as the provider with the Best Monthly Payments. CarShield can be a good choice for its higher mileage limit and lower prices, and autopom! can be a good option for customer service.
The only way to know for sure which provider is best for you is to compare prices from both companies.
Best Extended Car Warranty Companies Outside Of Autopom! And CarShield
No two extended warranty quotes are exactly the same – prices depend on your unique vehicle and its mileage. That’s why it’s a good idea to get multiple quotes whenever you shop for coverage. If you don’t find the price you’re looking for with autopom! or CarShield, you might find more peace of mind from our other top providers: Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
Endurance has been in business for 17 years. What sets it apart is that it’s a direct provider of warranties, which means you work with Endurance when you file a claim, not a third-party administrator.
Endurance also offers a very wide selection of coverage options. Drivers can choose from six plans, including one option that covers both routine maintenance and auto repairs. Endurance includes the best coverage options in the industry, hence why it holds our award for Best Coverage.
Read more: Endurance Warranty reviews
CARCHEX: 4.4 Stars
CARCHEX is another great provider to consider. With CARCHEX, drivers can pick from five levels of coverage. The company can cover vehicles up to 250,000 miles, which makes it a smart choice for older vehicles, too. This is why we’ve given CARCHEX our award for Best for Used Cars.
Read more: CARCHEX reviews
Autopom! Vs. CarShield: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about autopom! and CarShield extended warranties: