Speed Reads
- Autopom! has a slightly lower overall score than CARCHEX but excels in customer service with 4.6 out of 5.0 stars.
- CARCHEX holds our award for Best for Used Cars due to its five coverage levels and long term limits.
- Autopom! takes our award for Best Claims Process – a testament to its online chat option and easy quotes process.
The number of choices can be overwhelming when you’re looking for the best extended car warranty. After researching for 1,475 hours, we found autopom! and CARCHEX both have strengths and weaknesses when it comes to our five research categories.
In this review, we’ll go over all of that and more to help you decide whether autopom! or CARCHEX is a better fit for you. However, since prices are based on your driver profile and vehicle, it’s a good idea to compare free quotes from both providers to see what’s available to you.
Our Autopom! And CARCHEX Warranty Review And Methodology
Each year, we review several auto warranty providers to find the best in the industry. Providers are rated based on their scores in five main areas: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service.
| autopom! | CARCHEX | |
|---|---|---|
| Industry Standing | 4.8 | 5.0 |
| Coverage | 4.2 | 4.6 |
| Cost | 3.9 | 4.0 |
| Transparency | 4.5 | 5.0 |
| Customer Service | 4.6 | 4.0 |
| Motor1 Rating | 4.3 | 4.4 |
How We Rated Warranty Providers
To give you the most up-to-date 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.
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.
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.
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 score. Its website also has to be relatively clear and easy to navigate.
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, their score for customer service will increase as well.
Overview Of Autopom! And CARCHEX
Founded 13 years ago, autopom! is a relative newcomer in the extended warranty industry compared to CARCHEX, which has been around for 24 years. Both companies have strong reputations, holding A+ ratings and accreditations from the BBB.
As far as customer service goes, autopom! is known for helpful staff and a smooth claims process. It has a customer rating of 4.6 out of 5.0 stars on the BBB, while CARCHEX is rated 2.1 stars. Both providers offer products and services in all 50 states, which is nice because only a few extended warranty companies operate in California.
Autopom! Vs. CARCHEX: Coverage
Our research team conducted a survey in 2022 that saw 52 percent of respondents stating that coverage mattered the most when choosing a warranty company. Looking at coverage offerings from autopom! vs. CARCHEX, both companies offer a good number of options.
They allow drivers to choose any licensed repair facility for fixes, and they also pay repair shops directly for the work so you don’t have to wait around for a reimbursement check. However, CARCHEX offers five distinct plans, while autopom! offers three.
Autopom! Coverage
Here’s a look at the plan options offered by autopom!:
autopom! Plan |
What It Covers |
|---|---|
Exclusionary |
The highest plan from autopom! is a bumper-to-bumper warranty that covers almost any mechanical or electrical component, except for a list of exclusions. It’s similar to the factory warranty that comes with new vehicles. |
Mid-Level |
The Mid-Level plan from autopom! offers comprehensive coverage for most major systems of the car, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, braking, air conditioning, and electrical systems. |
Powertrain Plus |
Autopom!’s basic and most affordable plan covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, and air conditioning. |
Autopom! sells plans from a variety of administrators, including Royal Administration, Omega Auto Care, and Mercury Select Management Company. Plans may have a few variations depending on the administrator, which means drivers can customize coverage to some degree.
Autopom!’s plans can cover vehicles up to 150,000 miles. They also come with a variety of benefits. Depending on the contract, you can find benefits like:
- Roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement during a covered repair
- Trip interruption coverage
- Road hazard tire protection
CARCHEX Coverage
These are the plans you can get from CARCHEX:
| CARCHEX Plan | What It Covers |
|---|---|
| Titanium | This is a bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that covers any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions like brake pads, cosmetic items, and wear-and-tear items. |
| Platinum | The Platinum vehicle protection plan covers hundreds of parts on most systems of the car, including the cooling, suspension, air conditioning, and fuel delivery systems. This plan is the highest level of stated-component coverage, which means every covered part is listed on the contract. |
| Gold | This plan is a good choice for vehicles that have over 60,000 miles on the odometer. It covers the electrical system, steering, air conditioning, suspension, brakes, and more. |
| Silver | Silver coverage includes the engine, transmission, and drive axle, plus a few more systems like cooling and electrical. |
| Bronze | This plan covers the engine, transmission, and drive axle. It’s a basic powertrain warranty and is the most affordable option from CARCHEX. |
CARCHEX can cover vehicles for up to 250,000 miles, which is one of the highest limits in the industry. You can also find the following added benefits from CARCHEX:
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption benefits
What Autopom! And CARCHEX Won’t Cover
Third-party extended warranties can cover thousands of car repairs after a factory warranty expires, but they don’t cover everything. Importantly, an extended warranty replaces parts that fail unexpectedly, not ones that wear out naturally over time. Here are a few example exclusions for both autopom! and CARCHEX:
- Normal wear and tear on the vehicle
- Items that naturally wear out, like brake pads and filters
- Regular maintenance services
- Cosmetic items and glass
- Damage from lack of maintenance
- Damage from misuse or environmental factors like flooding
- Parts that are already covered under a manufacturer’s warranty
Looking at autopom! vs. CARCHEX, the companies’ exclusions are very similar. However, exclusions vary from contract to contract, so it’s important to read the fine print.
Autopom! Vs. CARCHEX: Cost
We reviewed 46 companies to find which providers offered the cheapest costs for extended warranties. Comparing costs from autopom! vs. CARCHEX, we found that both offered competitive pricing in the industry. But in the quotes our review team gathered, autopom! offered more affordable monthly prices.
From our 2022 warranty survey, 51 percent of respondents stated they purchased bumper-to-bumper coverage for their vehicle. When getting these quotes, we made sure to include bumper-to-bumper plans along with most other offered plans. Below, you’ll see that quotes can vary significantly based on the vehicle, so the best thing to do is get a free quote for your own car.
Autopom! Extended Warranty Cost
First, we’ll look at autopom!’s prices. For these quotes, we used a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles and a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado with 55,000 miles. All of these quotes included a $100 deductible. Keep in mind that different deductible amounts can affect the price.
| 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 |
CARCHEX Extended Warranty Cost
For CARCHEX, we used the same Honda vehicle described above, along with a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado with 50,000 miles. All of the quotes below are for plans with $100 deductibles.
| Vehicle | CARCHEX Warranty Plan | Term Length | Monthly Payment | Down Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda CR-V | Titanium | 6 years/ 125,000 miles | $182.28 for 18 months | First month’s payment | $3,281.04 |
| Chevrolet Silverado | Titanium | 6 years/ 125,000 miles | $218.00 for 18 months | First month’s payment | $3,924.00 |
| Honda CR-V | Gold | 6 years/ 100,000 miles | $222.11 for 18 months | First month’s payment | $3,997.98 |
| Honda CR-V | Silver | 5 years/ 100,000 miles | $204.11 for 18 months | First month’s payment | $3,673.98 |
While it appears that CARCHEX is more expensive, the company also offers longer coverage terms than autopom!. For example, autopom!’s Exclusionary plan for the Lexus ES 350 works out to be about $690 per year of coverage. The CARCHEX Titanium plan for that same vehicle costs $483 per year of coverage and lasts longer.
Autopom! Vs. CARCHEX: Customer Service
We analyzed 3,850 reviews to find providers that kept customers satisfied. Comparing autopom! vs. CARCHEX, both companies have high ratings from the BBB. However, autopom! has slightly better customer review scores on the BBB and Trustpilot.
| autopom! | CARCHEX | |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Accreditation | Yes | Yes |
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| BBB Customer Review Score* | 4.6 out of 5.0 | 2.1 out of 5.0 |
| BBB Complaints in Past Three Years | 1 | 173 |
| Trustpilot Rating | 4.8 out of 5.0 | 2.7 out of 5.0 |
*Rounded to the nearest tenth.
Autopom! Customer Satisfaction
Autopom! reviews on the BBB praise the company for good customer service when purchasing a plan. Reviewers say the sales representatives are knowledgeable and helpful without being pushy.
All negative reviews for autopom! are about the claims experience with different contract administrators. That makes sense, since autopom! doesn’t administer its own plans. In some cases, the CEO of autopom! has gotten involved to help resolve an issue with an administrator.
CARCHEX Customer Satisfaction
Positive CARCHEX reviews on the BBB tell a similar story. CARCHEX customer representatives answer questions and help people understand what’s included in their contracts. For the most part, people have a positive experience purchasing plans and filing claims.
In negative reviews, customers say the refund process can take a long time if you cancel your contract, and the claims service from administrative companies can be substandard.
Autopom! Vs. CARCHEX: Conclusion
At the end of the day, comparing autopom! vs. CARCHEX reveals that both are reputable extended car warranty companies with affordable coverage and good customer service. That said, CARCHEX offers longer warranty terms and more coverage options, so it can provide better peace of mind for drivers of used vehicles or cars over 100,000 miles.
Vehicle service contract prices are based on your unique vehicle, so it’s always a good idea to get multiple quotes and compare your options. You can get free, personalized quotes from autopom! and CARCHEX below.
Car Warranty Companies Like Autopom! And CARCHEX
Autopom! and CARCHEX are solid choices for extended warranty coverage, but they’re not your only options. We recommend getting quotes from at least three companies before deciding on a contract. If you’re looking for a third company to compare, our other top picks are Endurance or CarShield.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
After comparing multiple extended warranty companies, we found that Endurance offers the best coverage overall. Endurance is a direct provider, which means it administers its own plans. The company has been around for 15 years, and holds the award for Best Coverage. Today, Endurance offers six levels of coverage, including a plan that can cover regular maintenance as well as auto repairs.
Read more: Endurance Warranty review
CarShield: 4.5 Stars
CarShield is another provider with a solid reputation. The company is known for its affordable prices, and the CarShield quotes we received were among the cheapest overall. CarShield has been in business for 16 years, and it holds the award for Best Monthly Payments for its affordable monthly costs. The company offers six plans, which include an option for all-terrain vehicles and motorcycles.
Read more: CarShield warranty review
Autopom! Vs. CARCHEX: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about autopom! and CARCHEX extended warranties: