- A CARS Protection Plus warranty might be appealing to some due to an industry-high mileage limit acceptance of 200,000 miles.
- Unlike many third-party extended warranty dealers, you have to go through an authorized retailer to receive a quote with CARS.
- CARS offer an extensive 11 plans, from close to a new car warranty to a basic powertrain option.
- You can use the repair shop of your choice for covered repairs.
CARS has been in the extended warranty business for almost 25 years. However, does that mean it’s worth your money? We took a deeper look into CARS warranty reviews, industry standing, coverage levels, transparency, and cost. Supported by over 1,475 hours of research on the best extended car warranties, we’ve awarded CARS with 3.7 out of 5.0 stars.
Our CARS Warranty Review And Methodology
CARS Protection Plus has been in business since 1998. Today, it serves all 50 states with an industry-high mileage limit acceptance of 200,000 miles. The biggest drawback this provider has is that consumers can’t get quotes on the CARS Protection Plus website – you’ll have to go through an authorized retailer.
How We Rated CARS Warranties
To give you the most up-to-date information, we update our review standards several times each year. Our warranty research evaluates providers in the following categories:
Industry Standing
CARS gets 4.5 out of 5.0 stars from our team for its industry standing. It holds and A+ rating and is accredited with the Better Business Bureau (BBB). In the extended warranty business for almost 25 years, the company confirms their membership with the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association (NIADA), as well as other dealer associations in various states.
Coverage
CARS offers more coverage options than most extended warranty providers, with a total of 11 to choose from. While the company does offer a range of options, from bumper-to-bumper coverage down to basic powertrain coverage, there isn’t much variety among coverages. Additionally, CARS states that it can request used, rebuilt, or aftermarket parts to be used for covered repairs. This has resulted in complaints concerning inadequate replacement parts. For these reasons, we’ve given CARS 3.9 out of 5.0 stars for coverage.
Cost
CARS received 3.5 out of 5.0 stars for its extended warranty costs. You’ll need to contact an authorized retailer for a free quote if you’re curious about pricing, as CARS doesn’t readily offer information about total, yearly, or monthly payment costs online. Keep in mind that various factors will affect the price of an extended warranty, such as whether you drive a new or used vehicle, and its make, model, and mileage.
Transparency
Our criteria for transparency lies with a provider’s willingness to provide sample contracts, detailed plan breakdowns, prices, and a money-back guarantee. While our team was able to find a sample contract from CARS as well as plan breakdowns, we couldn’t find any mention of a money-back guarantee or prices on its website. For this, we give CARS 3.8 out of 5.0 stars for transparency.
Customer Service
We’ve delivered a rating of 3.0 out of 5.0 stars to CARS for customer service. Reviews left on its BBB page are mostly negative, and cite issues like a lack of responsiveness from representatives or failure to cover repairs. Unlike other third-party extended warranty dealers, you can’t receive a quote online with CARS – you’ll have to go through an authorized retailer. However, you can choose any repair shop to honor your extended warranty, and CARS will pay the repair facility directly.
Is A Warranty From CARS Worth It?
CARS is unique because it lets you use the repair shop of your choice to honor your warranty. However, customers are unable to easily obtain a quote for its various extended warranty plans. In addition, we couldn’t find any information on a money-back guarantee. We suggest obtaining quotes from other reputable extended warranty companies to find the right plan and price for you.
CARS Warranty Quick Facts
- Founded: 1998
- Headquarters: Monroeville, PA
- Coverage options: 11 levels of coverage
- Coverage terms: Not specified
Are CARS Warranties Legit?
It’s clear that CARS Protection Plus is a reputable company. The organization maintains an A+ BBB rating, which isn’t something to be taken lightly.
Additionally, CARS Protection Plus claims to be a part of the National Independent Automobile Dealers Association, in addition to belonging to dealership associations in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Texas.
CARS Warranty Customer Reviews
When we look at reviews online, opinions of the CARS Protection Plus warranty are across the board. The provider has just over a 1-star rating out of 5 stars on the BBB site, while Google rates it with 3.3 stars based on more than 1,000 reviews. Here are a few examples of positive and negative customer reviews:
CARS Warranty Positive Reviews
“Had an AC evaporator go bad on my Subaru Impreza. Took into the shop [and the] repair was $1,350 [and] CARS picked up $949 of it. Thanks! I’ve had CARS warranties on several of my vehicles over the years, and they have always stepped up and paid a fair share of the repair as outlined in whatever warranty I’ve had with them. I highly recommend CARS if you have a used car you need coverage on.”
— Kevin R. via Google
“I am a new customer. I called and received all the information I needed in regards to my contract. The service representative was courteous and knowledgeable of each scenario. Very helpful prior to engaging with a potential car repair facility.”
— David S. via Google
CARS Warranty Complaints
“We bought this warranty plan for our Volkswagen Tiguan. We had to use the warranty for a water pump, rear main seal, and timing cover. The company said they would only cover the water pump. They wouldn’t even cover any of the other repairs. The repair work cost $1,500. The company only paid $300. Do not purchase this warranty! They are a horrible company!”
— Walter K. via Google
“Completely dissatisfied with this product. They do not return calls, and I’ve been trying to get my car released from the repair facility for three days and they will not respond.”
— Bryant H. via BBB
CARS Warranty Coverage
CARS Protection Plus has more vehicle warranty options than most providers, with a total of 11 protection plans for your vehicle. However, many of these are closely related and difficult to differentiate from one another. It doesn’t help that the CARS Protection Plus warranty website appears to be outdated, and the plans don’t seem to be listed in any particular order online.
CARS Warranty Plans
CARS Protection Plus offers the following vehicle service contracts to consumers, in order of highest to lowest coverage:
CARS Protection Plus Warranty Plan |
What It Covers |
|---|---|
Ultimate Value |
This plan is a complete bumper-to-bumper warranty covering most of the vehicle’s parts. Some wear and tear items – like wipers – are even covered, while others, like brake pads, are excluded. It includes a labor rate up to $100 per hour, has some rental benefits, and covers towing or roadside assistance up to $50 per incident. |
ONYX Plus |
Diesel trucks, jeeps, and vans receive specialized protection on this plan. Coverage is similar to the Ultimate Value, except labor is only covered up to $70 per hour. |
Value Plus |
Coverage is similar to the Ultimate Value, except labor rates are only covered up to $70 per hour and diagnostic charges are not included. |
Independence |
This vehicle protection plan is similar to the Value Plus, with a labor rate of $70 per hour. However, there are no roadside assistance benefits. Towing is still included up to $50. |
Value Limited |
This coverage is similar to Independence coverage, except the air conditioning is excluded. |
Power Train Limited |
This car warranty covers all essential powertrain components, and includes air conditioning coverage. Labor rates are included up to $60 per hour, and towing is allowed up to $50 per instance. This plan has a $200 deductible. |
Power Train |
This is a basic powertrain warranty, with towing included up to $50 per instance, rental benefits, and labor rates up to $60 per hour. |
In addition to the plans outlined above, there are four Flex Protect plan levels to provide protection from the total costs of mechanical breakdowns. Each includes diagnostic charges and rental car benefits.
CARS Protection Plus Warranty Plan |
What It Covers |
|---|---|
Flex Protect Level 4 |
This protection plan is exclusionary, and includes parts and systems such as the engine, transmission, steering components, brake components, electrical components, and more. 24-hour roadside assistance is included and labor rates up to $160 per hour can be included for an additional charge. Exclusions include glass, bumpers, body sheet metal and panels, and safety restraint systems. |
Flex Protect Level 3 |
This plan is similar to Flex Protect Level 4, but isn’t considered exclusionary. Some components, including electrical, lose coverage when compared to Level 4. |
Flex Protect Level 2 |
This level of coverage only includes the powertrain and a few other components, such as suspension and steering. Roadside assistance doesn’t come with this plan, but you’ll still receive towing. |
Flex Protect Level 1 |
This basic powertrain warranty covers the engine, transmission, and drive systems. It also includes rental benefits and towing. Labor is covered up to $75 per hour. |
CARS Warranty Benefits
With the CARS Protection Plus warranty, most plans come with perks such as towing, roadside assistance, and rental car coverage. This can be a huge benefit, especially if your car insurance company doesn’t cover these items. In addition, CARS warranties are transferable to a new vehicle owner for a $99 fee. The trouble is that all of these perks are limited to a certain amount, some of which are restrictive. These added benefits don’t offer as much peace of mind as perks from other extended warranty providers.
What Does A CARS Warranty Not Cover?
While each plan has its own terms and conditions, there are some parts that are regularly excluded with the CARS Protection Plus warranty, even on the most comprehensive plans. You’ll want to carefully read your entire contract before signing to determine what is and isn’t included with your coverage.
How Much Does A CARS Warranty Cost?
The only way to get an accurate price for a CARS warranty is to receive a free quote from an authorized retailer. However, it’s clear that the Flex Protect Levels are likely going to cost more than the other service contracts. These protection plans can cover a higher labor rate, up to $75 per hour, and allow customers to adjust that to $160 per hour as well.
We found through our extensive research process that the average cost of an extended warranty ranges anywhere from $1,600 to $4,500 for three to six years of coverage. Keep in mind that various factors will affect the price of your extended warranty, including the age, make, model, and mileage of your vehicle, in addition to the level of coverage you choose.
See the infographic below for the findings from our consumer extended auto warranty survey. It includes information about initial purchase prices for both third-party and dealership extended warranties.
CARS Extended Warranty Reviews: Conclusion
CARS warranty offerings are extensive, with 11 plans for you to choose from. In addition, you can use the repair shop of your choice when deciding where to get covered repairs. However, you can only obtain a quote with CARS from an authorized retailer, and many of the plans offered are similar to one another. We recommend comparing quotes from other reputable extended car warranty companies in your search to find what’s best for you.
Car Warranty Companies Like CARS
If you aren’t sold on the CARS Protection Plus warranty, there are plenty of other competitive providers to check out. We’ve researched the best extended car warranty companies in the nation, and found several companies that provide great coverage and service for reasonable prices. We recommend starting your warranty search with Endurance and CARCHEX.
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
Endurance offers direct-to-consumer extended warranties, which means that warranty services and claims are handled directly by Endurance. We gave it a 4.6-star rating and named it the provider with the best coverage.
With Endurance, you don’t have to worry about a middleman or underwriting provider, and Endurance is also known for its excellent customer service during the quote and claims process.
Additionally, Endurance warranty plans allow car owners to choose from any repair shop certified by Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) to complete their covered repairs.
CARCHEX: 4.4 Stars
CARCHEX maintains an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB, and it has received endorsements from industry leaders like CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com. Our review team gave the company a 4.4-star rating.
CARCHEX offers a total of five extended warranty plans, each of which can be customized. All plans include 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, gas delivery, trip interruption reimbursement, and lockout services.
Having trouble deciding between Endurance and CARCHEX? Read our Endurance vs. CARCHEX review.
CARS Warranty Reviews: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions related to CARS extended warranties: