Auto Protection Club

It’s smart to consider an extended car warranty if unexpected, expensive car repairs could throw a wrench in your budget. A vehicle service contract helps to pay for costly repairs after your factory warranty has expired and can bring drivers peace of mind while on the road.

Our review will examine vehicle service contracts from the Missouri-based Auto Protection Club (APC) and see how it performs versus options from the best extended warranty companies. We recommend calling several providers to compare free quotes and coverage.

You’ll find relatively poor reviews of Auto Protection Club online, especially compared to the scores given to the industry’s most reputable choices. Below are some reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and our team for Auto Protection Club.

Auto Protection Club: BBB Scores

Auto Protection Club is not accredited by the BBB and has a F rating and just over 1.5 out of 5.0 stars from 16 reviews. The BBB has received a pattern of consumer complaints about ambiguous advertising, difficulty canceling contracts or getting refunds, and poor customer service. For these reasons, the BBB profile includes an alert and caution for consumers doing business with Auto Protection Club.

Is Auto Protection Club Legit?

Yes, Auto Protection Club is a somewhat legitimate warranty company. Founded in 2014, Auto Protection Club offers vehicle service contracts that can protect drivers from costly car repairs. Auto Protection Club mostly acts as the seller, and the contracts are primarily administered by a different company, Integrity Admin Group Inc.

Our research shows that Auto Protection Club is also known by an alternate name, Greenlight Auto Protection. The company is headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri. Both Missouri and Illinois are listed as service areas by the BBB.

Auto Protection Club offers four extended vehicle service contracts to suit different budgets and vehicle needs: Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum.

Bronze Plan

The Bronze plan from Auto Protection Club offers basic coverage suitable for older cars with higher mileage (up to 200,000 miles). It includes parts, labor, and sales tax coverage for listed parts in the following groups:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Transfer case
• Drive axle
• Differential assembly

Silver Plan

The Silver plan from Auto Protection Club is a good fit for high-mileage cars (up to 150,000 miles) and provides coverage for listed parts in the following component groups:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Transfer case
• Drive axle
• Air conditioning system
• Power doors and windows
• Electrical

Gold Plan

The Gold plan from Auto Protection Club is good for cars with mileage of 125,000 miles or less and provides coverage for most parts in the following car component groups:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Drive axle
• Transfer case
• Air conditioning system
• Power doors and windows
• Cooling system
• Electrical
• Fuel system

For Bronze, Silver, and Gold plans, seals and gaskets coverage is included for parts listed in the covered groups and only in conjunction with a covered repair.

Platinum Plan

Out of all the Auto Protection Club extended warranty plans, the Platinum plan offers the highest level of protection and is available only for newer cars with less than 70,000 miles on the odometer. Unlike the other plans, the Platinum plan offers exclusionary coverage and provides protection for all vehicle components except those specifically listed in the service contract.

Surcharges will apply for:

• Diesel vehicles
• Four-wheel/all-wheel-drive coverage
• 1-ton vehicles
• Turbocharger and supercharger
• Hybrids and electric vehicles
• Lift kit
• Rideshare coverage

Auto Protection Club: Optional Coverages

For an additional cost, you can choose to get the following maintenance program benefits with your Auto Protection Club vehicle service contract:

• Oil changes: Up to $40 for one oil change per year during the term of your contract
• Brake pads/shoes: Up to $100 for replacing brake pads or shoes during the term of your contract
• Wiper blades/exterior lights: Up to $20 for replacing wiper blades or exterior lights during the term of your contract
• Seals and gaskets: These are covered only if this optional coverage is selected

Auto Protection Club also offers the following benefits with its extended vehicle service contracts.

• 24-hour roadside assistance: Roadside assistance services such as lockouts, battery jump-starts, and fuel deliveries are covered up to $50 per event. They are provided through Quest and cover the vehicle for up to 10 events over the term of the contract. Prior approval will be required for coverage.
• Towing: Towing charges are covered up to $100 per event.
• Rental benefits: Auto Protection Club provides rental reimbursement of up to $35 per day for a maximum of five days during covered repairs. If your vehicle has to be left at a repair facility for an authorized repair, you’ll be eligible for one day of reimbursement. Delays in parts will qualify for three days of reimbursement, and delays in inspection will qualify for one day of reimbursement.

Auto Value Plus Plan^®

In addition to the Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum plans, Auto Protection Club also offers the Auto Value Plus Plan, which covers up to 40 percent of repair costs for four years and also reimburses insurance deductibles.

Auto Protection Club’s free online quotes process requires you to submit your contact information and vehicle details on the website. A coverage specialist from the company will then reach out to you with a quote. You can also get a quote by calling the Auto Protection Club customer service number at 800-264-2712.

Filing A Claim With Auto Protection Club

In the event of a breakdown, an Auto Protection Club service contract allows you to take your vehicle for repairs to any ASE-certified mechanic or repair facility of your choice. If you need roadside assistance, you can contact Quest for approval and assistance. You’ll have to give the repair shop a copy of your service contract so it can obtain authorization from the contract administrator before performing repairs.

Repairs without prior authorization will not be eligible for coverage or reimbursement. In some cases, if prior authorization cannot be obtained during normal business hours, the administrator may waive the requirement for repairs of less than $350. However, you should still inform the administrator on the first business day after the job.

Auto Protection Club may pay the repair shop directly for covered repairs or reimburse you later on after the submission of a paid invoice. The company’s online sample contract defines its limit of liability for all authorized repairs as either $15,000 or the actual cash value of the vehicle. If your repair costs meet or exceed this maximum limit, the company will deem the contract expired and won’t offer further coverage.

Auto Protection Club doesn’t offer any online cost samples. After reading through many customer reviews, we found that a five-year contract for a 2008 Chevrolet Impala cost the owner $2,995 in 2017. If you’re interested in buying a service contract from this company, we suggest getting a quote for your specific vehicle’s make, model, year, and mileage.

All Auto Protection Club contracts provide coverage only after a validation period of 30 days and 1,000 miles from the odometer reading and date of sale of the contract. The deductible will be specified on the registration page of your contract.

While you may cancel your contract at any time, Auto Protection Club cancellation requests after the first 30 days receive a prorated refund and will be subject to a fee of either $25 or $50. If you cancel your contract within the first 30 days, you’ll receive a full refund minus any approved claim amounts.

Despite the availability of online sample contracts, there is a noticeable lack of transparency and clarity online about Auto Protection Club. Also, its customer reviews are almost all negative and do not inspire trust and confidence.

One of the main reasons why consumers buy extended auto warranties is the peace of mind that they bring on the road. For that reason, we recommend going with an established, credible, and highly rated provider.

Auto Protection Club: Top Competitors

When shopping for extended warranties, the best thing to do is to call around and get quotes customized to your specific vehicle. That way, you can compare each company’s prices and get a feel for customer service standards.

Endurance: Best Coverage

Endurance is the Best Coverage extended warranty provider, based on our review. Endurance has positive customer reviews on Trustpilot and a gold-level certification from the Vehicle Protection Association.

With each plan, you have the option to add Endurance warranty services for hybrid components, commercial use, or lift-modified parts. You can also add coverage for high-tech components if desired.

Read more: Endurance warranty review

CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars

We named CARCHEX as the best extended warranty company for used cars. It has five warranty service plans to suit different vehicle needs and budgets. These options include an exclusionary coverage plan that is similar to a factory warranty, mid-level coverage plans, and a basic powertrain warranty plan.

Read more: CARCHEX review

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

• Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
• Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
• Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
• Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
• Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.