Protect My Car and CARCHEX: Comparison of Extended Warranty

We compare Protect My Car with CARCHEX to help you determine which provider best suits your needs.

CARCHEX earned a higher overall rating from our review team, but Protect My Car may be better for drivers looking for longer financing with lower monthly payments.

Two other top-rated providers to consider are Endurance and CarShield, which also ranked high on our list of the best extended car warranty companies.

Trying to decide between Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX? Protect My Car and CARCHEX are two of the most popular extended car warranty companies in the industry.

In this head-to-head analysis, we’ll review the two providers’ coverage options, warranty costs, customer reviews, and more. To compare Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX prices for your vehicle, you can get a free, personalized quote from each company using the buttons below.

Top Extended Warranty Companies

We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.

Best Maintenance Benefits

Best for Used Cars

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

Get Quote

Get Quote

(888) 430-0227

(866) 950-7122

Overview of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Coverage

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Cost

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Customer Reviews

Positive Reviews:

Negative Reviews:

Final Thoughts on Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

Other Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

Endurance: Best Overall

CarShield: Most Affordable

Overview of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

We evaluated Protect My Car and CARCHEX as part of our comprehensive review of major extended auto warranty providers. Here’s how the two vehicle protection companies compare:

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

Industry Standing

4.0

5.0

Coverage

4.5

5.0

Affordability

4.5

4.5

Customer Reviews

4.5

4.5

Overall Rating

4.5

5.0

Both of these companies have over 14 years of experience and sell policies across the U.S. CARCHEX is available in all 50 states, and Protect My Car is available in 44 states, excluding Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.

While both providers have received positive customer reviews, Protect My Car reviews have been more positive on average than CARCHEX reviews. However, from an industry-standing perspective, CARCHEX has a much better reputation, holding an A+ Better Business Bureau (BBB) rating and many significant endorsements.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Coverage

When deciding between Protect My Car and CARCHEX, one of the most important factors to consider is the quality of coverage offered by each provider.

Our review team scored both companies highly in terms of coverage, but there are a number of key differences that become apparent when looking at a side-by-side comparison of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX plans:

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

Coverage Rating

4.5

5.0

Coverage Levels

3

5

Highest Mileage Limit

125,000 miles

250,000 miles

Waiting Period for Coverage

30 days and 1,000 miles

30 days and 1,000 miles

Sample Contracts Available

Yes

Yes

CARCHEX offers more levels of coverage and higher mileage limits than Protect My Car. In addition to these advantages, CARCHEX has both a basic powertrain warranty plan and an exclusionary warranty plan, similar to a bumper-to-bumper warranty, neither of which is offered by Protect My Car.

Protect My Car is unique in that it has Ambassador Maintenance Plans to help cover car maintenance. The Ambassador plans include two free tire rotations and three free oil changes per year, plus 25- or 50-percent off all car repairs, depending on the plan option you choose. However, Protect My Car does not cover replacement wear-and-tear items like brake pads or windshield wipers.

While we like Protect My Car’s maintenance plans, our review team gave CARCHEX a higher rating for best coverage because its advantages are likely more important to most customers shopping for an extended warranty, especially for owners of high-mileage vehicles.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Cost

Protect My Car and CARCHEX both earn high ratings for affordability – but for different reasons. CARCHEX has low-cost extended warranty plans, while Protect My Car has more expensive plans that can be financed over a long period of time, resulting in smaller monthly payments.

The cost of an extended warranty from Protect My Car or CARCHEX depends on factors such as the plan you select, your deductible, and your vehicle’s model and mileage. Protect My Car offers payment plans between 36 months and 60 months, which is much longer than most other providers in the industry.

We reached out to both companies for a quote on a 2018 Toyota Camry with 28,000 miles. Here’s a side-by-side comparison of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX prices:

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

Plan

Supreme

Titanium

Term Length

4 years/100,000 miles

5 years/100,000 miles

Price

$99.26 for 42 months

$136.17 for 18 months

Down Payment

$102.00

First month’s payment

Total Price

$4,270.92

$2,451.06

Price Per Year of Coverage

$1,067.73

$490.21

Deductible

$100.00

$100.00

Although Protect My Car is much more expensive per year of coverage, overall, these providers received the same affordability rating from our review team: 4.5 out of 5.0 stars. Protect My Car is a better choice for drivers who would prefer to pay a lower monthly premium over a longer period of time, but drivers who can budget for higher monthly costs may prefer CARCHEX’s shorter financing terms and lower overall price.

Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX: Customer Reviews

Protect My Car and CARCHEX have received hundreds of online customer reviews via the BBB and Trustpilot. Protect My Car tends to be more highly rated by consumers, but CARCHEX earns the support of numerous experts from Kelley Blue Book to the BBB.

In the table below, you’ll find a Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX comparison of industry standings and customer experiences.

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

BBB Accreditation

No

Yes

BBB Rating

A+

A+

BBB Customer Rating

4.6 out of 5.0 stars with 638 reviews

2.2 out of 5.0 stars with 103 reviews

Number of BBB Complaints in the Last Three Years

138

112

Trustpilot Rating

4.4 out of 5.0 stars with 1,416 reviews

3.3 out of 5.0 stars with 1,392 reviews

*Data accurate at time of publication.

While CARCHEX holds a lower BBB customer score, its accreditation and A+ rating from the BBB itself bodes well for the company’s reliability. Protect My Car is neither accredited nor rated by the BBB, but its volume of customer reviews reflect high levels of satisfaction. Because each provider has its pros and cons when it comes to reputation, we rated both Protect My Car and CARCHEX at 4.5 out of 5.0 stars in this category.

To get a better understanding of Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX customer reviews, we’ll share sample positive and negative reviews for each provider below. Many customers of both companies report positive experiences with their service, but some customers mentioned miscommunication issues with claims and cancellation requests.

Positive Reviews:

Protect My Car

“[The sales associate] was very personable, professional, and very knowledgeable about his products.” – R. Taylor via BBB

CARCHEX

“I had heard horror stories of trying to utilize warranties when needed, but this was far beyond my greatest expectations ... I will definitely be considering a CARCHEX warranty with the next used car I get!” – Andrew R. via BBB

Negative Reviews:

Protect My Car

“When I called them, they made it sound like a five-star service, so I bought a plan. I needed my car repaired in a few days, but nobody told me I needed to wait 30 days and drive 1,000 miles before I could use the plan...” – David Monroy via Trustpilot

CARCHEX

“They promised me a PDF copy of the contract, and I had to call two additional times to get it. They said they would send a copy of the contract via the mail, but they never did. They said that I would have a $0 deductible, but I got a $100 deductible once I saw the contract...” – Renee via Trustpilot

Final Thoughts on Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX

Both Protect My Car and CARCHEX are high-quality providers worth considering for an extended warranty. Each ranked highly on our list of the most reputable extended car warranty companies in the nation and provides great coverage, pricing options, and service.

Between Protect My Car vs. CARCHEX, we rated CARCHEX slightly higher overall. But the best company for your car and peace of mind depends entirely on what you are looking for.

Protect My Car

CARCHEX

Coverage Levels

3

5

Sample Contracts Available

Yes

Yes

Deductible

Varies

Varies

Years in Business

16

22

Accepted Repair Sites

Any licensed auto repair shop

Any licensed auto repair shop

Transferable Plan

Yes

Yes

Cancellable Plan

Yes

Yes

30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

Yes

Yes

Endorsements

Jeb Bush

CARFAX, RepairPal, Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, SiriusXM, Pat Goss

Get Free Quote

Call

888-430-0227

or

fill out this simple form

Call

866-254-0205

or

fill out this quick form

Other Recommendations for Extended Car Warranties

When considering an extended warranty, it’s a good idea to compare costs and coverage from multiple companies. Along with Protect My Car and CARCHEX, we recommend getting quotes from Endurance and CarShield.

Endurance: Best Overall

Known for its strong benefits package, comprehensive coverage plans, and excellent customer service, Endurance is our No. 1 recommended provider. Endurance offers warranty coverage in every state except California, and unlike most other extended warranty companies, it doesn’t work through third-party plan administrators. Instead, it sells plans directly to consumers.

The Endurance Elite Membership, which comes free for one year for every new customer, provides unique benefits including a $250 retail voucher, two tire replacements or repairs per year, and concierge service, as well as standard benefits such as 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, and rental car reimbursement. You can read more about this provider in our full Endurance warranty review, or get a free quote below.

Best Overall

Get Quote

(866) 990-3410

Industry veteran that handles your plan directly, from quote to claim

CarShield: Most Affordable

Our review team also rated CarShield among the top five extended warranty companies in the industry.

CarShield is a great choice for automobile owners on a tight budget, as we found that it offers the lowest-priced extended warranty plans of any reputable provider. CarShield’s bumper-to-bumper coverage was $1,000 cheaper than some other providers, and it doesn’t require a down payment.

You can read more about this provider’s strengths and weaknesses in our comprehensive CarShield review. Or, to see what a CarShield warranty would cost for your vehicle, get a personalized quote below.

Most Affordable

Get Quote

(877) 265-5123

Well-known provider with wide coverage and favorable price