CarShield

As noted above, CarShield offers six coverage plans, from the very basic, i.e., for the vehicle’s most essential components, to comprehensive coverage for the whole vehicle. Below is a quick overview of the CarShield warranty service plans.

• Motorcycle and ATV – offers specialty coverage for all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and motorcycles.
• Aluminum – designed for luxury vehicles and those with complex electronic systems. It includes coverage for voice activation control, seat control, GPS, sensors, and more.
• Silver – covers all lubricated engine parts, including drive axle, water pump, and transmission. It’s widely considered CarShield’s primary powertrain coverage plan.
• Gold – offers enhanced powertrain coverage. Besides the engine, drive axle, and transmission, this plan covers the starter, alternator, power window motor, and more.
• Platinum – It’s the highest level of inclusionary coverage. The plan covers critical elements of the engine, cooling system, transmission, electrical system, air conditioning, steering, brake system, and more.
• Diamond – this plan is comparable to the vehicle manufacturer’s warranty. The plan is exclusionary, meaning it only lists the parts it doesn’t cover. The latter include aesthetic vehicle parts like belts, trim, hoses, etc.

Getting Started with CarShield

After buying any service plan, there’s a standard waiting period of 20 days and 500 miles. The delay protects the company from covering repairs that the vehicle owner already knew about. CarShield claim reps can note any mechanical issues your vehicle has when you sign up for a coverage plan.

The pricing of CarShield plans varies depending on what you want and the vehicle condition. Ideally, the cost ranges between $100 and 130$ per month. A minimum of one-month payment is needed to begin coverage. Popular plans come with unlimited mileage plus a $100 deductible.

If you need to cancel your extended vehicle service contract, you can contact the company’s customer service team, who will be ready to help. They will request a written communication and an authentic/notarized odometer statement from the contract admin. Customers who have not used their plains and cancel them within 30 days are eligible for a full refund. The coverage plan is also transferrable to secondary buyers if you decide to sell your covered vehicle.

What’s Not Covered under CarShield Service Contract

Now that you know the different coverage plans and how to make a claim, it’s worth knowing what is covered and what’s not to avoid frustrations the next time you call the CarShield claim rep. Ideally, CarShield doesn’t cover all repairs. Below are some of the exclusions common to all the CarShield contracts.

• Repairs done without notifying and getting authorization from the contract administrator.
• Damages caused by a lack of vehicle maintenance, acts of nature, vandalism, theft, or falling objects.
• Costs of modifying/upgrading the vehicle.
• Damages due to vehicle misuse, e.g., off-road driving, racing, etc.
• Pre-existing mechanical problems.
• Tampering with the vehicle’s odometer.

If your vehicle suffers a breakdown, the first step is to contact a roadside assistance provider outlined in your specific contract. The repair shop you choose should be ASE- certified, i.e., approved by the National Institute of Automotive Service Excellence. Such repair shops are more than 30,000 in the United States.

Before proceeding with repairs, the auto repair shop must call a CarShield claim rep for authorization. This won’t not only apply if a breakdown occurs in the emergency after-hours. Here, you’ll cover the bills and have CarShield pay you back.

After the CarShield claim rep authorizes the repair, you will only pay the deductible to the repair shop. If the shop needs more than four hours to complete the repair, CarShield can reimburse up to $40 per day for a rental car for a maximum of seven days.

Besides the roadside assistance and rental care reimbursement, you may also be eligible for trip interruption reimbursement. However, the amount you’ll get varies from contract to contract, depending on your contract administrator and home state.

From the details discussed above, it’s easy to tell that CarShield offers flexible coverage options with the best value for your money. Some benefits of choosing CarShield include the convenience of 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, direct payments made to repair facilities, choice of certified repair shops, and the option to transfer contacts to new car owners.

On the other side, these contracts don’t cover everything, plus trip interruption reimbursement isn’t included with all plans. To ensure you get the best value possible, you should compare options from different providers. Check their contract plans, including pricing, convenience, customer support, and reviews from trusted third-party sites like Google, Trust Pilot, and BBB.

At the time of this writing, CarShield scored an average of 4.0 from over 29,000 reviews on Trustpilot. And 3.7 stars from over 150 reviews on Apple App Store.