CarShield vs. Endurance

What is the difference between CarShield and Endurance?

These are the highlights we found for each:

• CarShield, meanwhile, stands out for its specialty coverage options and its generous rental car and rideshare reimbursement limits. CarShield can also be a better fit for European luxury vehicles because it tends to have fewer eligibility restrictions and more flexible plan options for older or higher-mileage cars.

• Endurance stands out for its easy online quote tool, its positive customer service reviews and its superior benefits. We also got cheaper quotes from Endurance for five out of our six sample vehicles.

CarShield vs. Endurance: How to decide

The choice between CarShield and Endurance comes down to which plans fit your needs, the benefits you want the most and which company offers you the best price, among other factors. But we found that, in general:

• CarShield is best if you drive a European luxury vehicle.

• Endurance is best if you value customer service.

CarShield pros and cons

Endurance pros and cons

CarShield vs. Endurance cost

CarShield’s costs range from around $1,400 to $2,200 per year, or $120 to $180 per month. Endurance’s costs range from around $1,000 to $2,300 per year, or $84 to $190 a month.

As part of our extended warranty research, our team reached out to both CarShield and Endurance for quotes on six different vehicles. All of the quotes we requested were for top-level exclusionary plans (CarShield Diamond and Endurance Supreme) and came with $100 deductibles, with the exception of the Endurance warranty for a Porsche Macan.

It’s worth mentioning that gathering quotes from Endurance was easier for us because it lets you get estimates and purchase plans entirely online. While the CarShield representatives we spoke with were friendly and informative, having to call and spend 10 minutes on the phone for a quote wasn’t quite as convenient.

Endurance gave us cheaper quotes for all but one vehicle in our study. However, you should keep in mind that the cost of extended warranties can fluctuate, even for the same plan and vehicle, for a variety of reasons.

CarShield vs. Endurance extended warranty quotes

The table below shows the quotes we got from CarShield and Endurance in our study.

CarShield vs. Endurance coverage

There are some key differences between the coverage options from CarShield and Endurance.

CarShield extended warranty plans

Like Endurance, CarShield offers vehicle service contracts designed to provide extended warranty coverage. The company has seven coverage plans to choose from:

• Diamond: CarShield’s exclusionary warranty plan with bumper-to-bumper coverage similar to your new car factory warranty.

• Platinum: The highest level stated-component plan from CarShield covers more than 700 components across most major systems.

• Gold: A mid-level inclusionary warranty plan that covers more than 300 components across nine of your vehicle’s most important systems.

• Silver: Powertrain coverage for only the most essential systems in your vehicle.

• Aluminum: Add-on coverage for more than 300 components not included in the powertrain warranty, like your vehicle’s cooling system, electronics, infotainment and brakes.

• Motorcycle & ATV: Specialty coverage plans for motorcycles and ATVs.

• Electric Vehicle: Coverage plans for fully electric vehicles, including components like the electric drive unit and battery system.

CarShield describes its plans partly by the number of components covered. For example, its Platinum plan covers more than 700 parts, while Endurance typically describes coverage by major vehicle systems rather than listing individual components.

Endurance extended warranty plans

While commonly referred to as an extended car warranty, Endurance plans are actually vehicle service contracts, which help cover certain repair costs after the manufacturer’s warranty expires.

Endurance offers six coverage plans that vary in eligibility requirements: Secure, Secure Plus, Superior, Supreme, Advantage and Premier. Here’s a quick overview of each:

• Secure is similar to a powertrain-only plan, which protects the most important parts that make your car run, like the engine, transmission and drivetrain.

• Secure Plus offers expanded coverage that adds protection for systems such as steering and certain electrical components.

• Premier provides similar coverage to Secure Plus for high-mileage vehicles (more than 150,000 miles).

• Superior includes broader component coverage for parts such as the air conditioning, fuel system and suspension.

• Supreme offers exclusionary coverage, similar to the manufacturer’s warranty that comes with a new car.

• Advantage offers comprehensive-level coverage plus up to $3,500 in annual maintenance benefits for things like oil changes.

In addition to the six plans listed above, Endurance representatives may be able to offer additional coverage options or plan variations depending on your vehicle’s make, model, mileage and usage.

Endurance has a good selection of standard coverage plans and offers the option to cover your vehicle’s regular maintenance, too. However, CarShield offers specialty options, like its Aluminum plan and EV package, which may appeal to many car owners.

CarShield vs. Endurance policies

Both Endurance and CarShield offer a standard deductible of $100. CarShield also offers $50, $200 and $500 deductible options, depending on the make, model, age and mileage of your vehicle.

Endurance automatically assigns a $500 deductible to any Supreme plan covering an Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Land Rover, Jaguar, Porsche or Alfa Romeo. For these vehicles, the Supreme plan’s coverage ends once the car reaches eight years old or 80,000 miles, though other Endurance plans may still be available.

According to a CarShield representative we spoke with, the company does not have these restrictions and will cover most European luxury vehicles with a standard $100 deductible. The one exception was for Maserati vehicles, which the company doesn't cover.

Claims process

The process to file a claim with CarShield and Endurance looks fairly similar. Here are the steps you’ll take:

1. Take your car to a licensed repair facility and show them your contract.

2. Get the repair approved.

3. Pay your deductible.

4. The mechanic should bill your warranty company directly.

Contract terms and cancellation policies

CarShield stands out for its month-to-month contracts, which can be canceled at any time without long-term commitment. This flexibility can appeal to drivers who don’t want to lock into a multi-year agreement. Like Endurance, CarShield also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, provided no claims have been filed.

Endurance contracts are typically sold for a fixed term, though monthly payment plans are available. Coverage remains active as long as payments are made, and contracts are generally transferable if you sell your vehicle. Endurance also offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, giving you a window to cancel for a full refund if you haven’t filed a claim.

CarShield vs. Endurance benefits

Both CarShield and Endurance offer 24/7 roadside assistance, towing and rental car assistance with every plan. CarShield’s rental coverage is more generous, offering up to $100 per day with a $700 per-repair maximum, while Endurance’s transportation reimbursement is typically capped at $30 per day and $150 per repair.

However, Endurance packages 12 months of its Elite Benefits with each plan, which you can renew for a fee after that time is up. Endurance Elite benefits include:

• Up to $500 for key fob replacements

• Up to two tire repairs/replacements

• Up to $500 in collision repair assistance

• Up to $500 toward windshield repair

CarShield vs. Endurance availability

CarShield is not available in the state of California. Endurance is available everywhere in the country. However, in California, Endurance extended warranty plans are sold as mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) and do not come with the Endurance Elite benefits available elsewhere.

How customers feel about CarShield vs. Endurance

At the time of publishing, CarShield has 4.0 stars from over 10,000 reviews, while Endurance has a 4.5-star overall rating from over 19,000 reviews on ConsumerAffairs.

CarShield customer reviews

Feelings were very similar regarding CarShield. Overall, customers seemed happy with how their claims were handled.

“Everything was covered in my plan and saved me over $1,500. My water pump failed and was leaking really bad. And with these new cars almost nothing can be done by the owners anymore so CarShield took the hit instead of me. So now it not only got repaired but there’s even a warranty on the parts,” wrote Daniel in Texas.

“I really enjoyed speaking with the Lady that helped me with my claim. She was very easy to talk to helping with the information that I need and very patient with answering the questions about my Autos and what was covered,” wrote Elihue in Georgia.

Like with Endurance, many of the negative reviews stemmed from a misunderstanding of the fine print. This highlights the importance of double-checking what each plan does and does not cover. Carefully reviewing your contract in advance can help you avoid unexpected repair bills if a specific part isn't listed.

“Denied my claim, what’s the point of paying for a service that picks and chooses what they want to fix. … It’s not the actual turbo that’s causing the issue, but the bolt that connects it to the waste gate is causing the turbo to malfunction. I had to pay $700 to get it fixed myself,” wrote Johnny in Georgia.

“We're sorry to hear this. It is unfortunate when a needed repair isn't listed for coverage on your policy,” CarShield responded. “Even though we are sorry to see you go as a customer, we hope you keep us in mind for the future. If there is anything more we can do for you, please give us a call.”

Endurance customer reviews

The general sentiment surrounding Endurance is that the reps are friendly and knowledgeable and that claims move along quickly.

"They're good people and we get no hassle whenever I have a claim. I had a claim for the radio and Endurance took care of it. They're the real deal. I have already got four of my family members signed up with them,” said William, a reviewer from Georgia.

“The first claim I ever had with Endurance was awesome,” reported Yvonne in Kentucky. “Endurance has been great with me, and I've never been on the phone 15 minutes when I called there.”

Many of Endurance’s negative reviews relate to confusion about coverage terms, waiting periods or other contract details. Endurance often responds to critical reviews, typically offering to look into the situation or discuss possible resolutions with the reviewer.

“I was told I need 30 days before my warranty was activated. It’s been over 90!!!! Come time to use the warranty fine print page 3 on a digital contract say 30 days and 1000 miles. I drive my car 550 miles so I have been paying them and I am not covered????” wrote Ivorie in Pennsylvania.

Endurance’s response? “Hi Ivorie, we’re sorry to hear about your experience. We’d like to learn more about it and see what we can do to make things right.”

Which is better: CarShield or Endurance?

CarShield is the better option for drivers with European luxury vehicles, high-mileage cars or unique coverage needs. Its flexible, month-to-month plans, broader eligibility and stronger rental and rideshare benefits make it a smart pick if you prioritize flexibility or drive a specialty vehicle. It can also be a better fit if you want more customizable deductible options.

Endurance is the better choice for most drivers who want a straightforward experience, strong customer service and more built-in benefits. It’s especially a good fit if you prefer getting quotes online, want comprehensive coverage options and value perks like maintenance benefits and Elite extras. For the majority of everyday vehicles, Endurance also tends to come in at a lower price.

In short, choose Endurance for value, service and simplicity, and choose CarShield for flexibility, specialty coverage and high-mileage or luxury vehicles.