CarShield Cost and Pricing Guide (2023)

Alex is a MarketWatch Guides team writer that covers automotive and personal finance topics. She’s worked as a content writer for over a dozen car dealerships across the U.S. and as a contributor to several major auto news websites.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance, loans, insurance and warranty topics.

CarShield is a third-party extended warranty company that offers six different vehicle service contracts for drivers wanting to protect their vehicles. The auto warranty provider stands out for its pricing, receiving the award for Affordable Monthly Payments in our review of the best car warranty companies.

We at the MarketWatch Guides team will thoroughly discuss how much plans from CarShield cost before describing which factors affect CarShield’s pricing and how quotes work with the company.

Key Takeaways:

A reputable extended warranty provider with industry-low rates.

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about a warranty for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 500 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology.

Many CarShield reviews mention the company’s affordable prices. CarShield offers lower costs than many of its competitors according to our secret shopper research, with prices ranging from about $110 to $140 per month.

We requested a quote from CarShield for its Diamond plan, which offers coverage similar to a manufacturer’s warranty, for a 2020 Toyota Corolla with 30,000 miles. The company offered a rate of $109.99 per month for an unlimited term length and mileage. CarShield required no down payment and each car repair came with a $100 deductible.

CarShield has touted itself as one of the premier extended car warranty providers in the industry, with six different coverage options to choose from. Its vehicle protection plans are affordable, flexible and backed by reputable administrators like American Auto Shield.

We found that getting a free quote for an extended warranty plan from CarShield is quick and easy, based on our secret shopper analysis. We were immediately connected with a CarShield representative who thoroughly explained the vehicle service contract. Our representative also enrolled us in the Owner’s Rewards program, which took $10 off of our monthly CarShield cost.

Here are some instant quotes we received from CarShield:

CarShield doesn’t advertise discounts that customers might be eligible for. However, CarShield does offer a multicar discount, which requires buying coverage for more than one vehicle.

As mentioned above, CarShield lets you either pay month-to-month or purchase a long-term plan upfront. Each of these options requires a down payment equal to the first month’s payment. You also have the option of choosing from a $0, $50, $100 or $200 deductible.

When it comes time to make your monthly payment, you can pay over the phone or through the CarShield mobile app.

While CarShield costs are known to be reasonable, we recommend getting quotes from multiple providers to find cheap and reliable coverage. You can then compare the offer you get from CarShield with quotes from some of the other best extended car warranty companies.

If you’re looking for month-to-month flexibility, CarShield can be a great option. That doesn’t mean that it’s always the cheapest choice, however. Drivers who pay for their extended warranty plan upfront almost always get better deals over their full coverage term.

Our experts reached out to some of the industry’s best car warranty companies for quotes on bumper-to-bumper coverage. The table below shows how CarShield’s Diamond plan compares to other reputable providers in the extended warranty industry.

CarShield offers six different levels of coverage ranging from basic powertrain plans up to ones similar to a new car’s factory warranty. The list below gives greater details on what CarShield provides as part of each extended coverage plan.

To file a CarShield claim, you’ll need to head to a repair shop certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASEⓇ). Let the mechanic give CarShield a call and if the claim is approved, all you’ll have to pay is your deductible amount.

All six vehicle service contracts offered by CarShield come standard with:

Multiple factors influence the cost of an extended car warranty, including your coverage level, deductible and vehicle’s make and model. Below is a breakdown of factors that will impact how much you pay for an extended auto warranty:

It’s helpful to look at how much common car repairs cost when deciding whether to purchase a CarShield warranty. Here are common repair cost estimates for parts covered by CarShield

* Repair cost estimates come from RepairPal and are subject to change.

CarShield can be a solid option for drivers who want comprehensive coverage at affordable monthly rates. After spending over 500 hours researching the warranty industry, our team recognizes CarShield for having the most Affordable Monthly Payments overall. We believe that many drivers will find CarShield worth it for both their wallets and their peace of mind.

Below are some frequently asked questions about CarShield rates and pricing:

Our research found that CarShield costs between $110 and $140 per month on average. The price you pay for vehicle protection will depend on your warranty coverage plan, deductible and specific vehicle.

Yes, CarShield is a good deal compared with other extended warranty providers. Its plans are typically far cheaper than what other companies charge and the option for monthly payments offers added flexibility. CarShield customers can take their cars to any ASE-certified repair facility rather than only to approved dealerships.

CarShield contracts make note of exclusions and generally won’t pay for pre-existing issues, wear and tear parts or auto repairs left out of your contract. Some common parts excluded from CarShield coverage include brake pads, shocks and struts, air filters and wiper blades.

As with most other extended warranty companies, CarShield comes with a mandatory waiting period on covered repairs of 20 days and 500 miles. This helps the extended warranty company make sure that coverage won’t be used on pre-existing conditions.

Yes, there is a deductible with all of CarShield’s coverage plans. Drivers can choose from $0, $50, $100 and $250 deductible options. Note that the lower your deductible is, the higher your monthly CarShield cost will likely be.

CarShield is one of the industry’s top choices for a cheap car warranty, which is why we gave it the award for Affordable Monthly Payments in 2023. CarShield customer reviews also frequently mention the company’s reasonable rates as one of its major pros.

No, CarShield is not a rip-off or a scam. The company holds an impressive 4-star rating from nearly 40,000 reviews on Trustpilot, though it only receives a D rating for its services from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

CarShield doesn’t cover vehicles in California because the state bans unlicensed companies from selling mechanical breakdown insurance and extended warranties. Currently, CarShield doesn’t have a license to sell its coverage plans to California drivers.

Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Our credentials:

*Data accurate at time of publication.