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Dec 2, 2025
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CarShield and Endurance are two of the largest and most well-known extended auto warranty providers in the market. Both companies consistently rank high in our list of best extended warranty companies. We at the MarketWatch Guides team have analyzed and compared CarShield vs. Endurance to help you determine which is the best choice for you.
Learn more about our methodology and editorial guidelines.
Comparing CarShield and Endurance
Both CarShield and Endurance are well-known extended car warranty providers with large customer bases. Expansive coverage, competitive rates and solid customer service help both companies maintain strong industry reputations.
| CarShield | Endurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Years in Business | Founded in 2005 | Founded in 2006 |
| Availability | All states except California | 50 states (mechanical breakdown insurance in California) |
| Number of Plans | 7 | 6 |
| Mileage Limit | 300,000 | Unlimited |
| Better Business Bureau Rating | A+ | A- |
| Our Award | N/A | Best Comprehensive Coverage |
Our Ratings of CarShield and Endurance
Our team rated Endurance 4.6 out of 5, which made it No. 1 on our list of best extended warranty companies. We were impressed with its large selection of coverage options and overall affordability. CarShield ranked eighth out of the 41 car warranty companies we reviewed, receiving a rating of 4.1 out of 5. Below, you can see a more detailed breakdown of how we scored both companies:
| Ratings Category | CarShield | Endurance |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Rating | 4.0 | 4.5 |
| Industry Standing | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Coverage | 4.0 | 4.7 |
| Cost | 4.0 | 4.4 |
| Transparency | 4.0 | 4.9 |
| Customer Service | 4.0 | 4.3 |
CarShield Overview
CarShield features five long-term automobile protection plans, plus one plan for electric vehicles and an option reserved for motorcycles and ATVs. The company stands out from the competition for offering protection that lasts up to 300,000 miles.
Customers should know that in 2024, CarShield paid a settlement of $10 million to the Federal Trade Commission in response to charges of deceptive advertising. Following the settlement announcement, CarShield issued a statement indicating that, while it doesn’t agree with all of the FTC’s charges, it is committed to improving customer communications and service.
On July 31, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced that CarShield must pay $10 million to settle charges that its advertisements and telemarketing for vehicle service contracts are deceptive and misleading, and that many consumers found that repairs were not covered. The company said in a statement that its marketing now offers consumers more details about the car repairs typically covered and notes that customers can visit its website, where they can look at full plans before buying. The MarketWatch Guides team has reviewed this information and re-evaluated all CarShield rankings.
Who Is CarShield Best For?
Because of its lengthy coverage terms, various extended warranty plan options, and month-to-month coverage, CarShield may be better than Endurance for:
- Owners of high-mileage vehicles
- Owners of recreational vehicles
- People who don’t want to be locked into a long-term contract
Pros
Coverage terms can last up to 300,000 miles
Flexible month-to-month plans
Provides coverage for motorcycles, ATVs and EVs
Cons
Month-to-month contracts are more expensive long term
Coverage is not available in California
Doesn’t offer maintenance options
Endurance Overview
Endurance won our award for Best Comprehensive Coverage thanks to its six different plans and the fact that it includes maintenance benefits. Endurance also stands out as a direct provider of warranty plans, meaning there’s no plan administrator between you and your Endurance warranty.
Who Is Endurance Best For?
Due to Endurance’s term lengths, free benefits and maintenance options, Endurance is better than CarShield for:
- People who expect to own their car past 300,000 miles
- Vehicle owners who want some routine maintenance such as oil changes and brake pad replacement included with their extended warranty
- Those who would like the added protection that the Endurance Elite Benefits provide, such as tire repair/replacement, key fob replacement and a collision discount of up to $500 to be paid toward your car insurance deductible
Pros
Handles all claims directly
All plans come with one year of Endurance Elite Benefits
Only company that offers unlimited mileage plans
Offers plans with maintenance options
Cons
Some companies offer more affordable coverage
CarShield vs. Endurance Cost
Our team reached out to both CarShield and Endurance for quotes on extended warranty coverage. Endurance plans cost an average of $104 per month, while CarShield coverage costs a monthly average of $151 across plan types and for a variety of vehicles, according to our research.
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Cost Comparison
Below, we compare the providers’ comprehensive protection plans for a 2022 Toyota Corolla with 65,000 miles. Our CarShield quote included a deductible of $250, while the Endurance quote didn’t include a deductible. Endurance also requires a down payment of the first month of coverage plus a $29 service fee.
Here are the warranty cost estimates we received from CarShield and Endurance:
| Plan Name | Term Length | Payment Term | Monthly Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarShield Diamond | Unlimited | Month-to-month | $140 | Varies |
| Endurance Supreme | 2.5 years/40,000 miles | 30 months | $102 | $3,087 |
Powertrain Plus Warranty Cost Comparison
For powertrain plus or mid-level coverage, we received quotes for a 2017 Toyota Corolla with 100,000 miles. As with the exclusionary plans, CarShield requires a down payment in the amount of the first monthly payment. Endurance includes a $29 down payment on top of the first month’s payment.
Here’s how quotes from CarShield and Endurance compare:
| Plan Name | Term Length | Payment Term | Monthly Payment | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CarShield Gold | Unlimited | Month-to-month | $140 | Varies |
| Endurance Superior | 2.5 years/40,000 miles | 30 months | $104 | $3,161 |
CarShield vs. Endurance Extended Auto Warranty Coverage
The extended warranty coverage CarShield and Endurance offer are similar in many ways. Both providers feature high mileage limits, expansive plan options and the freedom to use any repair facility certified by the National Association for Automotive Service Excellence. There are some differences to note as well. Here’s a breakdown of the vehicle protection the two companies provide:
| CarShield | Endurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage Levels | 7 | 6 |
| Mileage Limit | 300,000 | Unlimited |
| Waiting Period | 30 days and 1,000 miles | 30 days and 1,000 miles |
| Online Sample Contracts | ✓ | ✓ |
| Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rental Car Reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ |
| Trip Interruption Benefits | ✓ | ✓ |
| Maintenance Coverage | ✓ |
Both companies offer plans that range from basic powertrain protection to full bumper-to-bumper coverage. Both providers also offer specialty plans — Endurance Advantage focuses on scheduled maintenance and CarShield’s Aluminum plan is designed for luxury vehicles with high-tech appointments.
In our team’s 2025 survey of 1,000 extended car warranty buyers, coverage was the second-most important factor (behind cost) when choosing a provider. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at coverage options from CarShield and Endurance.
CarShield Coverage Plans
There are seven total coverage plans available from CarShield:
- Diamond: This exclusionary coverage is similar to a factory warranty and reserved for newer, lower-mileage vehicles.
- Platinum: This is the highest level of stated-component (or inclusionary) coverage CarShield offers. It includes the engine, transmission, steering system and electrical system.
- Gold Select (Sometimes labeled as Gold): This plan is designed for vehicles with more than 100,000 miles and adds the starter, alternator and air conditioning to basic powertrain protection.
- Silver: This is a basic powertrain plan, with lubricated engine parts, the drive axle, water pump and transmission protected.
- Aluminum: The previously mentioned specialty plan that covers high-tech components in luxury cars. LCD screens, GPS systems and instrument clusters are among the key features covered here.
- Electric Vehicle Coverage: Drivers can have peace of mind knowing their EV’s electric system, electric drive unit, battery pack and more are protected by this service contract. This type of specialized coverage isn’t common in the warranty industry.
- Motorcycle & ATV: This plan offers varying levels of protection for motorcycles and ATVs.
CarShield Benefits
Every CarShield warranty comes with the following additional benefits:
- Rental car or rideshare reimbursement if your vehicle needs covered breakdown repair costs that take at least four hours
- Trip interruption benefits of up to $125 per day for up to four days ($500 maximum) if you have a covered breakdown 100 or more miles from home
- 24-hour roadside assistance that includes towing expenses, emergency tire service, lockout service, battery jump-starting and fuel delivery
Endurance Coverage Plans
Endurance features six levels of coverage:
- Supreme: There’s only a short list of exclusions here, which makes the Supreme plan similar to a manufacturer’s warranty that comes with a new car.
- Superior: This is the highest level of stated-component coverage Endurance offers, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, air conditioning and electrical components.
- Secure Plus: This is Endurance’s mid-level stated-component warranty plan.
- Premier: The Premier plan is an expanded powertrain warranty designed for high-mileage vehicles with up to 150,000 miles on the odometer.
- Secure: The Secure plan is basically a powertrain warranty, with only the engine, drivetrain and transmission covered.
- Advantage: The EnduranceAdvantage plan is unique in the industry for combining comprehensive warranty coverage with routine maintenance benefits. Oil changes, brake pads, tire rotations and routine diagnostics are all covered under the Advantage plan. It also comes with three inner coverage tiers: Prime, Plus and Preferred.
Endurance in California
In the state of California, Endurance offers vehicle protection in the form of mechanical breakdown insurance. MBI helps cover the cost of repairs due to covered breakdowns similarly to an extended warranty.
As with Endurance extended warranties, the company’s MBI offerings allow customers to customize their vehicle protection. Most Endurance MBI plans also come with perks such as towing assistance, rental car reimbursement and trip interruption coverage.
Endurance Benefits
Endurance features some of the best benefits in the extended warranty industry. Along with standard perks like rental car reimbursement, roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage, car owners also get a free year of Endurance Elite Benefits. This program includes the following:
- Key fob replacement
- Tire repair/replacement reimbursement
- Collision discount
CarShield vs. Endurance Customer Experience
Our team had good experiences getting quotes from both CarShield and Endurance. The process was simple with both providers, although Endurance representatives went above and beyond to offer discounts and arrange a follow-up call without being too pushy. CarShield also offers an online chat option, and Endurance does not.
CarShield vs. Endurance Ratings
Both companies receive high marks from customers on Trustpilot. CarShield holds a rating of 4.2 out of 5 stars from over 52,000 reviews, while Endurance checks in with a solid 4-star rating out of 5 based on over 11,000 reviews. While Endurance has a lower score than CarShield, it also has a much lower number of reviews, meaning the company could catch up to CarShield as more customers report on its services.
Endurance has a healthy 3.8 out of 5 stars from over 4,800 customer reviews on the BBB. CarShield, by contrast, holds a 2.9-star rating out of 5 based on more than 3,300 reviews.
Did You Know? Auto manufacturers offer protection against mechanical breakdowns through extended car warranties. While similar coverage from third parties is available, this coverage is technically considered a vehicle service contract. Many consumers and third-party companies commonly use these terms interchangeably, so we’ve done the same in this article.
Endurance vs. CarShield: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about CarShield vs. Endurance:
Our team rates Endurance, Carchex, autopom!, Omega Auto Care, Toco Warranty, Everything Breaks and MPP higher than CarShield for their reputations, coverage, cost, transparency and customer service.
Yes, Endurance will pay for a new engine if you have a plan that covers the powertrain.
If you want financial protection from surprise repair bills, especially if you have an unreliable car, an extended car warranty might be worth it for you. If you have funds set aside to cover expensive, unexpected car repairs, you might not find a car warranty worth the cost.
Our Methodology: How We Rated CarShield and Endurance
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:
- Coverage (30% of total score): Companies that offer a variety of choices for warranty coverage, long contract terms and added benefits are more likely to meet consumer needs.
- Cost (30% of total score): Auto warranty companies with affordable rates and multiple deductibles scored highest in this category.
- Transparency (20% of total score): This score is based on contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Reputation (10% of total score): Our research team considers availability, ratings from industry experts and years in business when conferring this score.
- Customer experience (10% of total score): Based on customer satisfaction ratings and our extensive shopper analysis, we consider the responsiveness, friendliness and helpfulness of each warranty company’s customer service team.
Our credentials:
- 500+ hours researched
- 40+ companies reviewed
- 2,000+ consumers surveyed
How we obtained cost information:
- Our research team used a secret shopper strategy to get accurate quotes
- The research team will find out if there are any discounts or savings opportunities
- We keep track of the length of the call, sample contracts, and overall helpfulness of the representative
*Data accurate at time of publication.