American Auto Shield vs AUL Corp

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Lakewood, Colorado, American Auto Shield is a vehicle service contract administrator that works with dealerships, lenders, marketers, and other partners. They currently present eight coverage options, ranging from focused Powertrain protection to broad Diamond exclusionary coverage, along with two dedicated options for electric vehicles. Their Powertrain coverage is advertised for eligible vehicles with up to 250,000 miles, while the broader Electric Vehicle contract can include optional high-voltage battery coverage. Depending on the contract, additional benefits and options may include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, rideshare protection, and coverage for certain luxury electronics. Contract holders can also use eligible licensed repair facilities, and sample contracts are available online for greater visibility into coverage terms and exclusions. Customer feedback remains mixed, with positive reviews mentioning successful claims and helpful representatives, while critical feedback frequently focuses on claim denials, authorization delays, and coverage disputes. American Auto Shield also has more than two decades of experience in vehicle service contract administration, alongside a regulatory history that includes their 2024 FTC settlement.

Founded in 1990, AUL built their reputation as a dealership-based vehicle service contract provider before being acquired by Protective Life Insurance Company in 2022. Today, AUL-branded contracts are administered through Protective Asset Protection and remain available exclusively through franchised and independent dealerships. This means consumers cannot buy plans directly online, and pricing depends on the selling dealer, vehicle, coverage tier, deductible, and any dealership markup. AUL’s biggest strength is the breadth of their coverage lineup. Their catalog includes powertrain, stated-component, wrap, exclusionary, lifetime, hybrid, and EV, and technology-focused plans. Some products also offer Any Year Any Mileage eligibility, while most plans begin on the day of purchase with no standard waiting period. Benefits may include roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, transferable contracts, online claims submission, and same-day claims payment on approved repairs. However, customer feedback is mixed, with concerns around claim denials, inspection delays, rental reimbursement limits, cancellation complexity, and pricing transparency. AUL may appeal to dealership buyers who want broad coverage options, but reviewing the contract carefully before signing is essential.