Auto Warranty
Top Companies in 2026
CARCHEX vs Preferred Warranties Inc
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- Five coverage levels
- Choice of licensed repair facilities
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Rental and trip interruption benefits
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Nationwide coverage
- Offers powersport coverage
- Online claim process
- No published plan pricing
- Claims handled by third-party administrators
- Contract terms vary by administrator
- Mixed customer feedback
- Can only be bought at the time of vehicle purchase
- No online quote
- Not all the plans include benefits
- Limited information
- Not a direct provider
Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, CARCHEX is a vehicle protection broker that connects customers with vehicle service contracts administered by third-party providers. Their current lineup includes five levels of coverage, ranging from basic Powertrain protection to the exclusionary Titanium plan, along with dedicated coverage for eligible electric vehicles. CARCHEX also offers access to licensed repair facilities and benefits such as towing, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage on eligible plans. The company has a long history in the extended warranty business and has received recognition, including multiple appearances on the Inc. 5000 list. Their Better Business Bureau profile currently carries an A+ rating, though CARCHEX is not BBB accredited. Customer feedback is mixed. Trustpilot currently lists a 3.2 out of 5 rating based on more than 1,500 customer reviews, while BBB customer ratings are considerably lower. This review looks deeper into CARCHEX’s plans, costs, contract terms, advantages, drawbacks, and customer experiences.
Preferred Waranties Inc. was started in 1992 in Pennsylvania as a car shop. Later, they grew into selling guarantees for cars. They've been in business for a long time and offer a full range of care contracts for used cars, bikes, and ATVs to people all over the United States. Their plans range from whole car to engine, and some come with extras like roadside help 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They sell their plans through a wide network of authorized sellers nationwide. Instead of third-party managers, ASE-certified claim adjusters are in charge of the fixes. Some customers commented on having had trouble with their claims being denied multiple times, confusing the process and delaying repairs and payments. Contacting customer service was tricky for some, and certain vehicle parts weren't covered. Some customers also didn't like the repair shops in PWI's network.
- BBB Rating : A+ (Unaccredited)
- Maximum Mileage : 250,000 miles
- Money-Back Guarantee : Yes
- Number of Plans Available : 5
- Waiting Period : Varies by contract
- Operating Status : Active
- BBB Rating : A+
- Maximum Mileage : Undisclosed
- Money-Back Guarantee : Undisclosed
- Number of Plans Available : 7
- Waiting Period : Undisclosed
- Operating Status : Active
- Multiple contract administrators
- Dedicated electric vehicle coverage
- Partnerships with CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book & RepairPal
- Coverage options for vehicles over 100,000 miles
- Coverage terms available for up to 10 years
- Covers a variety of vehicles
- You can use any repair shop of choice
- Coverage begins immediately
- High-mileage
- Exclusionary
- Powertrain
- $0 deductible option
- Commercial/rideshare
- EV/hybrid components
- No waiting period
- Option with free maintenance benefits
- Transferable
- High-mileage
- Exclusionary
- Powertrain
- $0 deductible option—Undisclosed
- Commercial/rideshare
- EV/hybrid components
- No waiting period—Undisclosed
- Option with free maintenance benefits—Undisclosed
- Transferable—Undisclosed
- 24/7 roadside assistance
- Any licensed repair shop
- Direct shop payment
- In-network repair network
- Mobile app for claims
- Online claims portal
- Trip interruption coverage
- 24/7 roadside assistance—Undisclosed
- Any licensed repair shop—Undisclosed
- Direct shop payment
- In-network repair network
- Mobile app for claims—Undisclosed
- Online claims portal—Undisclosed
- Trip interruption coverage—Undisclosed
- Phone
- 24/7 customer support
- FAQs / Educational resources
- Live Chat
- Mobile Application
- Online quote without phone
- Sample contracts online
- Phone
- 24/7 customer support—Undisclosed
- FAQs / Educational resources
- Live Chat—Undisclosed
- Mobile Application—Undisclosed
- Online quote without phone—Undisclosed
- Sample contracts online
- Contract (lump-sum) payments
- Pay-in-full discount
- Month-to-month payments
- Cancellation fee
- Multi-vehicle discount
- Price lock guarantee
- *Not all payment methods are available in all states
- *Some payment methods may incur additional fees
- Contract (lump-sum) payments—Undisclosed
- Pay-in-full discount
- Month-to-month payments
- Cancellation fee—Undisclosed
- Multi-vehicle discount—Undisclosed
- Price lock guarantee
- *Not all payment methods are available in all states
- *Some payment methods may incur additional fees
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