We compared both providers across coverage, pricing, claims experience, BBB history, and the fine print most comparison articles skip. Here's the full picture.
Check My Coverage Options →CarShield and Endurance are two of the most heavily marketed vehicle service contract providers in the US. Between TV commercials, radio ads, and online campaigns, they spend tens of millions annually to reach drivers. But marketing spend tells you nothing about which provider actually performs when your car breaks down.
After evaluating both providers on coverage depth, pricing, claims structure, BBB history, and contract fine print — here's our assessment:
Endurance self-administers its claims (no middleman), doesn't use betterment clauses, offers a maintenance-inclusive plan, and has a cleaner regulatory track record. CarShield is a better fit for older/higher-mileage vehicles and drivers who want month-to-month flexibility. Neither is perfect — and both are significantly more expensive than lesser-known providers who offer comparable coverage.
Answer a few quick questions to see what fits your vehicle and budget.
Founded in 2005 and headquartered in St. Peters, Missouri, CarShield is primarily a marketing and distribution company, not a direct administrator. When you buy a CarShield plan, the contract is underwritten and claims are processed by a third-party administrator — typically American Auto Shield. CarShield's role is sales. American Auto Shield's role is paying (or denying) your claims.
This structure matters more than most comparison articles acknowledge. CarShield has covered more than 2 million vehicles and paid over $1 billion in claims, which speaks to scale. But the entity you deal with at claim time is different from the entity that sold you the plan.
Founded in 2006 and based in Northbrook, Illinois, Endurance operates differently — they self-administer most of their contracts. This means Endurance handles sales, policy management, and claims under one roof. When you file a claim, you deal with Endurance directly, not a separate company.
This single-company model gives Endurance more accountability when claims get complicated. It's also why Endurance's pricing is sometimes slightly higher than CarShield's — they bear the full financial risk of paying claims rather than offloading it to a third-party administrator.
Both CarShield and Endurance spend heavily on advertising — and those costs get passed to you through higher premiums. Compare all providers in 30 seconds.
Check My Coverage Options →CarShield offers six coverage tiers administered by American Auto Shield:
| Plan Name | Coverage Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | Powertrain only (engine, transmission, drive axle) | Older vehicles, tight budget |
| Silver | Powertrain + more engine components | High-mileage budget coverage |
| Platinum | Extended — adds cooling, AC, electrical | Most common choice |
| Diamond | Exclusionary (covers everything except listed exclusions) | Most comprehensive option |
| Shield Select | Roadside, tire, key fob, windshield only | Vehicles that don't qualify for mechanical coverage |
| EV/Specialty | Electric vehicle & powersports plans | EVs, motorcycles, ATVs |
Key CarShield notes: no mileage cap on the Platinum plan, covers vehicles up to 25 years old, covers salvage titles and rideshare/delivery vehicles. Deductible options range from $0 to $200.
Endurance offers six coverage tiers, all self-administered:
| Plan Name | Coverage Level | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Secure | Powertrain + cooling, AC, brakes, steering | High-mileage vehicles (up to 150K miles) |
| Secure Plus | Adds suspension, fuel system | Mid-range budget |
| Superior | Extended — adds electronics, seals & gaskets | Most common Endurance plan |
| Supreme | Exclusionary (most comprehensive) | Newer vehicles wanting maximum coverage |
| Supreme for Highline | Exclusionary for luxury vehicles | Luxury vehicles under 80K miles, under 8 years old |
| Advantage | Mechanical breakdown + routine maintenance | Drivers wanting oil changes, brake pads covered too |
Key Endurance notes: covers vehicles up to 20 years old with no mileage restrictions on most plans. All plans include one free year of Endurance Elite Benefits (tire repair, key fob replacement, roadside assistance). Standard $100 deductible. Available in all states except Massachusetts.
| Factor | CarShield | Endurance |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage tiers | 6 plans | 6 plans |
| Exclusionary option | ✓ Diamond plan | ✓ Supreme plan |
| Maintenance coverage | ✗ Not available | ✓ Advantage plan |
| EV coverage | ✓ Dedicated EV plan | ✓ Hybrid/EV add-on |
| Luxury vehicle coverage | ✓ Available | ✓ Supreme Highline |
| Rideshare/delivery coverage | ✓ Available | ✓ Available |
| Salvage title vehicles | ✓ Covered | ✓ Covered |
| Max vehicle age | 25 years | 20 years |
| Mileage limit | 200,000+ (no cap on some plans) | 200,000+ (varies by plan) |
| Repair shop network | Any ASE-certified shop | Any ASE-certified shop |
| Roadside assistance | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Rental car coverage | Higher limits | ✓ Included |
| Trip interruption | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Transferable plans | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
Neither company publishes pricing on their website — this is standard in the VSC industry because price depends entirely on your vehicle's year, make, model, mileage, and location. Based on market data and consumer reports:
| Provider | Typical Monthly Range | Deductible Options | Contract Structure |
|---|---|---|---|
| CarShield | $99–$169/month | $0, $50, $100, $200 | Monthly payments (ongoing) |
| Endurance | $80–$185/month | $100 standard | Set term (paid off before expiry) |
Important pricing difference: CarShield uses an ongoing monthly payment model — you pay indefinitely as long as you want coverage. Endurance sets a total contract price spread across your term (typically 36-48 months). A long CarShield contract (5+ years) often ends up costing more than an equivalent Endurance contract because you keep paying monthly with no end date.
Endurance tends to offer cheaper quotes for most vehicles based on consumer reports and side-by-side comparisons. But this varies significantly by vehicle — the only accurate comparison is getting actual quotes for your specific car from both providers.
This is where the two providers diverge most significantly, and where most drivers get surprised.
When you file a claim with CarShield, you're actually filing with American Auto Shield — not CarShield. The process:
The separation between CarShield (who sold you the plan) and American Auto Shield (who processes claims) creates a gap that some customers find frustrating when disputes arise. You bought from CarShield — but when you have a problem, you're dealing with a company you may not have heard of.
Endurance handles the full process in-house:
The single point of contact simplifies disputes. If something goes wrong, you're dealing with one company throughout. Endurance also has an app for tracking claims.
CarShield: Has a betterment clause. Endurance: Does not.
A betterment clause means the provider won't pay for a replacement part if it upgrades the value of your car compared to the worn-out part being replaced. In practice, this means CarShield may pay only a portion of a repair if the new part is deemed an "upgrade" over what you had. Endurance will replace an older part with a new equivalent even if it slightly increases your car's value — no deduction.
Endurance only. CarShield does not offer any maintenance coverage. Endurance's Advantage plan includes oil changes, oil filter changes, brake pad replacements, and battery replacement. No other major VSC provider offers this at this price point — it's a genuine differentiator.
CarShield uses American Auto Shield. Endurance is self-administered. This affects who you call, who makes the coverage decision, and who you dispute with if a claim is denied. Self-administration generally means faster resolution and clearer accountability.
Both allow transfer. If you sell your car, the VSC can transfer to the new owner — a genuine selling point that adds resale value. Both CarShield and Endurance allow this, though transfer fees may apply.
| Factor | CarShield | Endurance |
|---|---|---|
| BBB Rating | A+ | A+ |
| BBB Customer Score | 2.9/5 (2,700+ complaints in 3 years) | Higher average customer score |
| BBB Warning Issued | Yes — BBB advises caution | No warning |
| FTC Action | $10M settlement (April 2025) for deceptive ads | No FTC action |
| Years in business | 20+ years (since 2005) | 19+ years (since 2006) |
The FTC settlement and BBB warning against CarShield are meaningful. The FTC found that CarShield's advertising misled consumers about what was actually covered — the gap between what the ads implied and what the contract actually covered was significant enough to warrant a $10 million penalty. This doesn't make CarShield illegitimate, but it underscores the importance of reading your contract before purchasing.
Get quotes from multiple VSC providers — including options you may not have considered — in under 2 minutes. No obligation, no pressure.
See If My Vehicle Qualifies →CarShield typically runs $99–$169/month. Endurance tends to be slightly cheaper overall on comparable plans at $80–$185/month, but pricing depends entirely on your vehicle. The only accurate comparison is getting actual quotes for your specific car from both providers. For short contracts, CarShield may be cheaper. For longer contracts (5+ years), Endurance often comes out ahead because their set-term pricing doesn't keep billing indefinitely.
CarShield doesn't pay claims directly — their administrator American Auto Shield does. Legitimate claims on covered components are paid. However, CarShield was ordered to pay $10 million to the FTC in April 2025 for deceptive advertising that misled consumers about coverage scope. Read your contract carefully before purchasing from any provider.
Yes. Both providers allow repairs at any ASE-certified facility or dealership nationwide. You are not restricted to a specific network with either provider. This is one of the most important things to verify with any VSC — never buy a plan that restricts you to a specific shop list.
CarShield is slightly more flexible — they cover vehicles up to 25 years old with no mileage cap on some plans. Endurance limits coverage to vehicles 20 years old or newer. For very old or very high-mileage vehicles, CarShield has the edge on eligibility. For vehicles 50,000–175,000 miles, both are comparable.
A betterment clause allows the provider to reduce claim payment if a replacement part is deemed an upgrade over your existing worn part. CarShield contracts include a betterment clause. Endurance does not use betterment clauses. In practice, this means CarShield may pay less than the full repair cost in situations where the new part is deemed an improvement. Endurance pays full replacement value.
Yes — but only on the Advantage plan. Endurance Advantage includes coverage for oil changes, oil filter changes, brake pad replacements, and one-time battery replacement, in addition to mechanical breakdown coverage. No CarShield plan includes maintenance. This is a genuine differentiator for drivers who want a single plan covering both breakdowns and routine maintenance.
No — CarShield is a legitimate company that has paid over $1 billion in claims. However, the FTC's $10 million settlement for deceptive advertising and the BBB's consumer warning are real flags worth taking seriously. Read your specific contract carefully, understand what is and isn't covered, and verify coverage in writing before purchasing.
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