Strengths
- Free 24/7 Roadside Assistance
- Standard $100 deductible
- Spread out your payments over 42 months
Weaknesses
- Pricing information isn’t available and it might take some time to get a quote
- Plans are not available in all states
Breakdown
EXTENDED WARRANTY
Yes - $100.00 - $300.00
MBI
Yes
DEDUCTIBLES
$100
DOWN PAYMENT
$99.00 - $199.00
YEARS IN BUSINESS
13
BBB RATING
NR
Do you have a vehicle with a manufacturer’s warranty that’s about to expire or has already expired? You may already be biting your nails at the prospect of future breakdowns causing you unexpected out-of-pocket expenses. In this review, we’ll introduce you to the vehicle protection plan provider that might just be the answer to your prayers.
Protect My Car has been in the industry since 2005. They provide extended warranties and auto insurance policies with comprehensive coverage at affordable rates. With great Protect My Car reviews from clients, a money-back guarantee, and availability in most states, they are worth a closer look when you next consider getting an extended warranty for your car.
How does Protect My Car compare to others?
Protect My Car Vehicle Service Contract Features
| Feature/Benefit | Details |
| Down Payment | Protect My Car requires a down payment on all their plans. The cost varies from plan to plan but is usually in the range of $99 to $199. |
| Monthly Payment | Likewise, monthly payments vary from quote to quote with no standard pricing. |
| Cancellation Policy | With Protect My Car, you sign a contract for a fixed term, usually between 3 to 5 years. |
| Cancellation Fee | If you want to cancel your plan within the first 30 days and you haven’t filed a claim, you can cancel for free. If the first 30 days have passed or you have filed a claim, you can still cancel but will only receive a pro-rated refund depending on how much money has gone into your contract, the mileage added to the vehicle, and any payouts you’ve received. |
| Deductible | For extended warranties, Protect My Car charges a flat $100 deductible. However, for auto insurance, the deductible is 50% of the repair costs. |
| Repair Facilities | As long as it’s a licensed repair facility, you can take your car anywhere and still file a claim. |
| Mechanical Breakdown Insurance (MBI) | All of Protect My Car’s policies come with some form of mechanical breakdown insurance, although exactly what parts are covered depends on the package. |
| 24-hour Road Assistance | Yes, all Protect My Car extended warranties and auto insurance plans come with 24/7 roadside assistance. However, a maximum of $100 will be covered per callout and the rest will be payable by you. You get 2 callouts per year, with additional callouts costing a flat fee of $50. |
| Trip Interruption Coverage | Trip interruption reimbursement is available if your car breaks down more than 150 miles from your home. Protect My Car will reimburse you a maximum of $50 per day for up to 3 days. |
| Rental Car | Yes, rental car benefits kick in if your vehicle needs more than 4 hours of repair time. This covers a maximum of $30 a day for up to 7 days. |
| Discounts Available | Discounts are available via PMC Rewards, a rewards program with discounts for online and in-store shopping as well as dining. Discounts for students and military personnel are also available. |
| Extended Warranty/Cost | Protect My Car has three extended warranty packages with varying costs. However, it generally ranges from $100 to $300 per month over 3 to 5 years. Or, $3,600 to $6,000 in total. |
| Towing | Yes, all plans have towing services that are included for free with road assistance. |
Auto Repair Plans
Protect My Car provides both extended warranties and auto insurance packages for vehicle owners. Both provide similar levels of coverage but differ concerning which vehicles are eligible to receive that level of protection. Ambassador plans are meant for cars older than 13 years which no longer qualify for extended warranties.
| Driveline
(for cars under 10 years or 125,000 miles) |
Select
(for cars with more than 50,000 miles) |
Supreme
(for cars up to 5 years and 100,000) |
Ambassador (Elite, Pro or Platinum) | |
| Coverage | Engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, differential assembly, cooling system, air conditioning, electrical system, and timing chain | All in Driveline, plus front and rear suspension, and select brake system components. | All in Select, plus turbocharger with the option to add navigation. | All in Supreme (minus navigation) |
| Exclusions | A standard list of exclusions, such as damage from competitive driving, vandalism, extreme weather, etc. | A standard list of exclusions, such as damage from competitive driving, vandalism, extreme weather, etc. | A standard list of exclusions, such as damage from competitive driving, vandalism, extreme weather, etc. | A standard list of exclusions, such as damage from competitive driving, vandalism, extreme weather, etc. |
| Waiting Period | 30 days and 1,000 miles. | 30 days and 1,000 miles. | 30 days and 1,000 miles. | 30 days and 1,000 miles. |
| Maintenance Requirements (Normal Maintenance) | Protect My Car requires that you follow your manufacturer’s recommended service schedule and that you retain proof of any services. | Protect My Car requires that you follow your manufacturer’s recommended service schedule and that you retain proof of any services. | Protect My Car requires that you follow your manufacturer’s recommended service schedule and that you retain proof of any services. | Protect My Car requires that you follow your manufacturer’s recommended service schedule and that you retain proof of any services. |
| Liability Limitations | A flat aggregate payout limit of $10,000 or the cash value of your car at the time of purchase (whichever is lower). | A flat aggregate payout limit of $15,000 or the cash value of your car at the time of purchase (whichever is lower). | A flat aggregate payout limit of $20,000 or the cash value of your car at the time of purchase (whichever is lower). | A flat aggregate payout limit of $15,000. |
| Pricing | Usually under $100. | Usually between $90 and $140. | Between $150 and $210. | Dependant on the quote. |
How To File Your Claim Step By Step
Luckily, there’s not much to prepare if you need to file a repair claim with your auto insurance provider. However, as these things can happen unexpectedly, it’s a good idea to have the number of your warranty administrator as well as your policy close by whenever driving your vehicle.
Here’s the simple step-by-step process of filing a claim:
- If an accident or break occurs, take immediate measures to prevent further damage. This is usually as simple as immediately stopping your vehicle and contacting a towing service.
- Have your vehicle towed to a licensed repair facility in your local area.
- Except in the case of an emergency repair, call Protect My Car’s claims department as soon as possible to get authorization and start the process.
- Provide the repair facility with your ID card and policy book. The repair facility should then contact Protect My Car to get an authorization number before starting any work.
- You may be asked to give authorization to the repair facility to inspect your vehicle to determine the scope of work.
- Review your policy with the repair facility staff to ensure you know what is covered by Protect My Car and what you will need to pay for.
Protect My Car will either reimburse you or pay the repair facility or car dealership once the work is completed. You must file your claim and send all supporting documents within 30 days.
Pros & Cons
Relatively comprehensive coverage, even with entry-level plans
Ambassador plans are a solid backup for older vehicles
All extended warranties include road assistance
Pricing information isn’t available and it might take some time to get a quote
Plans are not available in all states
Protect My Car Warranty Reviews & Reviews
Unfortunately, Protect My Car isn’t BBB accredited and doesn’t have a rating yet. However, Protect My Car customer reviews are excellent and they have a flawless 5-star average (based on 654 reviews). Nearly all of the recent Protect My Car reviews on BBB are also positive. In the last year, 44 customer complaints have been addressed, and Protect My Car seems to be very proactive about finding customers with issues and helping them find solutions.
In fact, you’re not likely to find many worrying signs by looking at Protect My Car reviews. They also have a superb 4.2-star rating on Trustpilot from 702 customer reviews.
Protect My Car Alternatives
Whereas Protect My Car extended warranty reviews are great, you might feel that you need to browse more options to choose the best car warranty provider. Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield are all possible alternatives. While CARCHEX and CarShield are also third-party warranty providers, Endurance is a direct provider if that’s something you feel more comfortable with. If you compare Protect My Car warranty plans vs CARCHEX warranty reviews, you’ll see that CARCHEX has a larger catalog of policies at prices almost as low as that of Protect My Car and zero deductibles.
Wrap-Up
Overall, the biggest advantage this provider has to offer you is its comprehensive entry-level coverage. With their Driveline plan, you can get much broader coverage than your typical powertrain coverage provided by other companies for less than $100.
That being said, all their other packages are equally affordable, especially considering that you also get full roadside assistance with towing, trip interruption reimbursement, battery jumpstart, and parts delivery. Protect My Car is also one of the few providers to include two free oil changes a year, to help you be proactive about vehicle protection.
If you’ve got an older vehicle that you can’t find a car warranty for, one of their Ambassador plans can offer a superb backup at low cost and with the same exceptional coverage. All in all, this is a solid provider everyone should consider.
FAQ
Do auto warranties only cover new cars?
Although you can find insurance for new vehicles, auto insurance and warranties generally cover vehicles that have outlived their manufacturer’s warranties. They are a way for vehicle owners to manage risk after their vehicles have passed the point after which they aren’t covered by the manufacturer’s warranty (usually 50,000 miles).
How old is too old for a car warranty?
Most providers of used car warranties have an age and mileage limit for vehicles they are willing to cover. What makes Protect My Car different is that they also have three backup plans (their Ambassador plans) that cover vehicles that have passed the limits for extended warranties (over 13 years). The only drawback is that you will need to pay a higher deductible when servicing your vehicle.
Does my car insurance cover damage to my car?
That depends on what kind of damage you want repaired. Auto warranties usually don’t cover damage resulting from road accidents, reckless behavior, vandalism, extreme weather, etc. Contract policies usually explicitly mention what vehicle parts are covered or excluded from protection. Protect My Car’s policies are fairly comprehensive and they provide wider coverage for their entry-level plan than most providers that only provide powertrain coverage.
How can I reach customer service?
You can reach Protect My Car’s customer support via the phone or email. Unfortunately, there is no live chat, but Protect My Car reviews generally point out their superb, friendly customer service, so you shouldn’t have any trouble contacting them and getting assistance.