Protect My Car Reviews

We evaluated Protect My Car in several key areas: industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service. Here’s a bit more context on these criteria and how Protect My Car measured up in each of them:

Industry Standing

We consider things like Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, state availability, and years in business when rating a warranty provider on industry standing. Protect My Car has been selling extended warranties since 2005 and is well-established in the extended warranty realm. However, it currently holds a C rating from the BBB. In addition, its plans aren’t available in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, or Washington. Our team gives Protect My Car 4.3 stars out of 5.0 in this category.

Coverage

Protect My Car offers three levels of coverage, which is fewer than most of its competitors. However, each of the company’s plans comes with 24-hour roadside assistance, free oil changes, free tire rotations, and a rewards plan that features daily giveaways and a variety of coupons. We give Protect My Car 4.7 out of 5.0 stars for coverage.

Cost

We don’t rate Protect My Car quite as highly in the cost category, as the provider’s plans tend to be more expensive than other leading companies. To inform our 4.2 out of 5.0-star cost rating, we gathered quotes for several Protect My Car plans on the following vehicles: a 2017 Honda CR-V with 45,000 miles, a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado with 50,000 miles, and a 2013 Toyota Camry with 80,000 miles.

Transparency

When evaluating a warranty provider’s transparency, we consider whether the company offers a money-back guarantee and if sample contracts are readily available. Protect My Car features a 30-day money-back guarantee but unfortunately doesn’t include contracts on its coverage levels page. Therefore, we give the provider 4.5 out of 5.0 stars.

Customer Service

Our team gives Protect My Car 4.4 stars out of 5.0 in this category due to its positive customer reviews online.  On Trustpilot, Protect My Car holds a 4.2 out of 5.0-star rating based on over 3,500 reviews. We also found that the company has a quick and easy quote process, whether you reach out by phone or choose to use its online quote tool.

Founded in 2005 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Protect My Car (PMC) is an industry-leading direct auto repair coverage provider with three mechanical breakdown coverage plans to help meet your needs and budget. These plans range from basic powertrain protection to comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage for vehicles with up to 200,000 miles.

No matter which Protect My Car plan you choose, each provides 24/7 roadside assistance, free oil changes, and their exclusive PMC Rewards Plan. You can visit their website for more information or call to speak with an advisor for a hassle-free quote.

Protect My Car Pros and Cons

Is Protect My Car Worth It?

If you’re considering purchasing an extended vehicle warranty, it is worth requesting a free quote from Protect My Car. While the overall price of Protect My Car warranties can be higher than the pricing of competitors, the provider offers long-term financing options and excellent coverage, all of which are reflected in customer reviews of the company. Many find that the slightly higher prices may be worth it, considering that Protect My Car plans include benefits rarely offered by other providers, such as oil changes and tire rotations.

Like most providers, Protect My Car doesn’t give exact price amounts for its plans unless you get a quote from the company. The only financial aspects disclosed in Protect My Car’s sample contracts found online are deductibles and payment plan options. Your monthly extended car warranty cost will depend on factors like your driving and maintenance history, the plan’s down payment, and your vehicle’s make, model, age, and mileage.

Based on our research, you can choose a deductible of $50, $100, or $200. Here are a few quotes we received from Protect My Car in early 2023:

It’s good to note that since we obtained the quotes above, Protect My Car has rebranded and renamed its extended warranty plans. What was once known as the Supreme plan, Select plan, and Driveline plans are now known as the Ultimate, Deluxe, and Essential plans, respectively.

According to data from our 2022 auto warranty survey, most drivers paid between $2,000 and $3,000 for their extended car warranty plan. While prices can vary widely based on a number of factors, Protect My Car contracts are more expensive than competitors’ plans on average.

Protect My Car auto warranties provide inclusionary coverage, meaning they cover repairs for components specified in the contract, which makes the contracts easy to understand. Every plan offered by Protect My Car has aspects found in a manufacturer’s powertrain warranty, which includes coverage for the engine, transmission, and drive axles.

Keep in mind that you can’t actually use your warranty coverage until after 30 days, you have driven 1,000 miles, and PMC has received your first monthly payment.

Protect My Car Coverage Plans

While there are basic similarities, each Protect My Car protection plan has slightly different eligibility requirements and coverage features. Because Protect My Car doesn’t offer the lowest or highest level of coverage on the market, all three of its plans are essentially midrange plans with some notable differences. 

The Ultimate package has more expansive coverage and best suits newer vehicles with lower mileage. On the other hand, the Deluxe and Essential plans cover slightly fewer parts and are more suitable for older vehicles with higher mileage. In addition, the higher-tier plans come with add-on coverage options.

Below are descriptions of the three coverage levels offered by Protect My Car:

Ultimate

Ultimate is the company’s most inclusive plan, and is available for lower mileage vehicles. The company advertises this plan as the closest thing to a manufacturer’s warranty, and it covers components ranging from your turbocharger to a high-tech electrical system.

Deluxe

Deluxe is PMC’s mid-level plan, covering vehicles with less than 100,000 miles on the odometer. It has lower monthly payments than Ultimate, and Protect My Car pays 100% of covered repairs after drivers pay the $100 deductible.

Essential

The Essential plan is the company’s most popular option, offering a solid foundation of coverage for higher mileage vehicles – up to 20 years old. The Essential plan has Protect My Car’s most affordable monthly premiums, and the company pays 100% of all covered repairs following payment of a $200 deductible.

Protect My Car Extra Perks

Benefits that come with Protect My Car extended warranties include:

• 24/7 roadside assistance: This includes coverage for costs of up to $100 for jump-starts, lockout services, spare tire installation, fluid delivery, towing, and phone concierge services. Drivers are limited to two roadside assistance calls per year, with additional calls costing $50 per service. Towing services are limited to one tow per 72-hour period, and covered vehicles can only be towed to a licensed repair facility.
• Rental car reimbursement: This pays for rental vehicles while your car is in the shop for covered repairs. You’re given $30 a day for up to seven days at a max of $210 per occurrence.
• Trip interruption coverage: In cases where your vehicle must remain at a repair facility overnight, or you are more than 150 miles from home, PMC will reimburse you for daily hotel and restaurant expenses at $50 dollars a day for up to three days.

Protect My Car Rewards

Protect My Car reviews are generally positive regarding the company’s rewards program, which provides savings and discounts on dining, shopping, travel, and more. Loyal customers can benefit from the exclusive PMC Rewards Plan, which provides many ways to save every day at both local and online businesses.

Protect My Car Coverage Exclusions

While a Protect My Car vehicle service contract doesn’t cover everything, most of its exclusions are common in the industry. In order to keep your coverage valid, you’ll have to service your vehicle regularly in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

This will require you to cover maintenance at your own expense while maintaining proof that such maintenance was completed for your vehicle. It is extremely important to keep a record of all repairs in order to prevent claims from being denied. Keep in mind that Protect My Car does not offer coverage in Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington state.

Excluded components and repairs include:

• Unauthorized repairs
• Worn parts that haven’t failed
• Parts upgrading the vehicle’s value
• Aftermarket parts and modifications
• Wear and tear damage
• Cosmetic items
• Exhaust pipes, wires, plugs, and bulbs
• Accidental damage
• Weather, overheating, and environmental damage
• Vehicle misuse
• Preexisting vehicle conditions

Protect My Car offers some of the best extended car warranty plans in the industry. As a direct provider, Protect My Car administers its own policies, meaning you won’t have to work with a middleman when filing claims.

Protect My Car Quotes Process

Potential Protect My Car customers should speak with a PMC customer service representative for details about coverage, availability, and pricing. In order to request a quote, you can either fill out a form on ProtectMyCar.com or call the company directly. Before signing up, make sure to read your contract and thoroughly understand the coverage provided by your potential plan.

How To Cancel or Transfer Your PMC Plan

Like most providers, Protect My Car offers warranties with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’ve changed your mind or are unhappy with your coverage, you can receive a full refund within 30 days. After the 30-day period, you can get a prorated refund at any time.

If you cancel after the first 30 days, the prorated refund will be based on mileage or time and include a $50 cancellation fee. In either case, any claims paid will also be deducted. To cancel, all you have to do is call the company. In some cases, you may be required to fill out a cancellation form and send it to the provider at the address below:

Protect My Car LLC
570 Carillon Parkway Suite 300
St. Petersburg, FL 33716

Protect My Car warranties are also fully transferable. Therefore, if you decide to sell a vehicle covered by Protect My Car, you can either cancel for a prorated refund or transfer the coverage to the new owner.

Protect My Car Claims Process

Filing a car warranty claim with Protect My Car is a simple and straightforward process:

• Take your vehicle to a licensed repair facility. You can contact a customer service associate for assistance in locating a repair facility in your area.
• Present the licensed repair facility with your ID card from your PMC contract book, which also contains your PMC contract number and the phone number for PMC’s Claims Department.
• Instruct the licensed repair facility to call Protect My Car before proceeding with repairs. The repair shop must receive an authorization number from Protect My Car before they begin working on your vehicle.

Protect My Car Repairs

When your vehicle reaches an ASE-certified facility for a covered repair, you’ll need to have the repair facility perform an inspection on your vehicle in order to diagnose the issue and give a price estimate.

Protect My Car reserves the right to require these types of inspections. After this, the repair shop will get in touch with Protect My Car, who will authorize the auto repairs. Note that repair costs aren’t covered by your contract prior to any repair being authorized or performed.

Once covered repairs are completed, Protect My Car will either reimburse you for the cost of repairs (minus the deductible, which you pay upfront) or pay the shop directly. Unlike with warranty plans from automakers themselves, you don’t need to head to a dealership for repairs from Protect My Car.

Protect My Car is a good choice when it comes to an extended warranty, offering you peace of mind on the road for a reasonable rate. But any time you shop for vehicle protection plans, it’s always a good idea to compare rates from multiple extended warranty companies. 

We recommend getting at least three quotes so you can make sure you’re getting the best coverage and price. Our top recommendations to start with are CARCHEX, CarShield, and Endurance.

Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties

In our market research of extended car warranty plans, we found a few providers that are head and shoulders above the rest. CARCHEX, CarShield, and Endurance are three of the most reputable providers in the business. Get a free quote from each so you can compare plans side by side. Find below our survey results of the most popular car warranty companies in addition to a detailed breakdown of some of the best on the market.

CARCHEX: Best for Used Cars

For over two decades, CARCHEX has had an excellent reputation in the auto warranty industry. It’s partnered with experts like Kelley Blue Book, CARFAX, and Edmunds.com, and it has an A+ rating and accreditation from the BBB. CARCHEX offers five customizable plans with terms that extend for up to 10 years or 250,000 miles, so high-mileage vehicles are covered. 

Our CARCHEX review found that warranty prices are affordable compared with other top providers, and the company’s customer service is strong. We recommended the provider if you’re looking for a used car warranty.

Read more: CARCHEX review

CarShield: Best Monthly Payments

If saving money is your primary aim, CarShield has some of the lowest prices around, flexible month-to-month payments, and low monthly costs. Along with six levels of coverage, there are plenty of additional perks that come with your plan, including roadside assistance for when your car is in the shop.

Among extended warranty providers, CarShield is the most popular according to our customer surveys. It’s endorsed by celebrities like sportscaster Chris Berman, actor Ernie Hudson of Ghostbusters, and actress Adrienne Janic of TLC’s Overhaulin’. If you’re budget-conscious and looking for a low monthly payment, CarShield could be the right choice for you.

Read more: CarShield review

Endurance: Best Coverage

Endurance is our pick for best coverage, earning the highest score out of all providers we considered in our comprehensive review. Endurance is highly regarded for its short waiting periods and wide range of coverage options. What separates Endurance from the competition is the fact that the company is a direct provider and administers its own contracts with no middlemen. This allows for a much smoother claims process for drivers with little-to-no hassle.

Endurance offers six levels of coverage ranging from bumper-to-bumper to powertrain warranties, with coverage available for vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Our Endurance review found that each plan comes with trip interruption coverage, rental car reimbursement, and 24/7 roadside assistance.

Read more: Endurance warranty review

Below are some frequently asked questions about Protect My Car:

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

• Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
• Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
• Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
• Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
• Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.