Pros And Cons
Many drivers wonder how AA Auto Protection compares to the best extended car warranty companies on the market. While some people have positive experiences with the provider, it’s an unimpressive choice for most motorists.
We’ve broken down various extended car warranty companies based on cost, customer service, coverage, and overall reputation. This article will consider how AA Auto Protection ranks to help you decide whether it’s a worthy provider to offer coverage for your vehicle.
About AA Auto Protection
AA Auto Protection has been in business since 2002 and serves as a broker for vehicle service contracts. The company is headquartered in Philadelphia, though its mailing address is located in Wilmington, Delaware. AA Auto Protection claims to offer extended car warranty plans in every state except California. Instead, AA Auto offers drivers mechanical breakdown insurance.
The plans from AA Auto Protection are given by one of five contract administrators. That means you’ll need to reach out to one of the following companies to file a claim:
- DOWC® Administration Services
- Matrix Warranty Solutions
- NAE® NWAN (National Warranty Administration)
- Royal Administration Services
- United Car Care
Some car owners initially confuse AA Auto Protection with AAA, the organization that’s mostly known for offering roadside assistance. However, all services between the two companies are entirely separate, and they have no relationship with each other.
How Much Do AA Auto Protection Extended Warranties Cost?
It’s difficult to find extended warranty cost details because there isn’t much pricing information on the AA Auto Protection website. However, this is common in the warranty industry. AA Auto does have an easy-to-use quote tool that can reveal your extended car warranty cost.
The average driver spends between $1,600 and $3,200 for the full length of their extended warranty. If AA Auto Protection is charging you higher than this amount, consider other providers that are known for offering more affordable rates, such as CARCHEX or Endurance.
According to the website, AA Auto Protection accepts all major credit cards and offers low down payments on its warranty plans. It also claims to have “easy payment plans” for drivers who wouldn’t be able to cover the cost of a vehicle service contract upfront.
AA Auto Protection claims to offer price-matching through its Best Price Guarantee. You could end up with lower monthly payments for services from AA Auto Protection regardless of the company’s initial quote.
Factors That Affect Extended Car Warranty Costs
Certain factors almost always impact the cost of an extended auto warranty. Here are the biggest factors:
- Level of coverage
- Length of your contract
- Vehicle make, model, and age
- Deductible amount
Note that your location generally won’t play a role in your cost of coverage from AA Auto Protection. That’s because vehicle service contracts take care of damages caused by mechanical breakdowns, which are likely to happen no matter where you are.
AA Auto Protection Extended Car Warranty Coverage
From bumper-to-bumper plans to powertrain warranties, AA Auto Protection has a wide range of coverage levels that can meet nearly any driver’s needs. Below, we’ve listed out the company’s main offerings:
| AA Auto Protection Coverage Plan | Coverage Details |
|---|---|
| Prime Direct Wrap | Exclusionary coverage Nearly everything in your original bumper-to-bumper warranty |
| Prime Direct Visionary | Engine Cooling system Transmission Transfer case Differential Fuel system Air conditioning Electrical Steering Suspension Brakes Turbocharger or supercharger Axle shafts Seals and gaskets Some fluids and diagnostic fees |
| Prime Direct Vision Select | Engine Cooling system Transmission Transfer case Differential Fuel system Air conditioning Electrical Steering Suspension Brakes Seals and gaskets |
| Prime Direct Vision Powertrain Plus | Engine Transmission Transfer case Differential Air conditioning Axle shafts Seals and gaskets |
| Prime Direct Vision Powertrain | Engine Transmission Transfer case Differential Seals and gaskets |
| Power Shield | Engine Cooling system Transmission Differential Steering parts Turbocharger or supercharger |
| Prime Direct Powertrain Sapphire | Engine Cooling system Water pump Transmission Transfer case Fuel system Air conditioning Electrical |
| Prime Direct Powertrain Emerald | Engine Water pump Transmission Transfer case Air conditioning Electrical |
| Prime Direct Powertrain Ruby | Engine Water pump Transmission Transfer case |
It’s difficult to find information about AA Auto Protection’s full range of plans due to the company’s confusing website. However, it claims to offer everything from premium stated component coverage to premium powertrain plus coverage.
Remember that AA Auto Protection will not cover preexisting conditions, routine maintenance needs, or wear-and-tear components. Extended car warranties are meant to cover damages caused by mechanical breakdowns, so you’ll still need to pay for issues caused by collisions, environmental damages, and instances of theft or vandalism.
Added Benefits From AA Auto Protection
Nearly all vehicle service contracts offered through AA Auto Protection comes with the following perks:
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Towing coverage
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption benefits
Another significant benefit of AA Auto Protection is that its plan options come with no waiting period. Your coverage starts on the day you sign up, even though AA Auto Protection has a 30-day money-back guarantee.
How Do AA Auto Protection Extended Warranties Work?
AA Auto Protection offers three ways to get a free quote: by calling the company directly, doing an online chat session with an agent, or filling out an online form. Getting information from quote forms can take more time, as you’ll have to wait for an agent to reach out.
To file a claim, you’ll need to contact your specific contract administrator. As an extended car warranty broker, AA Auto Protection lacks the resources to handle your mechanical breakdown without working with companies such as United Car Care and DOWC. The exact phone number to reach out to should be listed in your vehicle service contract.
Those who decide to end their coverage with AA Auto Protection will receive a prorated refund, minus a $100 cancellation fee. Remember that you can receive a full reimbursement during the 30-day money-back guarantee period.
AA Auto Protection Reviews
AA Auto Protection receives poor marks from drivers, as shown by its 1.4-star rating out of 5.0 on Trustpilot. The company also holds an F rating from the BBB and has received over 60 closed complaints in the last three years.
The BBB alerted customers in 2020 of a tendency for the company to deny refunds after the cancellation of warranty contracts–an action that’s common among the worst extended auto warranty companies. It’s also been flagged to include false badges on its website that look similar to those used by the BBB.
Positive AA Auto Protection Reviews
Many drivers mention that company representatives typically explain AA Auto Protection’s used car warranty options with professionalism and courtesy. Below is one such review:
“[T]he customer service is [A+]. Matt was very helpful when explaining things to me. […] I had some questions […] and every time I called, he was so nice [and] polite and didn’t seem bothered […] I love […] [when the first person] you speak with on the phone is your contact person the entire time you have that warranty.”
– April S. via Trustpilot
Negative AA Auto Protection Reviews
Customer reviews skew far less positively with drivers who have filed claims. A significant number of motorists explain that AA Auto Protection’s administrators either denied their coverage or poorly handled their claims.
“I recently had a[n] issue with my vehicle and AA Auto Protection claimed that [it] could not help in any way. I purchased a contract [for] roughly $3,700, and for [the company] to deny everything […] is very disappointing. I’m now stuck trying to figure out how to pay for the repairs.”
– Jermaine A. via BBB
“[AA Auto] kept me waiting for service for five hours and blocked my number for calling to get information. […] I had to use another person to call [the company].”
– Elias M. via Trustpilot
It’s concerning that AA Auto Protection receives unimpressive marks from drivers and has a history of denying claims. Some drivers even call AA Auto Protection a scam based on its treatment of certain customers.
Bottom Line On AA Auto Protection: 2.9 Stars
AA Auto Protection is not a strong choice for extended car warranty coverage. There’s no reason to choose the company based on its spotty customer service scores, history of denying claims, and unimpressive BBB rating.
We would strongly recommend reaching out to reputable extended car warranty companies to make sure that your vehicle receives adequate protection.
| Overall Star Rating | 2.9 |
|---|---|
| Reputation | 2.8 |
| Coverage | 3.5 |
| Price | 3.2 |
| Customer Experience | 2.2 |
Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties
While you’ll generally find unreliable service from AA Auto Protection, that’s not the case with all extended car warranty providers. It’s smart to compare instant quotes from multiple companies to discover which ones offer the best value for a high-quality plan.
#1 Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance has been in business since 2006 and provides extended car warranties in every state but California. It offers six different coverage levels that can protect your car for up to 8 years/200,000 miles.
You can also enjoy Endurance Elite Benefits that come standard with every warranty contract for one year. These perks include total loss protection, tire repair and replacement, and a collision discount.
Read more: Endurance warranty review
#2 CarShield: Best Value
CarShield is a popular name in the automotive warranty space because of its prices, which are typically quite affordable. While it doesn’t receive the highest customer satisfaction scores, CarShield still received 4.0 stars out of 5.0 from more than 28,000 reviews on Trustpilot.
The company offers six coverage levels for your vehicle, which can protect your car for up to 300,000 miles. You’ll also receive plenty of added benefits from CarShield, such as roadside assistance, towing services, and rental car reimbursement.
Read more: CarShield review
Compare providers: CarShield vs. Endurance
FAQ: AA Auto Protection
How We Rate Warranty Providers
Our review process aims to deliver consistent and unbiased assessments of extended auto warranty providers. While there are multiple qualities that make a warranty company successful, our review team focuses on those we believe are the most important for consumers:
- Cost: Cost can be difficult to compare between providers because so many factors impact vehicle service contract pricing. To determine our cost score, we perform a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and plans and consider available deductibles.
- Coverage: Our team of experts looks at the number of extended warranty plans available, as well as term limits, exclusions, and added benefits like roadside assistance. Ratings also take into account the availability of maintenance coverage.
- Reputation: It’s important that an extended car warranty company is able to meet its claims obligations. Companies with a strong rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) score well in this category. Established providers with a long history of reliable service also receive positive marks.
- Customer Experience: We listen to real customer sales calls and comb through reviews on sites like the BBB to learn about customer experiences. Warranty companies with a low volume of complaints score well in this area. We also consider the availability of mobile apps and chat features.
*Data accurate at time of publication.