Protect My Car (PMC) offers affordable extended warranties for drivers who want to do just what the name says–protect their cars. Due to its low costs, positive Protect My Car reviews, and wide range of plan options, we award the company a 4.4 out of 5.0-star rating and name it Best Customer Service.
In this review, we’ll explain coverage options, pricing, Protect My Car reviews, and the industry reputation of this extended warranty contract provider. We also did the legwork for you, researching and reviewing the best extended auto warranty companies available. If you’re hoping to protect your vehicle with an extended warranty, compare free quotes from our recommended companies.
Protect My Car Warranty Overview
Founded in 2005 in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Protect My Car offers extended auto warranties ranging from basic coverage to bumper-to-bumper coverage for vehicles with up to 200,000 miles.
Drivers can purchase a Protect My Car vehicle service contract plan in every state except Alaska, California, Hawaii, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Washington.
The company has a high number of positive Protect My Car reviews compared to other providers in the industry. The Better Business Bureau (BBB) gives the company an A+ rating, while reviewers give it an Excellent rating on Trustpilot. Additionally, over 5 percent of 240 respondents in our March 2022 extended warranty survey stated they had purchased a Protect My Car warranty plan, making it the fourth most popular provider in our survey.
Protect My Car Costs
Protect My Car’s extended warranty plans are generally more expensive than competitors’ when it comes to the total price tag of coverage. However, the monthly payments tend to be among the cheapest in the warranty industry. Based on our research, Protect My Car costs between $100 and $116 per month on average or between $3,600 and $4,200 in total for a 4-year/unlimited mileage warranty.
If you’re looking for the best deal overall, Protect My Car may not be the best option for you. That being said, anyone who needs to be careful with their monthly budget could benefit from Protect My Car’s lower-end monthly payment options. Payment plans can last up to 48 months, which is significantly longer than terms offered by other third-party warranty companies.
Protect My Car Prices
Additionally, Protect My Car’s total warranty costs are within the range of what nearly half of the 1,000 respondents reported paying in our recent survey. Here’s a closer look at the cost breakdown of what people paid for an extended warranty in our survey:
Protect My Car Cost Examples
Our team received the following quotes from Protect My Car to compare coverage plan costs:
Vehicle |
Protect My Car Plan |
Monthly Payment |
Total Cost |
Down Payment |
---|---|---|---|---|
Honda Civic |
Supreme (4 years) |
$100 for 36 months |
$3,600 |
$100 |
Subaru Outback |
Select (4 years) |
$110 for 36 months |
$3,960 |
$200 |
Subaru Outback |
Driveline (4 years) |
$116 for 36 months |
$4,176 |
$116 |
You may notice that the cost of the more comprehensive PMC plan is actually cheaper in our research. The quote for the Supreme plan is for a newer vehicle with fewer miles, whereas the quote we received for the Driveline plan is for a nine-year-old vehicle since the plan is intended for older cars (four to ten years old).
The price that you pay for your Protect My Car warranty will depend on a variety of different factors, shown in the graphic below:
Protect My Car Extended Warranty Coverage
For newer vehicles, drivers can choose one of three levels of Protect My Car coverage. These extended warranties are available for vehicles up to 10 years old and with fewer than 200,000 miles. Each plan has different criteria for vehicle age and mileage and covers slightly different features.
Supreme |
Select |
Driveline |
|
---|---|---|---|
Engine |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transmission |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Transfer Case |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Drive Axle |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Differential Assembly |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Timing Chain |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Cooling System |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Air Conditioning and Heating |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Electrical |
✓ |
✓ |
✓ |
Front and Rear Suspension |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Select Brake Components |
✓ |
✓ |
|
Turbocharger |
✓ |
||
Navigation System |
Optional |
Supreme
The Supreme plan is designed for new vehicles but helps drivers prepare for the long haul. Factory warranties typically expire within three years. If you plan to hang on to your car for longer than that, the Supreme plan can continue to provide coverage. This plan includes everything the lower-tier Select plan covers, plus the turbocharger and optional navigation system protection.
While each tier offers slightly different coverage, all have a common $100 deductible per repair facility visit. Customers also get additional benefits like car rental reimbursement, 24/7 roadside assistance, oil changes, and tire rotations.
While this is Protect My Car’s highest coverage plan, it is not a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Many other providers offer bumper-to-bumper vehicle protection plans that cover any part except a list of exclusions. Protect My Car doesn’t offer that type of contract. The Supreme plan lists out each covered item. In other words, it doesn’t cover as many parts as the highest plans offered by other companies, like Endurance or CARCHEX.
Select
Protect My Car’s Select plan is for new and used cars with more than 50,000 miles and is the middle-ground option of the three plans. This plan covers everything the lower-tier Driveline plan covers, plus front and rear suspension and select brake system components.
Driveline
The Driveline plan is for cars four to ten years old with more than 80,000 miles. It is PMC’s cheapest extended warranty option and covers the fewest auto repairs of all the plans (although it still has robust offerings). It basically covers the powertrain plus a few other crucial components.
The Driveline plan covers the following systems and components:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Transfer case
- Drive axle
- Differential assembly
- Cooling system
- Air conditioning and heating
- Electrical
- Timing chain
Protect My Car Benefits
All PMC plans include the benefits below. The reimbursement amounts described below are listed in sample vehicle service contracts posted on the Protect My Car website.
- Roadside assistance: This pays for up to two roadside assistance calls per year for things like towing, flat tire changes, and fluid delivery.
- Rental car reimbursement: This coverage reimburses the cost of rental vehicles while your car is in the shop for covered repairs at a rate of $30 a day for up to seven days.
- Trip interruption reimbursement: If your car breaks down more than 150 miles from your home, PMC will reimburse hotel and restaurant expenses at $50 a day for up to three days.
Protect My Car Rewards
Protect My Car also offers a free, points-based customer loyalty program included with each policy as long as the account is in good standing. You can use your rewards to unlock deals, discounts, and savings with major companies from shopping to dining.
Protect My Car Exclusions
Protect My Car doesn’t cover everything. Warranties exclude damage from wear and tear, misuse, overheating, accidents, and environmental events. They also exclude wear and tear items like brake pads, brake rotors, and wiper blades. Other exclusions include:
- Unauthorized repairs
- Parts that have worn but not failed completely
- Parts that upgrade the value of the vehicle
- Modifications and aftermarket parts
- Cosmetic items
- Exhaust pipes
- Wires, plugs, and bulbs
Is Protect My Car Worth It?
If you are looking for solid coverage at an affordable price, Protect My Car is worth considering. The company provides several benefits for drivers, including:
- High coverage limit: Protect My Car can cover vehicles that have up to 200,000 miles.
- PMC Rewards: Protect My Car customers have access to PMC Rewards, a shopping and dining discounts reward program.
- Flexible payment terms: Protect My Car has flexible payment terms, with monthly payment plans that last between 36 and 48 months and allow you to finance your coverage over many years.
How Protect My Car Extended Warranties Work
To file a claim with Protect My Car, call the claims department as soon as you experience a mechanical breakdown. The claims department will call a tow truck to bring your vehicle to an approved repair shop, taking the hassle out of the claims process. If you don’t need a tow, you can go to any licensed repair facility for coverage.
Protect My Car pays repair costs directly to the repair shop, minus your deductible.
How To Cancel Protect My Car Coverage
Like many extended warranty providers, Protect My Car offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you’re unhappy with your plan or have simply changed your mind about protecting your vehicle, you can request a cancellation within 30 days and receive a full refund. After the 30-day, no-questions-asked period, you can still transfer your policy at any time. If you cancel altogether, you’ll receive a prorated refund if you’ve paid for more coverage than you used.
Protect My Car warranties are also fully transferable, so if you’re thinking of selling your covered vehicle, know that canceling your warranty isn’t your only option.
It’s important to note that although there is a 30-day guarantee, extended warranty customers can’t actually use their benefits until after the 30 days. For Ambassador Policy members, it’s only a 15-day waiting period.
What Is Protect My Car’s Customer Service Number?
If you want to contact Protect My Car’s customer service, you can call 1-800-253-2850 to speak to a representative. Customers who need to file a claim due to a mechanical issue can contact roadside assistance 1-888-676-4762.
Protect My Car Reviews
Over 3,300 Protect My Car reviews on Trustpilot rate the company 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. Protect My Car also has a 4.0-star rating out of 5.0 from over 1,900 reviews on Google. The company has an A+ rating from the BBB and a customer review score of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars. This is an exceptionally high BBB customer rating for an extended warranty provider.
Positive Protect My Car Reviews
Positive Protect My Car reviews on the BBB website mention professional and knowledgeable staff. According to reviewers, agents at Protect My Car take the time to make sure customers understand what is and isn’t covered.
“This is so worth the money … We have had [Protect My Car] for almost a year and so far they have come through on everything they say they would.”
– Aleksandr Grimm, Trustpilot
“Great customer service and reliable insurance that covered my car expense that was out of warranty. I definitely recommend them to all my friends and family.”
– Raul Almaguer, Trustpilot
Negative Protect My Car Reviews
However, some negative Protect My Car reviews state that reviewers didn’t have a clear understanding of the plan terms before getting started. Some Protect My Car customers were upset when claims were denied, and others were annoyed by PMC’s pushy advertising tactics.
“No repair shop around my area would take the coverage. Just to cancel I was talked to very politely but I could tell the agent was not trying to let me off the phone. Even offered to reimburse my oil change that was supposed to be free and I paid for.”
– Jessica W., BBB
“This company starts to call people at 8 a.m. and will keep calling. I asked them not to call me anymore and was told we always call people this early in the morning. […] Not happy with this rude company.”
– Alan S., BBB
Bottom Line On Protect My Car: 4.4 Stars
It’s definitely worth it to get a quote from Protect My Car, especially if you are budget-conscious or looking to protect an older vehicle. With some of the lowest monthly payments on the market and a dedicated plan for older vehicles, Protect My Car can give many drivers peace of mind. Protect My Car reviews are largely positive and commend the company’s reliable service.
Reputation |
4.3 |
---|---|
Coverage |
4.7 |
Cost |
4.2 |
Transparency |
4.5 |
Customer Experience |
4.4 |
Overall Rating |
4.4 |
Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties
When searching for an extended auto warranty, you want to make sure you’re getting the best coverage and price for your needs. That’s why it’s important to compare quotes. Never go with the first company you come across, or you could end up with too much or too little coverage.
You may want to consider the following reputable extended car warranty companies in your search to find the best choice for you.
Company |
Maximum Mileage |
Number of Plans |
Trustpilot Score |
---|---|---|---|
Endurance |
200,000 miles |
6 |
4.0 / 5.0 |
ForeverCar |
Unlimited miles |
4 |
4.8 / 5.0 |
Olive |
185,000 miles |
3 |
2.9 / 5.0 |
CarShield |
300,000 miles |
6 |
4.0 / 5.0 |
CARCHEX |
250,000 miles |
5 |
2.9 / 5.0 |
Endurance: Best Coverage
Endurance is our frontrunner for Best Coverage, earning the highest rating in our review of the best extended car warranty companies. One thing that sets the company apart from the rest is its range of coverage options. The company offers extended warranties for cars over 100K miles, short waiting periods, and many levels of component coverage.
Endurance customers also get one year of free extras including key fob replacement and total loss protection under its Endurance Elite Benefits program. Find out more in our Endurance warranty review.
CarShield: Best Monthly Payments
If saving money is your goal, CarShield has flexible payment plans, low monthly costs, and fair coverage. Being a CarShield customer also has its perks, like 24/7 roadside assistance and rental car coverage when your car is in the shop. Budget-conscious drivers should add CarShield to the top of their lists for good coverage at a great price.
Learn more in our CarShield review.
Protect My Car Reviews: FAQ
How We Rate Warranty Providers
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Transparency: Our team evaluates the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
- 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.