Decide whether Protect My Car is right for you with our review of its extended protection plans.
To help you make the best decision for your car after your factory warranty has expired, our team researched Protect My Car. In this comprehensive review of the extended warranty provider, we'll provide an overview of the company, Protect My Car reviews, coverage options, and benefits.
Then, we’ll show you how Protect My Car stacks up against Endurance, which we recently ranked as the best overall provider in our review of the best extended car warranty companies.
In this article:
Protect My Car Overview
Established in 2005 and today based in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Protect My Car is a popular choice among car owners for vehicle service contracts. On the surface, with hundreds of five-star customer reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) website, the company looks attractive. But do its plans really offer the value the company claims to provide? We took a deep dive into Protect My Car and broke down our findings into a list of pros and cons to help you see, at a glance, if its plans are worth your time and money.
Protect My Car Plans: What's Covered
Protect My Car offers three levels of warranty coverage: Supreme, Select, and Driveline.
Supreme
The Supreme policy is Protect My Car’s option that is most similar to the manufacturer's warranty. It’s designed for customers who need additional coverage because they plan to keep the new vehicle beyond the manufacturer’s factory warranty term, which is usually three years.
Select
The Select policy is designed for vehicles with more than 50,000 miles. It provides protection for vehicles that are just outside of the requirements for the Supreme policy. It includes all of the components the Supreme policy covers with the exception of the turbocharger and navigation systems.
Driveline
The Driveline plan is designed for vehicles that are 4 to 10 years old with more than 80,000 miles. Despite the high mileage, this plan covers many of the same components as the Supreme and Select plans, but excludes the front and rear suspension, turbocharger, and navigation system.
Driveline | Select | Supreme | |
---|---|---|---|
Deductible | $100 | $100 | $100 |
Percent Policy Pays Toward Repairs | 100% | 100% | 100% |
Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Transfer Case | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Drive Axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Differential Assembly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Cooling System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Air Conditioning and Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Electrical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Timing Chain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Front and Rear Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | |
Select Brake System Components | ✓ | ✓ | |
Turbo Charger | ✓ | ||
Navigation | Optional | ||
Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Rental Car Reimbursement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Ambassador Maintenance Plans
Although vehicles over 13 years old can’t take advantage of an extended warranty with Protect My Car, the company does offer Ambassador Maintenance Plans. These car maintenance insurance contracts offer guaranteed discounts between 50 and 75 percent on repairs, 24/7 roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and more for older cars. However, they do not provide protection on the same level as an extended warranty.
Platinum | Pro | Elite | |
---|---|---|---|
Deductible | 25% | 50% | 50% |
Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Transfer Case | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Drive Axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Differential Assembly | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Front and Rear Suspension | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Cooling System | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Air Conditioning and Heating | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Electrical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Select Brake System Components | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Timing Chain | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Turbo Charger | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Roadside Assistance | ✓ | ✓ | |
Rental Car Reimbusement | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Oil Change | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Tire Rotations | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
How Much Does A Protect My Car Warranty Plan Cost?
Like most extended warranty companies, Protect My Car does not disclose the exact cost of its extended auto warranty unless you get a quote. The cost of your protection will depend on your car’s make and model, mileage, your driving history, and other factors. The company does, however, disclose other financial aspects of its contracts, such as deductibles and payment plan options.
Protect My Car’s flexible and lengthy payment terms of 36 to 60 months are significantly longer than the terms offered by other third-party auto warranty companies. While these terms can make the monthly payment more affordable for customers, the generous lengths may indicate that the overall plan prices are higher than other providers. Like other warranty companies, Protect My Car offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on all of its extended car warranty plans.
To get more clarity on the cost of Protect My Car, our review team reached out and received the following quotes:
Vehicle | Protect My Car Warranty Plan |
Term Length |
Monthly Payment |
Down Payment |
Deductible |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Honda CR-V |
Supreme | 4 years/100,000 miles | $125 for 40 months | First payment | $100 |
Lexus ES 350 |
Supreme |
4 years/100,000 miles |
$91 for 48 months |
$99 |
$100 |
Ford Fusion |
Select |
4 years/60,000 miles |
$186 for 36 months |
$299 |
$0-$100 |
Lexus ES 350 |
Driveline |
4 years/100,000 miles |
$91 for 48 months |
$99 |
$100 |
Toyota Camry |
Driveline |
4 years/75,000 miles |
$66 for 48 months |
$199 |
$100 |
How A Claim With Protect My Car Works
To file a claim with Protect My Car, drivers simply call the company’s claims department to obtain prior authorization before having any services performed – with the exception of emergency repairs, which are outlined in your Protect My Car warranty contract. You’ll drive or have your car towed to a licensed repair shop and then present the mechanic with information related to your identity and protection plan.
In some cases, you may need to have the repair facility inspect your vehicle in order to diagnose the cause and cost of the repair. It’s important to note that Protect My Car reserves the right to require this inspection. The cost isn’t covered by any Protect My Car contract, prior to any repair being authorized or performed.
Once the repairs are complete, Protect My Car either pays the repair facility directly or reimburses you, less the $100 deductible, which you’ll need to pay upfront. The necessary documentation must be submitted to Protect My Car’s claims department within 30 days, but Protect My Car’s contracts are unclear as to whether that 30 days begins at the time the issue is identified, diagnosed, repaired, or otherwise.
What’s Not Covered
As is the case with most extended auto warranty plans, Protect My Car contracts do not cover repairs and replacements resulting from accidental damage, weather, competitive driving, or a lack of proper maintenance. Issues that existed prior to the start of your Protect My Car contract aren’t covered, either.
Added Benefits Of Protect My Car
Like most third-party warranty providers, Protect My Car offers added benefits, like roadside assistance, with the purchase of all warranty plans. However, a look into the fine print of various vehicle service contracts can reveal drastic differences between the true value of these benefits.
Roadside Assistance
According to Protect My Car’s website, the company promises to “be there to help you through each step” when the inevitable breakdown happens. The roadside assistance program comes at no added cost to Protect My Car customers, but a look into the program’s details reveals it doesn’t provide a lot of value.
Drivers are limited to just two roadside assistance calls per year, and any call after that is charged at a rate of $50 per service. Additionally, towing is limited to one tow within a 72-hour period, and cars can only be towed to a licensed repair facility.
Although Protect My Car will assist you in a bind, you are responsible for associated fees like the cost of gas and key cutting. This includes circumstances such as:
- Vehicle jumpstart
- Lockout service
- Changing a flat tire
- Gas delivery during an emergency
Any roadside assistance that exceeds $100 will be the responsibility of the driver, which means you’ll likely be paying something out of pocket for each roadside assistance call. For example, a locksmith can cost as much as $250 to unlock a car, according to eLocal.
Additionally, rental car reimbursement is limited to $30 per day and can’t exceed seven days or a maximum of $210 per occurrence. Daily motel and restaurant reimbursements are just $50 for a maximum of three days in cases where your vehicle must remain at the repair facility overnight and you’re located more than 150 miles from your home. For perspective, as of September 2019, statista.com averaged the price of an overnight hotel stay at $132.
Protect My Car Reviews
As we mentioned, Protect My Car has mostly positive customer reviews logged with the BBB. The complaints, though, have shown a pattern of Protect My Car failing to provide the services it has been contracted for. It has over 130 complaints over the last 3 years, which is low compared to its customer base. The BBB does not give the company a rating, but its customer rating is 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. Protect My Car also has a Trustpilot rating of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.
When you call for a quote, make sure to ask all of your questions up front. You can reach Protect My Car by calling 888-430-0227 or by visiting the website.
Our Take On Protect My Car: 4.5 Stars
We rate Protect My Car 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and recognize it for having the Best Maintenance Plans in 2021. The choice between an extended warranty and maintenance contract gives drivers a lot of flexibility, and Protect My Car reviews highlight long and flexible payment terms.
Pros | Cons |
---|---|
Protect My Car customers have access to PMC Rewards, a shopping and dining discount reward program. |
To qualify for an extended warranty, your vehicle cannot be more than 13 years old. |
24/7 roadside assistance is included with all warranty plans. |
Plans are not offered in California, Florida, Missouri, Washington, and Oklahoma. |
Protect My Car has flexible payment terms, with monthly payment plans that last between 36 and 60 months, making coverage significantly more affordable on a monthly basis. |
We had trouble obtaining a quote in a timely manner when we reached out online. |
For cars over 13 years that do not qualify for a Protect My Car extended warranty plan, the company’s Ambassador Maintenance Plans offer significant discounts on repairs and benefits, such as free oil changes and tire rotations. |
|
While it does not provide an extended warranty for vehicles older than 13 years, the Ambassador Maintenance Plans seem like a good alternative, especially with its discounts on repairs and benefits, such as free oil changes and tire rotations.
Other Top Extended Warranty Providers
To help you make the best decision for your car, we also compared Protect My Car against our top-recommended provider, Endurance.
For starters, it’s easier to get a quote from Endurance, where you can obtain customized quotes through a simple phone call or form on the company’s website. By comparison, Protect My Car plan quotes are not quite as simple to come by, whether online or by phone.
Ultimately, we recommend you shop for the best options by getting a quick-and-easy, free quote from our top-ranking car warranty providers below. Or read more about Endurance in our full Endurance warranty review.
Read our guides to other warranty providers:
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