Review Of The Provider’s Extended Warranty

That can assist you make the very best resolution in your automobile after your manufacturing facility guarantee has expired, our staff researched Defend My Automotive. On this complete evaluation of the prolonged guarantee supplier, we’ll present an outline of the corporate, Defend My Automotive evaluations, protection choices, and advantages.

Then, we’ll present you the way Defend My Automotive stacks up in opposition to Endurance, which we just lately ranked as the very best general supplier in our evaluation of the greatest prolonged automobile guarantee corporations.

On this article:

Defend My Automotive Overview

Established in 2005 and at the moment based mostly in Saint Petersburg, Florida, Defend My Automotive is a well-liked selection amongst automobile homeowners for automobile service contracts. On the floor, with lots of of five-star buyer evaluations on the Higher Enterprise Bureau (BBB) web site, the corporate seems to be enticing. However do its plans actually supply the worth the corporate claims to supply? We took a deep dive into Defend My Automotive and broke down our findings into an inventory of execs and cons that will help you see, at a look, if its plans are value your money and time.

Defend My Automotive Plans: What’s Coated

Defend My Automotive provides three ranges of guarantee protection: Supreme, Choose, and Driveline. 

The Supreme coverage is Defend My Automotive’s possibility that’s most much like the producer’s guarantee. It’s designed for purchasers who want extra protection as a result of they plan to maintain the brand new automobile past the producer’s manufacturing facility guarantee time period, which is normally three years. 

The Choose coverage is designed for autos with greater than 50,000 miles. It gives safety for autos which might be simply outdoors of the necessities for the Supreme coverage. It consists of the entire parts the Supreme coverage covers aside from the turbocharger and navigation methods.

The Driveline plan is designed for autos which might be 4 to 10 years outdated with greater than 80,000 miles. Regardless of the excessive mileage, this plan covers most of the similar parts because the Supreme and Choose plans, however excludes the entrance and rear suspension, turbocharger, and navigation system.

Though autos over 13 years outdated can’t benefit from an prolonged guarantee with Defend My Automotive, the corporate does supply Ambassador Upkeep Plans. These automobile upkeep insurance coverage contracts supply assured reductions between 50 and 75 % on repairs, 24/7 roadside help, rental automobile reimbursement, and extra for older vehicles. Nonetheless, they don’t present safety on the identical degree as an prolonged guarantee.

How A lot Does A Defend My Automotive Guarantee Plan Value?

Like most prolonged guarantee corporations, Defend My Automotive doesn’t disclose the precise value of its prolonged auto guarantee except you get a quote. The price of your safety will rely in your automobile’s make and mannequin, mileage, your driving historical past, and different elements. The corporate does, nevertheless, disclose different monetary facets of its contracts, corresponding to deductibles and cost plan choices. 

Defend My Automotive’s versatile and prolonged cost phrases of 36 to 60 months are considerably longer than the phrases supplied by different third-party auto guarantee corporations. Whereas these phrases could make the month-to-month cost extra inexpensive for purchasers, the beneficiant lengths could point out that the general plan costs are increased than different suppliers. Like different guarantee corporations, Defend My Automotive provides a 30-day money-back assure on all of its prolonged automobile guarantee plans.

To get extra readability on the price of Defend My Automotive, our evaluation staff reached out and obtained the next quotes:

How A Declare With Defend My Automotive Works

To file a declare with Defend My Automotive, drivers merely name the corporate’s claims division to acquire prior authorization earlier than having any providers carried out – aside from emergency repairs, that are outlined in your Defend My Automotive guarantee contract. You’ll drive or have your automobile towed to a licensed restore store after which current the mechanic with data associated to your id and safety plan.

In some instances, you could must have the restore facility examine your automobile so as to diagnose the trigger and value of the restore. It’s essential to notice that Defend My Automotive reserves the correct to require this inspection. The price isn’t lined by any Defend My Automotive contract, previous to any restore being approved or carried out.

As soon as the repairs are full, Defend My Automotive both pays the restore facility immediately or reimburses you, much less the $100 deductible, which you’ll must pay upfront. The required documentation have to be submitted to Defend My Automotive’s claims division inside 30 days, however Defend My Automotive’s contracts are unclear as as to if that 30 days begins on the time the problem is recognized, identified, repaired, or in any other case.

What’s Not Coated

As is the case with most prolonged auto guarantee plans, Defend My Automotive contracts don’t cowl repairs and replacements ensuing from unintended harm, climate, aggressive driving, or a scarcity of correct upkeep. Points that existed previous to the beginning of your Defend My Automotive contract aren’t lined, both.

Added Advantages Of Defend My Automotive

Like most third-party guarantee suppliers, Defend My Automotive provides added advantages, like roadside help, with the acquisition of all guarantee plans. Nonetheless, a glance into the nice print of varied automobile service contracts can reveal drastic variations between the true worth of those advantages. 

In line with Defend My Automotive’s web site, the corporate guarantees to “be there that will help you by means of every step” when the inevitable breakdown occurs. The roadside help program comes at no added value to Defend My Automotive prospects, however a glance into this system’s particulars reveals it doesn’t present plenty of worth.

Drivers are restricted to simply two roadside help calls per yr, and any name after that’s charged at a charge of $50 per service. Moreover, towing is restricted to at least one tow inside a 72-hour interval, and vehicles can solely be towed to a licensed restore facility.

Though Defend My Automotive will help you in a bind, you’re chargeable for related charges like the price of gasoline and key reducing. This consists of circumstances corresponding to:

• Car jumpstart
• Lockout service
• Altering a flat tire
• Gasoline supply throughout an emergency

Any roadside help that exceeds $100 would be the duty of the driving force, which suggests you’ll doubtless be paying one thing out of pocket for every roadside help name. For instance, a locksmith can value as a lot as $250 to unlock a automobile, in line with eLocal.

Moreover, rental automobile reimbursement is restricted to $30 per day and might’t exceed seven days or a most of $210 per incidence. Each day motel and restaurant reimbursements are simply $50 for a most of three days in instances the place your automobile should stay on the restore facility in a single day and also you’re situated greater than 150 miles from your private home. For perspective, as of September 2019, statista.com averaged the value of an in a single day resort keep at $132.

Defend My Automotive Critiques

As we talked about, Defend My Automotive has largely optimistic buyer evaluations logged with the BBB. The complaints, although, have proven a sample of Defend My Automotive failing to supply the providers it has been contracted for. It has over 130 complaints during the last 3 years, which is low in comparison with its buyer base. The BBB doesn’t give the corporate a score, however its buyer score is 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. Defend My Automotive additionally has a Trustpilot score of 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Once you name for a quote, be sure to ask all your questions up entrance. You possibly can attain Defend My Automotive by calling 888-430-0227 or by visiting the web site.

Our Take On Defend My Automotive: 4.5 Stars

We charge Defend My Automotive 4.5 out of 5.0 stars and acknowledge it for having the Greatest Upkeep Plans in 2021. The selection between an prolonged guarantee and upkeep contract provides drivers plenty of flexibility, and Defend My Automotive evaluations spotlight lengthy and versatile cost phrases.