Autopom! Extended Warranty Review and Pricing 2024

Who It Would Be Good For

• A customer who wants 24/7 roadside assistance and mechanical breakdown coverage, among other coverages
• A customer who appreciates great customer service
• A customer whose vehicle does not have any pre-existing conditions

Who It Would Not Be Good For

• A customer whose car has preexisting conditions
• A customer with an older vehicle, with a high mileage
• A customer with an exotic or high-performance car

Eligible

• Car models 2014 or newer (differs by state)
• Cars with mileage less than 140,000 miles
• New or used cars

Not Eligible

• Exotic or high-performance cars like Maseratis, Bentleys, or Lamborghinis
• Cars models older than 2014 (differs by state)
• Cars with preexisting conditions or known failures at the time of sale
• Modified or concept vehicles
• Gray market vehicles
• Salvage vehicles, flood-damaged or reconstructed title cars
• Vehicles with altered odometers
• Vehicles that have been declared “lemons”
• Vehicles that lack VINs (Vehicle Identification Numbers)
• Vehicles with modifications to the engine, transmission, drive axle, frame, suspension, emissions, or exhaust
• Vehicles with lift kits installed
• Vehicles with oversized tires

The Buying Process

Customers can obtain a free quote online and purchase extended warranty from Autopom! over the phone. For customers in California, Autopom! partners with extended car warranty company Oliva. Customers in other states will begin their quote directly on the Autopom! website.

Autopom! will ask specific questions to help customers choose the best plan to support their needs. My experience speaking with an agent was positive. They were helpful, cheerful, and offered to text or email me a sample contract so that I could review the specific coverages and exclusions in detail.

Claims

Before Autopom! will pay for repairs under a covered claim, I’ll need to pay my deductible. My deductible varies based on the plan I choose. I will pay a deductible per visit, not per repair, which is a good thing, as one deductible could cover multiple repairs in a single visit.

To file a claim, I will need to bring my vehicle to a repair shop, and let them know that I have Autopom! The repair facility will then contact my administrator’s claims office directly with their diagnosis and estimate of the repairs. The repair facility must contact and receive approval from the administrator before starting repairs.

Unfortunately, there is no way to submit a claim form online or through a mobile app.

There’s no need to pay the repair shop and wait for Autopom! to reimburse me. Instead, the company will pay the repair shop directly, which means I won’t have to sit around waiting for a check.

Of course, not all claims are covered. My claim could fall outside of my extended warranty’s terms and conditions. For example, Autopom! warranties don’t cover airbags, emissions, or catalytic converters, which are often stolen.

Now, let’s get more specific about the types of coverages Autopom! offers.

Autopom! Plans

There are three Autopom! extended warranty plans to choose from: Powertrain Plus, Mid-Level, and the top-tier Exclusionary plan. There are no set prices for each plan. Costs vary based on vehicle make, model year, and other factors. Each plan features different coverage options. I’ve listed the plan breakdown in the chart below, followed by a list of what is and isn’t covered.

What’s Covered

• 24/7 roadside assistance, including jumpstarts, towing reimbursement, and other services via a toll-free 800 number
• Damage from overheating (doesn’t cover negligence)
• Mechanical breakdown
• Parts and labor based on published list prices, established industry time, and labor guides
• Rental car expenses
• Seals and gaskets on a stand-alone basis with exclusionary-type plans (however, named-component type plans may or may not cover them)
• Tire repair/replacement, which can cover damage from nails, potholes, and other road hazards
• Trip interruption protection, for unplanned expenses if your car breaks down away from home
• Wear and tear if a vehicle is worn beyond a “manufacturer’s tolerance” and the wear and tear has resulted in a verified and covered mechanical breakdown

What’s Not Covered

• Airbags
• Catalytic converter
• Consumable items, like brake pads or spark plugs
• Convertible tops
• Emissions
• Routine maintenance issues, like oil changes or regular wear and tear
• Muffler and exhaust systems
• Trim and upholstery
• Safety restraint systems

The average extended car warranty costs $3,026 in total, and the quotes I got from Autopom! fell within this range.

Keep in mind that your costs will vary based on your vehicle’s make, model, mileage, and age, as well as your deductible. It’s important to compare quotes from multiple providers to find the cheapest plan for the best coverage for your needs.

Discounts

Unfortunately, like most extended warranty companies, Autopom! doesn’t offer any discounts for students, military members, or other groups. If you’re looking for discounts, check out Concord. Other companies, like Endurance, offer promotional discounts that are worth looking for.

Money-Back Guarantee

According to the sample contract I received from Autopom!, if I am not happy with my Autopom! extended warranty, I can get my money back within 30 days by submitting a written cancellation request. If my cancellation request is received within the 30 days grace period and no claims have been filed, I will receive a full refund of my premium. If I submit my cancellation request after 30 days, my premium will be refunded on a pro rata basis.

You can contact Autopom! at the following:

• Email: info@autopom.com
• Phone: 800-724-8141

Better Business Bureau

Autopom! is a BBB-accredited business with an A+ rating, which is very good. I was also pleased to see that the company has high customer reviews too, with a 4.74 rating (out of 5) as of April 2024. BBB customer ratings tend to be very low, so this level of customer satisfaction is impressive.

Trustpilot

Autopom! has similarly high customer ratings on Trustpilot, earning 4 stars out of 5.

Unlike CARCHEX, CarShield, and Endurance, Autopom! lacks a mobile app and operates mainly over the phone. It’s a great option for customers who don’t mind hopping on a call.

Founded in 2010, Autopom! has been in business for 12 years and has been BBB-accredited since its founding. Currently, the company is based in Lake Forest, California, and accepts referrals from the California Department of Insurance. It serves all of the U.S.²

Since Autopom! is a broker, not a vendor (administrator), it’s easiest to compare it with other brokers like CARCHEX and CarShield, rather than vendors like Concord, Toco, or Endurance. While a broker can shop for you across multiple companies’ extended warranties, a vendor only has its own warranties to choose from.

Autopom! tends to be more expensive than the average extended car warranty. It is available all across the U.S., which isn’t always the case with other companies. Toco, for instance, isn’t available in Alaska, California, Missouri, or Washington. Autopom! is also thorough in terms of coverage.

I like that Autopom! offers interest-free payment plans for all of their extended warranties so I can divide my payments into smaller, monthly payments. Additionally, I am not locked into a contract. All plans can be canceled at any time. So if I sell my vehicle, trade it in, or don’t want the coverage anymore for whatever reason, I can cancel for a pro-rated refund.

These are the main factors I take into account for my extended warranty review and pricing pages:

Eligibility

I see what vehicles the extended warranty would cover in terms of the driver’s state of residence and the car’s make, model year, mileage, and preexisting conditions, if any.

Buying and Claims Process

I prefer companies that allow customers to get quotes and buy warranties both online and over the phone, because it gives the driver options. I prioritize companies that don’t require a pre-inspection or waiting period.

As far as claims go, I prefer companies that let customers use any licensed repair facility in the U.S. or Canada. I prefer companies that pay the shops directly, rather than reimbursing the customers. I also prefer flexible deductibles per visit, not per repair, which saves the customer money.

Coverages

Coverages differ widely depending on both providers and plans within providers. While more coverage may seem, generally, like a better option, the best option really depends on the types of coverage you’re looking for. I like companies that have 24/7 roadside assistance at a minimum, coverage for parts and labor, rental car reimbursement, tire repair/replacement, trip interruption protection, and towing.

Pricing

Across the industry, the average annual cost of an extended warranty is $3,026. I compare each company’s services offered to their average cost to see if they are reasonable.

Customer Service

Personally, customer service is incredibly important to me. Car insurance and protections serve as my peace of mind against unforeseen events, and I seek to feel, not only protected, but also supported and advocated for during any situation that arises.

I prioritize companies that let their customers reach them in multiple ways — email, online, and over the phone.

I also check out customer service ratings on the BBB and Trustpilot — trusted third parties with reviews from thousands of real customers.

Mobile App

Some companies offer iOS and Android mobile apps that allow for easy claims submission, repair shop location searches, and other tools. I look for well-designed apps that have ratings of at least three stars in both the Apple and Google Play stores.

Extras

Some companies offer extras, but this is rare. Toco, for example, provides a discount on reservations from Hotels.com. However, these are bonuses, so I don’t penalize companies that lack extras.