Expert Review

In some ways, we liked Concord Auto Protect. They didn’t reach the upper echelons of our reviews simply because they don’t seem to go the extra mile in terms of adding value to their services or beating out the competitors. However, they’re definitely a solid option for a low-tech, simple, well-administered extended warranty, if you can pay the price. We love that they handle their own claims, offer 24/7 roadside assistance, and have something called their “Rapid Response System” that’s intended to keep you from having to wait on hold or, especially, wait for approvals on car repairs. Their online presence and their team members create a sense that this is a small business.

And, when it comes to standard services, they can be a cut above. For example, we found their sales and customer service teams to be exceptionally kind and transparent, and we liked that their coverage is transferable. They even offer a pro-rated refund should you cancel your coverage. Concord offers a 30-day money back guarantee, and their rental car reimbursements max out at $75 per day, which is around twice what many of their competitors cover.

However, we were less than impressed by their payment plan options. This is not a service for unlined pockets, nor for high mileage, older cars. When we asked about payment plans, we were told that they could stretch payments out over 2 to 3 months at most, and would need to get approval to make that happen. We were encouraged to purchase up front and pay in full, with a 10% discount for those paying in full in one payment. The other option we were given, in terms of making their coverage more affordable, was to reduce the number of years of coverage. The possible plans were for: 

• 5 years or 60,000 miles
• 4 years or 48,000 miles
• 3 years or 36,000 miles

The price went down based on the number of years in the warranty, but honestly, not enough to make only 3 years of coverage worth it. The upside of this is that they don’t charge interest on what payment programs they do offer, but their idea of a payment program seems to be quite different from other comparable providers. This is probably because they are an administrator and on the smaller side: upfront payments likely help them mitigate risk and reduce friction on collecting what’s due.

And the service that they do offer is somewhat barebones. They man the phones, they administer claims – which is what you want from your extended auto warranty company – but they don’t offer much in the way of perks. And, since most of the companies in this field offer roughly the same basic coverage and allow you to break payments up over as much as 4 years, it’d be nice to see some little perks or customer engagement. There’s no app, no social media presence, no car maintenance resources, and contact is almost entirely made via phone call. But hey, if you’re looking for an old school company with a small business feel and you have the smackeroos to pay for it upfront, this could still be a great option. Based on our experiences with their team and the fact that they administer their own claims, we wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Concord Auto Protect as a solid option for the right consumer.

OVERALL IMPRESSION

In short, Concord Auto Protect is an administrator offering simple but solid service. We always prefer an administrator over a reseller, as buying your warranty directly helps save costs and cut out the middle man, plus it puts you directly in touch with the company that’ll be handling your claims. Their biggest asset is their customer service team, and their biggest downside is their lack of long-term payment plans. No major flashy perks, apps, or extra resources here, but they seem like a perfectly fine company to work with if you’re willing to pay upfront and don’t mind phone calls. At least they won’t spam your inbox.