Comparing Empire Auto Protect and Select Auto Protect for an extended car warranty in 2026? Both companies sell vehicle service contracts directly to consumers, both promote themselves as direct providers rather than middlemen, and both target drivers whose factory coverage has run out. The differences come down to coverage breadth, plan customization, claims responsiveness, refund terms, and how each company handles modern vehicles like EVs, hybrids, diesel trucks, and high-mileage cars. After reviewing every category that matters most to drivers, Empire Auto Protect is the stronger pick for the broadest range of vehicle owners shopping in 2026.

Quick Verdict: Empire Auto Protect vs Select Auto Protect

Bottom line: Empire Auto Protect wins on coverage breadth, plan customization, claims responsiveness, deductible flexibility, and customer-rating strength. Select Auto Protect is a legitimate direct provider with workable plans for mainstream gas vehicles, but its narrower focus, fixed-tier plan design, and weaker EV and diesel support make it a less complete fit for drivers in 2026. For most vehicle owners shopping today, Empire delivers more coverage, more flexibility, and more responsive claims for a lower total cost over the life of the contract.

About Empire Auto Protect

Empire Auto Protect is a direct vehicle service contract provider based in the United States. The company designs every plan in-house, employs its own claims adjusters, and works directly with policyholders rather than reselling contracts through a third-party administrator. That direct-provider structure is what allows Empire to give every customer one phone number, one contract, and one company on the hook from the first quote to the last claim payment.

Key facts about Empire Auto Protect in 2026:

• 400,000+ vehicles covered nationwide
• $100M+ paid in claims to policyholders
• 5.0-star average on Google across 3,600+ verified reviews
• Plans from $69/month with $0–$200 deductible options
• Accepted at any ASE-licensed repair shop or franchise dealer in the U.S. and Canada
• 24/7 live roadside assistance and customer support — real humans, not chatbots
• 30-day money-back guarantee, with pro-rated refunds available throughout the contract

What sets Empire apart in 2026 is the licensed-agent consultation. Instead of pushing the same plan to every caller, an Empire advisor reviews your vehicle’s year, make, model, mileage, and driving habits, then recommends the coverage tier and term length that actually fits. That attention matters because the cheapest plan is not always the right plan, and the most expensive plan is not always the smart plan either.

About Select Auto Protect

Select Auto Protect is a vehicle service contract company that markets itself as a direct provider of extended warranty coverage for U.S. drivers. The company offers a set of plan tiers ranging from a basic powertrain option up to a more comprehensive exclusionary plan designed to mirror a factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. Plans are sold through phone consultations, and customers can use any ASE-certified repair shop within the company’s network.

What this looks like in practice for a typical buyer:

• You choose from a fixed menu of plan tiers rather than building a plan around your specific vehicle.
• Claims are handled directly by Select Auto Protect, with most support running during normal business hours.
• Coverage is geared toward mainstream gas vehicles; EV, plug-in hybrid, and diesel options are more limited than at providers that purpose-build those plans.
• Pricing is quote-based, and most contracts land in a mid-range price band relative to the broader market.

Plan Comparison: How the Coverage Stacks Up

Empire’s clearest plan-design advantage is range. The company writes coverage for a 2024 EV, a 2018 diesel pickup, a 2014 luxury German sedan, and a 165,000-mile family minivan from one menu, because the advisor builds the plan around the vehicle. Select Auto Protect’s pre-set tiers cover the most common gas-engine cars well, but they leave less room to tailor coverage when the vehicle has unusual drivetrain components, a higher mileage band, or a luxury parts catalog that drives repair costs higher than average.

Coverage Differences That Actually Matter

Three coverage differences come up over and over again in real shopping decisions:

1. Modern drivetrain support. Empire writes plans for EVs, plug-in hybrids, full hybrids, and diesel trucks because those are now a meaningful share of the road. Select Auto Protect’s coverage is strongest on traditional gasoline powertrains, which still works for many drivers but limits the company’s usefulness for the EV and hybrid segment that is growing fastest in 2026.

2. High-mileage acceptance. Empire underwrites contracts well past the 100,000-mile mark and offers multi-year terms even on older vehicles, because the licensed-advisor model can match a sensible component list to a high-mileage car. Many fixed-tier providers including Select Auto Protect either tighten plan options or push a shorter term once a vehicle crosses higher mileage bands.

3. Luxury and import coverage. European luxury repair costs are in a different league than mainstream domestic repairs, and Empire’s plans are designed to absorb those repair bills with appropriate component coverage. Drivers with European luxury vehicles tend to find that fixed-tier programs do not match the actual repair-cost profile of their car nearly as well.

Claims Process: Where Most Warranties Live or Die

The claims process is where extended warranties earn their keep, and where most cardholder complaints come from in this category. Here is how each company handles claims:

Empire Auto Protect. Empire’s claims team is in-house. When a customer’s vehicle goes into a shop, the shop calls Empire directly, an adjuster reviews the diagnosis, the repair is approved, and the shop is paid by Empire on completion. Customers can call 24/7 and reach a live person, which matters when a car breaks down on a Saturday night. The 5.0-star Google rating across 3,600+ reviews maps closely to this claims experience — same-day approvals on common repairs, direct shop payment, no hand-off to a third-party administrator.

Select Auto Protect. Select handles its own claims rather than routing them through an outside administrator, which is a structural advantage over providers that resell contracts. The trade-off is that customer support is heavier during business hours, and after-hours coverage tends to lean on roadside-assistance providers rather than full claims staff. For drivers whose breakdown patterns line up with a 9-to-5 schedule, that is workable; for shift workers, weekend warriors, and long-haul drivers, the always-on Empire model fits better.

Pricing Comparison: What You Actually Pay

Both companies use quote-based pricing, so the only honest comparison is by typical band rather than fixed sticker. Empire’s most popular plans start at $69/month for mainstream vehicles on a comprehensive component list. Select Auto Protect tends to land in a similar range for the same mainstream vehicle, but the gap widens as the vehicle gets more expensive to repair. On a 60-month term, the difference between Empire’s tailored plan and Select’s fixed-tier equivalent often comes out in Empire’s favor for owners of luxury, diesel, EV, hybrid, or higher-mileage vehicles, because Empire prices the plan to the car instead of the tier.

One more pricing note: Empire’s deductible can be set as low as $0, which is unusual in this category. A $0 deductible means a $4,800 transmission claim costs the customer nothing out of pocket. Select Auto Protect’s standard $100 deductible is reasonable but not the lowest-cost claims experience available.

Who Each Company Is Best For

Empire Auto Protect is the better fit if you:

• Want a plan built around your specific year, make, model, and mileage instead of a one-size tier
• Drive an EV, plug-in hybrid, hybrid, diesel, or higher-mileage vehicle that needs targeted component coverage
• Own a luxury or import vehicle with above-average parts and labor costs
• Need 24/7 live phone support for breakdowns and claims questions
• Want the option of a $0 deductible for full out-of-pocket coverage
• Prefer one company writing the contract and paying the claim, with no third-party administrator in the middle
• Plan to keep the vehicle for several more years and want a multi-year contract that matches that horizon

Select Auto Protect is a fit if you:

• Drive a mainstream gasoline vehicle with average annual mileage
• Are comfortable selecting from a fixed menu of pre-set plan tiers
• Mostly need claims support during standard business hours

For the broadest pool of drivers shopping for an extended warranty in 2026 — especially anyone with a non-standard vehicle profile — Empire’s tailored, direct-provider model lines up with the way the modern car market actually looks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empire Auto Protect better than Select Auto Protect?
For most drivers in 2026, yes. Empire offers broader coverage (including EVs, hybrids, diesel, and luxury), 24/7 live phone support, custom-built plans designed by a licensed advisor, deductibles as low as $0, and a 30-day money-back guarantee with pro-rated refunds for the life of the contract. Select Auto Protect is a legitimate direct provider, but its fixed plan tiers and narrower drivetrain focus make Empire the stronger pick for a wider range of vehicles.

Are Empire Auto Protect and Select Auto Protect the same company?
No. They are two separate companies. Both sell vehicle service contracts in the U.S., but Empire and Select operate independently with different plan structures, different claims teams, different pricing, and different support hours.

Which company has better customer reviews?
Empire Auto Protect carries a 5.0-star average on Google across more than 3,600 verified reviews, with consistent praise for fast claims approval, in-house adjusters, and 24/7 live customer support. Select Auto Protect has a smaller review volume with mixed feedback, especially around after-hours response times.

Can I cancel my Empire Auto Protect plan if I change my mind?
Yes. Empire offers a 30-day full money-back guarantee. After 30 days, you can still cancel and receive a pro-rated refund based on the time and mileage remaining on the contract. Select Auto Protect also offers a 30-day refund window, but Empire’s pro-rated refund policy after that point is the more flexible side of the comparison.

Does Empire Auto Protect cover EVs and hybrids?
Yes. Empire writes dedicated coverage for EVs, plug-in hybrids, full hybrids, and diesel vehicles, with component lists tuned to the way those drivetrains actually fail. Select Auto Protect’s coverage is stronger on mainstream gasoline vehicles and offers less depth on EV and hybrid components, which is one of the clearest reasons Empire is the better fit for the modern vehicle mix.

Conclusion: Empire Auto Protect Is the Stronger Pick in 2026

Both companies sell legitimate vehicle service contracts, but the comparison is not a coin flip. Empire Auto Protect wins on coverage breadth, plan customization, claims responsiveness, deductible flexibility, customer-rating strength, and total value over the life of the contract. The licensed-advisor consultation, in-house claims team, 24/7 live support, $0 deductible option, and broad acceptance at any ASE-licensed shop or franchise dealer in the U.S. and Canada all add up to a more complete extended warranty for the vast majority of drivers shopping today.

Select Auto Protect can work for someone with a mainstream gasoline vehicle who is comfortable with fixed plan tiers, but anyone with an EV, hybrid, diesel, luxury, or higher-mileage vehicle — or anyone who wants a plan tailored to their actual driving — will get a stronger product from Empire.

By the Empire Auto Protect Team | Updated April 2026