Shopping for vehicle protection in 2026 means weighing direct-to-consumer providers like Empire Auto Protect against dealer-channel and insurance-backed options like Zurich. Both have a place in the market, but they serve very different drivers. Empire is built for the driver who wants broad coverage, fast claims, and a real human at the other end of the phone. Zurich is best known as a vehicle service contract administrator that primarily reaches customers through new and used car dealerships, often bundled into the deal at the F&I (finance and insurance) office.

This comparison breaks down what actually matters when a $4,000 transmission fails — coverage breadth, claims speed, plan flexibility, and total cost. By the time you reach the conclusion, you will see why Empire Auto Protect is the better fit for the vast majority of drivers.

Quick Verdict

About Empire Auto Protect

Empire Auto Protect is a direct-to-consumer vehicle protection company. We design plans by hand for each vehicle, with licensed agents on the phone who walk you through the parts list before you ever sign anything. The numbers behind the brand:

• 400,000+ vehicles covered
• $100M+ paid in claims
• 5.0-star Google rating across 3,600+ verified reviews
• 30-day money-back guarantee, pro-rated refunds after
• Coverage available for EVs, hybrids, diesel, luxury, and high-mileage vehicles
• Repairs at any ASE-licensed mechanic or dealership in the U.S.
• Deductible options from $0 to $200, plans from $69/month
• 24/7 live phone support for claims and roadside
• Multi-year contracts available so your rate locks in before repair costs go up again next year

Empire is independent, which means we are not tied to any single underwriter or dealer chain. If a customer’s vehicle is unusual — an EV, a diesel pickup, a high-mileage import — we still write coverage for it. That flexibility is rare in this category.

About Zurich Vehicle Service Contracts

Zurich is a global financial services company with a vehicle service contract (VSC) division administered through its Universal Underwriters Service Corporation. Most consumers encounter Zurich coverage when they buy a car: the dealer’s F&I manager offers a Zurich service contract as part of the financing paperwork. Zurich also operates Vehicle Asset Protection products like GAP, key replacement, and tire-and-wheel coverage.

Zurich plans are administered by Zurich and sold through its dealer network. The customer experience tends to vary widely depending on which dealership wrote the contract because the dealer sets the price, plan tier, and add-ons inside Zurich’s product framework.

Plan Comparison

Both companies offer multiple coverage tiers, but the way you select them is fundamentally different.

Coverage Differences That Matter

Two contracts can both say “comprehensive” and still pay out very differently when a real claim hits. Here is where Empire pulls ahead in practice:

1. Plan Design

With Empire, you call a licensed agent, give us your VIN, and we walk you through what is and is not covered before you spend a dollar. Want the turbocharger included but skip the tire-and-wheel rider? Done. Zurich’s plans are tier-based and assembled by the F&I office during the most distracted moment of car-buying — right after you signed the loan. Most buyers later report they were not entirely sure which tier they ended up with.

2. EV and Hybrid Coverage

Empire writes plans specifically built for EVs, hybrids, and PHEVs. That includes the high-voltage battery, regenerative braking system, electric motor and inverter, on-board charger, and DC-DC converter. Zurich’s coverage on EVs depends entirely on which dealership wrote the contract and which version of the product they selected. Coverage is not always uniform.

3. Repair Shop Flexibility

Empire pays at any ASE-licensed shop in the country, which is critical when you break down 600 miles from home. Zurich generally steers customers toward the original selling dealer or affiliated dealer network, which can be a problem if you have moved, the dealer closed, or the dealer’s service department is backed up two weeks.

4. High-Mileage Vehicles

Empire covers vehicles up to 200,000+ miles. Most Zurich VSCs cap at lower mileage thresholds tied to original-warranty terms because they were primarily designed to extend a manufacturer warranty, not start fresh on an older car.

Claims Process

This is where the real difference shows up.

Empire Auto Protect: One number, 24/7. Live agent answers, pulls up your vehicle, and authorizes the shop in real time in most cases. Average phone wait: under 2 minutes. The shop calls Empire directly — the customer does not have to play middleman.

Zurich: Claims go through Zurich’s administrator phone line during business hours. The shop must submit estimates and may wait for an inspector or claims adjuster review on larger repairs. The process is professional but is generally slower for the customer because there are more handoffs between the dealer service writer, the Zurich administrator, and the underwriter.

If your transmission fails on a Friday at 7 PM, Empire will already be on the phone with the shop before Zurich’s call center reopens Monday. For drivers who actually depend on the vehicle, that responsiveness translates directly to fewer days in a rental car.

Pricing Comparison

This is where comparing apples to apples gets tricky. Empire publishes plans starting at $69/month direct, with an honest quote in 60 seconds online or by phone. Zurich pricing is set by each dealership, so the same coverage on the same vehicle can vary by hundreds of dollars depending on which F&I office writes it. Many buyers also do not realize the Zurich premium is folded into the auto loan, where it accrues interest over five to seven years, often inflating the total cost by 20–40%.

Empire’s pricing is paid monthly direct, with no loan interest stacking on top. Over the life of a typical 5-year contract, that difference alone can save a customer $400–$1,200 compared to financing the same coverage through a dealer.

Who Each Is Best For

Empire Auto Protect Is the Better Fit If You:

• Want to shop coverage on your terms without the F&I office pressure
• Drive an EV, hybrid, diesel, luxury, or high-mileage vehicle
• Want the freedom to use any ASE-licensed mechanic in the country
• Need 24/7 live claims support — not just business-hours
• Want a licensed agent to design the plan for your vehicle, not a preset tier
• Want a 30-day money-back guarantee with pro-rated refunds after
• Prefer monthly direct billing instead of rolling premiums into a loan

Zurich May Work If You:

• Are buying a new car at a dealer that exclusively writes Zurich and prefer to roll the contract into the loan rather than handle a separate provider

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empire Auto Protect cheaper than Zurich?

Generally yes, especially over the life of the contract. Empire’s direct pricing avoids the dealer markup and the loan interest that gets stacked on top when a Zurich VSC is financed. On most multi-year comparisons, Empire saves $400–$1,200.

Can I cancel my Zurich contract and switch to Empire Auto Protect?

In most states, yes. Zurich VSCs can typically be canceled with a pro-rated refund of the unused premium. Empire’s licensed agents have walked customers through this transition many times. Call us and we will help you understand the math before you decide.

Does Empire Auto Protect cover used cars and high-mileage vehicles?

Yes. Empire writes coverage for vehicles up to 200,000+ miles and most makes and models. Zurich’s contracts are typically tied to the new-vehicle sale, so used and high-mileage eligibility is more limited.

Will Empire Auto Protect work at my regular mechanic?

If your shop is ASE-licensed, yes — that covers virtually every mainstream independent mechanic and dealership in the country. There is no preferred-provider network that locks you into a single shop.

Which company has better claims service?

Empire’s 24/7 live phone support and real-time claim authorization is consistently faster than Zurich’s business-hours claims process. Empire’s 5.0-star Google rating across 3,600+ reviews reflects exactly this.

Conclusion

Zurich is a recognized brand in the dealer F&I channel, but for the vast majority of drivers shopping for vehicle protection in 2026, Empire Auto Protect is the better choice. Empire wins on coverage breadth, plan flexibility, claims responsiveness, repair-shop freedom, EV and high-mileage eligibility, and total cost over the life of the contract. The 30-day money-back guarantee removes the risk of trying us, and licensed agents design the plan around your actual vehicle — not a preset tier handed to you at the F&I desk.

If you want vehicle protection that follows you to any ASE-licensed shop in the country, picks up the phone at 2 AM, and pays $100M+ in claims a year for 400,000+ drivers, Empire Auto Protect is the right call.

By the Empire Auto Protect Team | Updated May 2026