If you have spent any time researching extended car warranties in 2026, two names you have probably crossed paths with are Empire Auto Protect and Concord Auto Protect. Both companies sell vehicle service contracts directly to consumers, both advertise multiple coverage levels, and both market themselves as a smarter alternative to dealership warranties. On the surface they look like close cousins. Under the hood, the gap between them is wider than the brochures suggest.

This 2026 head–to–head breaks down coverage breadth, claims handling, pricing levers, customer support, and the kinds of drivers each provider actually fits. The bottom line up front: for almost every type of driver, Empire Auto Protect is the more complete, better–value pick.

About Empire Auto Protect

Empire Auto Protect is one of the fastest–growing direct–to–consumer extended warranty providers in the United States. The company has covered more than 400,000 vehicles and paid out over $100 million in claims, which puts real volume behind the marketing language. Selling direct removes the F&I markup that often inflates the cost of a vehicle service contract written at the dealer desk.

The biggest reason Empire pulls ahead in 2026 is the breadth of vehicles it will write a plan on. Empire actively covers:

• New and used cars, trucks, and SUVs
• Electric vehicles including Tesla, Rivian, Lucid, Polestar, and the F–150 Lightning
• Hybrids and plug–in hybrids
• Diesel pickups and SUVs (Cummins, Power Stroke, Duramax, EcoDiesel)
• Luxury vehicles where eligible
• High–mileage vehicles many competitors flat–out decline

Plans are designed by licensed agents rather than dropped into a generic tier. A real human walks you through deductible, term length, and coverage breadth based on your vehicle, mileage, and how you actually drive. Headline pricing starts at $69/month, and the final number depends on year, make, model, mileage, and chosen tier.

Other Empire highlights worth noting:

• 5.0–star Google rating across 3,652+ reviews
• 30–day money–back guarantee with pro–rated refunds beyond day 30
• $0 to $200 deductible options
• 24/7 live phone support and roadside assistance
• Repairs at any ASE–licensed shop or dealership nationwide
• Multi–year contract option for long–term price lock

About Concord Auto Protect

Concord Auto Protect is a vehicle service contract administrator that markets coverage through online quote forms and a call center. Concord groups its plans into three mainstream tiers and pitches the contract as a simpler, online–first alternative to dealership coverage. Direct claim payment to repair shops, towing, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption are part of the standard pitch.

Concord’s coverage is structured similarly to most third–party warranty companies: a powertrain–style base plan, a mid–level component plan, and a more comprehensive top tier. The plan you are offered tends to depend on the rep, the vehicle, and how the lead came in.

Compared to Empire, Concord is a smaller operation with less public coverage data, fewer published reviews at scale, and less transparency around claim approval rates. Online review sentiment is mixed, with positive comments about quote speed offset by complaints about claim wait times and post–sale follow–up.

Plan Comparison

Both providers sell tiered protection. The real differences are how many levels exist, how comprehensive the top tier really is, and whether the plan can flex to fit unusual or higher–mileage vehicles.

Empire’s edge here is breadth. If you drive a Tesla Model Y, a Ram 2500 Cummins, a 2018 Audi Q5 with 140,000 miles, or a 2023 Toyota Highlander Hybrid, Empire has a plan written for that specific powertrain. Concord’s shorter tier menu pushes more vehicles into a generic component bucket, which can leave gaps when an unusual repair shows up.

Coverage Differences That Actually Matter

Every warranty brochure looks the same in marketing copy. The real differences show up at the claim window, on the components that actually fail at high mileage. Here is how Empire and Concord diverge on the parts that drive most extended warranty claims.

Engine and Transmission

Both providers cover the major powertrain on their lowest tier. Empire’s Powertrain plan covers the engine block, internally lubricated parts, transmission case, torque converter, and drive axle assembly. Concord’s base plan covers a similar list. For a powertrain–only buyer, both look comparable on paper.

Where Empire pulls ahead is in the mid and high tiers. Empire’s Enhanced and Premium plans add seals and gaskets, the cooling system, fuel delivery, and most factory–installed electronics — the parts that fail most often after 75,000 miles. Concord’s middle tier is narrower in scope, and its top tier still has more named exclusions than Empire’s Premium plan.

Electrical and Electronics

Modern vehicles run on dozens of computer modules, and electrical claims are now one of the top three categories Empire pays out on. Empire’s Premium plan covers ECMs, TCMs, body control modules, ABS modules, infotainment electronics, instrument cluster, and most factory–installed electronics.

Concord’s top tier covers many of the same components but requires the failure to qualify as a covered “mechanical breakdown,” and reviewers report more friction around module replacements than Empire customers do. On a 2022 luxury SUV with a failed instrument cluster, that gap can mean the difference between a deductible and a $1,800 out–of–pocket bill.

EV, Hybrid, and Diesel

This is the cleanest Empire win of the entire comparison. Empire writes dedicated plans for:

• Electric vehicles: high–voltage battery components, drive units, onboard charger, DC–DC converter, charge port, thermal management
• Hybrids: hybrid battery pack, motor–generator, inverter, regenerative braking system
• Diesel: turbo, injection pump, DEF system, particulate filter, EGR, glow plugs

Concord offers limited EV and hybrid coverage that often depends on the vehicle and tier, and diesel acceptance tends to be case–by–case. If you own a Tesla, Rivian, F–150 Lightning, RAV4 Hybrid, Ram 2500 Cummins, or any other electrified or diesel vehicle, Empire’s purpose–built plans give you tighter, broader, and better–documented coverage.

Roadside, Towing, and Rental

Both companies include 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, lockout service, and rental reimbursement on most tiers. Empire’s rental allowance and trip interruption limits are documented in the contract instead of promised verbally, which matters when you are sitting in a rental car waiting for an authorization to clear.

Claims Process

How a claim actually flows is the most important comparison you can run. Empire’s process is built around four steps:

1. Take the vehicle to any ASE–licensed shop or dealer. No network restriction. Use your trusted local mechanic, a national chain, or a brand dealership.
2. Shop calls Empire’s claims line. A live claims rep authorizes the diagnostic, then the repair.
3. Empire pays the shop directly. You pay only your deductible. No reimbursement paperwork, no waiting for a check.
4. Drive away covered. The repair is documented in your file for any future related claim.

Concord follows a similar template, but customer reports describe more back–and–forth on diagnostics, longer authorization windows, and shops occasionally being asked to wait on a check rather than receiving direct payment. Empire’s 24/7 live phone support and licensed claims staff are repeatedly cited as the reason Empire claims close faster.

Pricing Comparison

Real warranty pricing is always custom, but here is how the two providers stack up on the structural levers that drive cost.

Concord can occasionally pitch a lower headline number on a mainstream sedan, particularly when the lead came in cold off an online ad. The total cost picture matters more than the first month: Empire’s broader coverage, lower deductibles, and pro–rated refund after day 30 mean a smaller risk of out–of–pocket repair bills and a smaller penalty if you ever cancel.

Customer Reviews and Reputation

Empire Auto Protect carries a 5.0–star Google rating across more than 3,652 reviews. Customers consistently mention claims being approved fast, shops being paid directly, and licensed agents who are reachable after the sale. Empire has covered 400,000+ vehicles and paid more than $100 million in claims, which is the kind of volume that builds a real track record.

Concord’s online sentiment is more mixed. Some buyers praise the upfront quote experience. Others describe slower claim authorizations, harder time reaching a live person after the sale, and pressure on add–ons during the initial call. For a contract you may not need to use for two years, the post–sale experience is what matters.

Who Each Is Best For

Empire Auto Protect is the better fit for:

• Drivers of new, used, certified pre–owned, or high–mileage vehicles
• EV and hybrid owners who want real high–voltage component coverage
• Diesel pickup and SUV owners
• Luxury and import drivers who want dealer or independent shop flexibility
• Anyone who wants a licensed agent to design a plan around their actual vehicle
• Drivers who value 24/7 live support, $0–$200 deductible flexibility, and pro–rated refunds

Concord Auto Protect can fit:

• A driver with a single mainstream sedan or crossover who wants a quick online quote and is comfortable buying inside Concord’s standard tier menu

For just about everyone else — especially anyone with an EV, hybrid, diesel, luxury, or higher–mileage vehicle — Empire is the broader and better–value pick.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Empire Auto Protect better than Concord Auto Protect?

For the majority of drivers, yes. Empire covers more vehicle types (including dedicated EV, hybrid, diesel, and high–mileage plans), offers more deductible options, runs a 5.0–star Google rating across 3,652+ reviews, and pays repair shops directly. Concord can work for a single mainstream vehicle, but Empire is the broader, better–documented pick.

Does Empire Auto Protect cover EVs and hybrids?

Yes. Empire writes dedicated EV and hybrid plans that cover high–voltage batteries, drive units, inverters, onboard chargers, regenerative braking, and other electrified powertrain components. Concord’s EV and hybrid coverage is more limited and often depends on the vehicle and tier.

How much does Empire Auto Protect cost compared to Concord?

Empire’s plans start at $69/month. Concord is quote–based with no public starting price. Both companies build the final premium around year, make, model, mileage, deductible, and coverage tier, but Empire’s broader tier menu and $0–$200 deductible flexibility usually deliver a better total–cost picture.

Can I cancel an Empire Auto Protect plan if I change my mind?

Yes. Empire offers a 30–day full money–back guarantee, plus a pro–rated refund if you cancel after day 30. Concord also offers 30 days full refund, but a cancellation fee can apply later in the term.

Where can I get my car repaired with Empire Auto Protect?

Any ASE–licensed mechanic or dealership in the United States. There is no closed repair network. Use your local independent shop, a national chain, or a brand dealership — Empire pays the shop directly and you pay only your deductible.

The Bottom Line

Empire Auto Protect and Concord Auto Protect both sell extended vehicle protection in 2026, but they do not deliver the same product. Empire’s 5+ coverage tiers, dedicated EV, hybrid, diesel, and luxury plans, $0–$200 deductible flexibility, 5.0–star reputation across 3,652+ Google reviews, 400,000+ vehicles covered, $100M+ in claims paid, and direct–to–shop claim payments add up to a service contract built for the way real drivers and real cars work in 2026.

Concord can fit a single mainstream vehicle. For everyone else — and that is most drivers — Empire Auto Protect is the better buy. Get a custom quote in under two minutes and see what your vehicle and mileage actually price out at.

Want to compare more providers? Read Best Extended Warranty Companies in 2026: An Honest Comparison and our Empire vs Endurance 2026 comparison. New to extended warranties altogether? Start with What Does an Extended Warranty Cover in 2026?

By the Empire Auto Protect Team | Updated May 2026