Liberty Bell Auto Protect Review: Coverage, Cost, Perks

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Liberty Bell Auto Protect Review

In Our Opinion:

Liberty Bell Auto Protect rivals well-known providers with its affordable costs and high customer ratings. We awarded Liberty Bell Auto Protect with the title "Best Military Discount" because of the deals it gives those with military backgrounds.

Industry Standing

Coverage

Affordability

Customer Service

Pros

Price match guarantee

Military discount

Flexible transfer policy

Positive customer reviews and ratings

Cons

No exclusionary bumper-to-bumper plan

Only three plans

Coverage not available in California

4

Best Military Discount

Have you thought about how you might cover expensive repairs when they come up? In the world of extended warranties, Liberty Bell Auto Protect is a reliable company that can cover a range of repairs. 

Whether you save up your own money for repairs or go with an extended auto warranty, it’s important to have a plan. We’ve researched the best used car warranty companies and found Liberty Bell Auto Protect stood out for its military discount. 

If you’re looking for an extended warranty, comparison shopping is the way to go. Get quotes from multiple providers and compare them on price and coverage to see what works for you.

Top Car Warranty Companies

We reviewed the top extended warranty providers, and here are our top picks. 

Best Direct Coverage	Best for Older Vehicles	Military Discount
Endurance	CARCHEX	Liberty Bell Auto
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(866) 254-0205	(732) 963-0063

Top 5 Things We Like About Liberty Bell Auto Protect

Liberty Bell Auto Protect began in 2010 in Saddle Brook, New Jersey. Since then, the company has made many happy customers and covered hundreds of vehicles. Here are five things we like most about the company: 

1. Liberty Bell Auto Protect has a price match guarantee. 
2. Drivers can get coverage for vehicles up to 20 years old or 140,000 miles.
3. The company has great reviews on the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot.
4. All plans come with roadside assistance, rental reimbursement, and trip interruption.
5. The highest coverage option includes things like GPS, convertible top motors, and rear-facing cameras. 

The company’s cancellation policy is pretty standard. You can cancel within 30 days for a full refund, as long as you haven’t used any of the coverage. You can cancel after 30 days for a prorated refund, which subtracts mileage, service, and time used. Even if you don’t use any of the coverage, you won’t get a full refund after 30 days. 

Liberty Bell Auto Protect allows you to transfer the contract to a secondary private owner if you sell your car. This can add value to your car when you sell it. Interestingly, the company allows a contract to be transferred two times over its existence. 

So, the secondary owner also benefits from this if they want to sell the car themselves. Most other extended warranty companies only allow for one transfer, so Liberty Bell Auto Protect’s transfer policy is definitely a plus. There is also no fee to transfer a policy, according to the sample contract online. 

Liberty Bell Auto Protect Coverage Overview

Liberty Bell Auto Protect offers three different coverage options: Platinum, Platinum Plus, and Platinum Prime. Drivers can go to any repair facility with an ASE-Certified^® mechanic for repairs. There are tens of thousands of shops to choose from in the U.S. and Canada. 

Here’s how the different coverage options break down:

	Platinum	Platinum Plus	Platinum Prime
Engine	X	X	X
Transmission	X	X	X
Drive axle	X	X	X
Cooling system	X	X	X
Basic electrical	X	X	X
Brakes	X	X	X
AWD	X	X	X
Steering		X	X
Air conditioning/heating			X
Fuel system			X
ABS			X
Suspension			X
Turbocharger			X
High-tech			X
Differential assembly			X
Seals and gaskets			X

Coverage Details

The Platinum plan covers the powertrain (engine, transmission, and drive axle) plus a few essential systems. The Platinum Plus plan adds coverage for the steering system. Finally, the Platinum Prime plan covers hundreds of parts on most major systems. It covers high-tech components like power window motors, temperature sensors, sunroof motors, and keyless entry modules. 

Seals and gaskets are covered only under the Platinum Prime plan, and only in conjunction with a covered repair. Some other companies cover seals and gaskets at any level. 

All of these plans are stated-component contracts, which means each covered item is listed on the contract. The other main type of contract is called exclusionary, and it’s what bumper-to-bumper warranties use. 

So, how does this coverage compare to other companies? Well, Liberty Bell Auto Protect plans have the basics covered, but there are only three options. 

For comparison, Endurance warranty plans come in five varieties, and CarShield warranties come in six, so Liberty Bell Auto Protect doesn’t offer the widest range of choices out there. On the other end of the spectrum is auto repair insurance, which doesn’t quite have the flexibility or freedom of an extended warranty plan. 

Coverage Perks

Liberty Bell Auto Protect offers the following perks on all its plans:

• Rental car reimbursement: Provides up to $35 per day for a maximum of six days.
• Trip interruption reimbursement: Provides up to $50 per day for a maximum of three days if you have a breakdown more than 100 miles from home.
• Roadside assistance reimbursement: Covers up to $100 for towing, one spare tire installation per year, $40 for battery jump-starts or fuel delivery, and $20 for lockout assistance.

Liberty Bell Auto Protect contracts have a standard waiting period, which is usually 30 days and 1,000 miles. You can’t use these benefits during the waiting period. 

What Liberty Bell Auto Protect Doesn’t Cover

While the company covers hundreds of parts on your vehicle, it doesn’t cover everything. Here are a few examples: 

• Audio system
• Shock absorbers
• Regular maintenance
• Recalls and service bulletins
• Wear items and tune-up parts
• Damage from lack of maintenance
• Cosmetic items like chrome and glass
• Damage from accidents or environmental events

Before you get to the repair shop, you need to contact the Liberty Bell Auto Protect claims department. Like all extended warranty companies, Liberty Bell Auto Protect won’t cover unauthorized repairs. Liberty Bell Auto Protect also doesn’t cover the cost of teardown or diagnosis, even if the failed part is covered. 

It’s important to know what’s written in the contract. If this is the first time you’ve shopped for a vehicle service contract, check out our extended warranty buyers guide for an in-depth review of the process.

Lastly, Liberty Bell Auto Protect doesn’t offer coverage in California. On the other hand, CARCHEX does cover drivers in the Golden State. If you live in California, check out our CARCHEX review to learn about the company.

Like most extended car warranties, Liberty Bell Auto Protect doesn’t cover repairs due to accidents or collision.

Liberty Bell Auto Protect Customer Reviews

Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews on the BBB give the company about 4.6 stars overall. The company also has a B+ rating from the BBB itself, plus a rating of “Excellent” from Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews on Trustpilot. 

Many Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews are about how easy the purchase process is. Customers say the staff is helpful and knowledgeable, and they take their time explaining the different contracts. We also found a number of positive reviews about the claims process, which is another good sign. 

Negative Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews mention a few issues:

• Engine teardown cost not covered
• Poor claims service – waiting days to hear back
• Items not being covered when they are on the contract

One driver mentioned a leaking water pump wasn’t considered a failure, so it wasn’t covered. The reality is a part listed on the contract might not be covered under certain situations. If you purchase an extended car warranty, take the first 30 days to go over the whole contract and ask for clarification on anything you don’t understand. 

Liberty Bell Auto Protect Review Examples

Here are a couple of example Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews, one positive and one negative: 

“This coverage has already saved me money in repair costs on my Honda Odyssey. I had to get a power steering issue fixed and they covered it. Filing a claim was easy and fast compared to my previous experiences with the other warranty company.” – Melani R., BBB

“Like almost all extended auto coverage companies, they are warm and excited to sell you a policy. But then, when you have a needed repair, they are slow to respond, often weeks later.” – Charles W., Trustpilot

While there are some negative reviews, the overwhelming majority of Liberty Bell Auto Protect reviews are positive. 

Liberty Bell Auto Protect Warranty Costs

From our research, we found Liberty Bell Auto Protect plans cost about $450 per year of coverage, which is pretty much the average we found across the top providers, as well. 

So, a five-year plan could cost $2,250 total. A typical payment period is 24 months, so you’d be paying about $90 per month unless you made a down payment at the start. 

Liberty Bell Auto Protect also offers a 110-percent price match guarantee, so you have some leverage if you’ve received cheaper quotes from other companies. Quotes are dependent on the following:

• State regulations and taxes
• The type of coverage you want
• Make, model, and mileage of your car
• Deductible options and other discounts

With Liberty Bell Auto Protect, you could qualify for a $0 deductible. You can also choose a higher deductible amount, which typically brings down the overall cost. Be sure to ask plenty of questions when you speak to a Liberty Bell Auto Protect salesperson. According to Kelley Blue Book, 

“A deductible amount might have to be paid out of pocket for each repair, or for each visit. If a repair takes two or more sessions, ask if the deductible must be paid again.”

From our research, the company uses a deductible once per visit, so multiple repairs could be performed under one deductible. As long as your vehicle is at the shop, one deductible amount should cover it. 

Conclusion: Liberty Bell Auto Protect Is A Solid Choice

Compared to other companies on the market, Liberty Bell Auto Protect holds its own. It might not offer as many choices for coverage, but it has good prices and reviews. Compare a quote from Liberty Bell Auto Protect against a few other top extended warranty providers for the best deal. 

Top Car Warranty Companies

We reviewed the top extended warranty providers, and here are our top picks. 

Best Direct Coverage	Best for Older Vehicles	Military Discount
Endurance	CARCHEX	Liberty Bell Auto
Get Quote	Get Quote	Get Quote
(877) 374-1840	(877) 374-1840	(732) 963-0063

Original article: Liberty Bell Auto Protect Review: Coverage, Cost, Perks

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A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie Is Some Old School Gearhead Fun

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Hot rod builder and award-winning filmmaker Brian Darwas talks with the world’s top engine builders and fabricators in A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie. In a relatively short film, Darwas introduces us to Ryan Cochran of the Jalopy Journal, along with Vern Hammond and Jack Carroll of The Burbank Choppers.

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release date

September 9 2011

director

Brian Darwas

Starring

Vern Tardel
Mike Herman
Verne Hamond

WHERE TO WATCH IT

Amazon Prime

Don’t judge a book by its cover and don’t judge a movie just by its title. Most of the time, these are words of wisdom, but occasionally, the title is all you need. When I came across the title of this movie, that was all I needed: A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie.

“What the . . . ” I literally said out loud when I saw the title. It was one of those suggestions that Amazon Prime makes; “more titles you might like” sort of thing. I was digging around for car movies, and up popped A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie. 

Subject Matter

I didn’t even have to wonder what the movie was about. However, just in case you’re still up in the air, it’s a documentary about Ford’s iconic flathead V8. Arguably the very first hot rod motor. Not only did it have enough power when it came out, but it was also easy to modify and easy to bolt-on aftermarket equipment. 

There is the horrible possibility that not every gearhead knows about the flathead V8. If that’s the case, A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie might be the right place to start. Clocking in at only 57 minutes, it’s an easy movie to digest, like a burger and fries at the drive-in. 

But there are some problems.

A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie Overview

If you are not a gearhead, this movie is not going to make much sense to you. Even if you are a gearhead, and even if you know a fair amount about flathead V8s (like me), the movie is somewhat disjointed. Most stories have a beginning, middle, and end. A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie is mainly a big middle with a one-sentence ending.

It just sort of starts when you hit play. There’s no background information, and there’s no explanation as to why Ford made the engine. The film wanders from engine builder to hot rodder to machinist to a different engine builder to the next guy who is seriously into flatheads.

Hanging With The Guys

On the other hand, this is a very personable way to go. A lot of  A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie plays out like you just stepped into a shop in the middle of the day. There are no introductions, no overall schemes; just here’s the next guy. Personally, I find documentaries like this very soothing. 

I love “reality” TV car shows, especially ones where people are working on cars. It reminds me of being a kid, growing up, and hanging out in the garage with my dad and uncles. I would watch as they would disassemble this or that, or fit a new such and such into its rightful home. 

A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie is just like that, only with less explanation. You get to see inside one of history’s great engines. You get to find out the differences between variations of flatheads. You get to watch all these old school assembly techniques. You get to see some very cool hot rods. Apart from technical stuff, though, the movie doesn’t tell you much of anything new.

This is what a typical Southern California ’32 Ford hot rod looked like back in the day. This one was photographed in 1962 at fifth-mile drags in Virginia Beach, Virginia, running 79.53 miles per hour in the 14s. Owned by Joe Montgomery, its power came from a 100-horsepower, 292-inch flathead with a single carb. From the book Ford Total Performance by Martyn L. Schorr, published by Motorbooks.

An Interesting Mix

The other strange thing about this movie is the soundtrack. There are two kinds of songs used: straight up, old school roots rock, or hardcore punk. Both of these work (they are fine genres), but there’s no real rhyme or reason, just boom, here’s another song. The roots stuff sounds like Drive-By Truckers, and the punk stuff sounds like 80s vintage SoCal hardcore, but it’s not. It’s good, but it’s puzzling.

• Related: Did Blade Runner predict the future with flying cars?

Still a Pretty Good Flick

Is A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie fantastic? No. Is it even a good movie? Probably not, but it’s not exactly bad either. And since it’s on Amazon Prime, what have you got to lose? It’s only an hour, and you’re already a subscriber, so why not give it a go? It’s a good flick for some old school gearhead fun.

Tony Borroz has spent his entire life racing antique and sports cars. He is the author of Bricks & Bones: The Endearing Legacy and Nitty-Gritty Phenomenon of The Indy 500, available in paperback or Kindle format. Follow his work on Twitter: @TonyBorroz. 

Original article: A Sweet Sickness: The Flathead Movie Is Some Old School Gearhead Fun

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Nemesis: A Sol Invictus scrambler Built to tackle Tasmania

Factory-made modern classics are everywhere these days, but they’re usually premium motorcycles at the upper end of the engine size scale. If you’re looking for a low budget, small capacity bike with retro style, your options are fewer. Unless you live in Australia.

Down under, you can get a Sol Invictus Nemesis 400 Scrambler for AU$5,999—less than half the price of a Triumph Street Twin. Granted, it’s a far more basic bike: an air-cooled, carbureted single that makes an honest 27 hp and is made by Shineray in China. It’s essentially a copy of the Honda CB400SS … but it’s also a looker, and a great candidate for customization.

Tom Gilroy at Purpose Built Moto recently ended up with a Nemesis 400 on his bench. Like his own Sportster, it would have to tackle varying terrain along the Great Ocean Road and on to Tasmania, for PBM and Electric Bubble’s Wide of the Mark film project.

All the bikes on the trip had to look good, but also be able to suffer some abuse. “The whole idea of this build,” explains Tom, “was to take a sleepy little commuter, give it some teeth and build it unbreakable for a two week off road adventure.”

“It had to be reliable, able to carry a decent load, and be tough enough so that when it was inevitably crashed, you could pick it up, kick it over and go again.”

Once Tom had stripped the bike down, he kicked the project off with a few practical considerations. The 19F/18R wheels were relaced with tougher-than-OEM stainless steel spokes, and the tires were traded for a set of grippy Mitas E-09 enduro items. A set of longer travel Gazi shocks added extra compliance at the rear.

Up front, Tom left the stock forks alone, but fitted a new rolled aluminum fender with adequate tire clearance. It’s mounted on hand-made round-bar braces, styled after those on classic desert sleds.

Higher up, the headlight was swapped out for a 4.5” LED, sitting ‘in’ a custom made aluminum nacelle. It’s all neatly integrated, with the headlight bezel welded in, and an additional spot acting as a high beam.

Tom left the Sol Invictus tank alone, but tweaked the rear of the bike with a unique cut-and-loop job. Instead of using a size-matched tube, he turned some bosses into the frame ends, tapering them down to fit 8 mm stainless steel bars. The rearward loop holds the fender and taillight, while the forward loop acts as a grab rail for dragging the bike out of trouble.

“We used that a lot when we got lost on the ride trip,” quips Tom.

The seat pan was laid down in fiberglass, and covers a near-invisible electrics tray. This hosts a Black Box module, which the lighting system is wired into. A polished Orbit taillight provides lighting out back, and there are tiny LED turn signals all-round (tucked in to survive a few falls).

Comfort was high on the list, so Tom made sure the seat had a decent dose of foam, before sending it to Timeless Autotrim for a vintage grey leather cover. That darker area you see is a neatly pleated Alcantara ‘gripper pad.’

Just as much ergonomic consideration went into the cockpit. Tom added 20 mm risers and mid-rise ProTaper bars, along with PBM’s own design push buttons, and a throttle and grips from Domino.

There’s a phone mount too, and a set of PBM mirrors. “They’ve become extremely popular with garage builders—and a couple of sneaky pros—on all types of builds,” Tom tells us.

Tom wanted to squeeze more power out of the Sol Invictus, so he fitted a Lectron carb with a DNA filter. It made a significant difference, but it was a mission that involved replacing the intake with the boot from a Honda XR600.

The exhaust consists of custom stainless steel headers, snaking through the frame to exit via a single torpedo muffler. The inside of the muffler’s been scalloped to make space for the frame, keeping the whole arrangement slim.

With the bike all buttoned up, it was time for Purpose Built Moto to complete the design with a color scheme. “I’d already chosen the vibrant sky blue in the first few weeks of the project,” says Tom. “Before the wheels were build the hubs were painted. So I was locked into that color.”

“The blue was a bit of a gamble for me—it’s not an overly masculine or tough color, but it works. And if you’re man enough to get over the fact your bike’s baby blue and enjoy it for what it is, that’s the kinda guy we should all aspire to be.”

Tom and the scrambler’s owner, Jake, filmed the entire build as part of a YouTube series. But when it came to the Wide of the Mark film, it would be piloted by Emma McFerran—a freestyle motocross specialist who has also ridden for the Crusty Demons and Nitro Circus.

Before the trip kicked off though, the crew treated the scrambler to a proper shakedown. And it’s just as well they did, because the forks and clutch immediately stood out as weak spots. So the front end was fitted with heavier-duty progressive springs, and the clutch upgraded.

On the trip itself, the bike did the job, albeit with a few niggles and a number of on-the-go repairs. But ultimately, Tom’s chuffed with its performance.

“Being the lightest bike on the ground at 160 kg, and piloted by one of our most experienced riders, the Nemesis proved itself time and time again.”

Purpose Built Moto | Facebook | Instagram | Images by Akin Moto | Wide Of The Mark Facebook

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