Independent profile — not affiliated with First Automotive (Superior Protection Plan)
First Automotive (Superior Protection Plan)
First Automotive is a vehicle service contract ("extended warranty") brand and administrator based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, sold through car dealers — including contracts marketed as "Superior Protection" or the "Superior Protection Plan" — rather than a manufacturer warranty or an insurance policy. First Automotive is now part of iA American Warranty Group, itself part of iA Financial Group, which acquired SouthwestRe in 2018 (BBB lists First Automotive Service Corp as an alternate name of SouthwestRe); BBB's profile for First Automotive separately lists a "Date of New Ownership" of January 23, 2018. Complaint and review snapshots reported separately below include 21 complaints filed on USAComplaints between 2003 and 2017, mostly about denied claims; a BBB profile that has been accredited since 2010 with an A+ rating, 46 complaints in the last three years, and 2.04 out of 5 from 28 reviews; and a ComplaintsBoard score of 2.6.
Complaints & Reviews on USAComplaints
USAComplaints currently maintains 21 historical complaints about First Automotive (Superior Protection Plan), published between 2003 and 2017. No approved complaints have been published on this site during the last three years. For a current reputation snapshot, see the independent sources below.
- AC/Heater defect
- Are the biggest frauds ever. What engine goes out without it being a breakdown of a part. The engine is blown due to a bad catalytic converter, no warning, was not normal wear and tear. Refused bec
- Ot Honoring a claim
- Failure to comply
- First Automotive Service Corporation Fraudulant Warranty That Will NOT Pay For ANYTHING!
- Would not cover repair on a vehicle i bought on dec 03, i was told by the dealer it was a engine part but they won, t cover it. My initial problem was a heating problem
- First Automotive Service Corporation Fraudulent Warranty
- Superior Protection Plan DON'T BE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THE WAY THAT I WAS
- F150 Blown Head Gasket Wont Repai
- First Automotive Drivetrain vehicle warrantee-that does't warrantee
- Superior Protection Plan Failed to honor there standard coverage on my jeep
- Not honoring the extended warranty purchased
- They breached their extended warranty contract
- Supervisor Chase and his Manager Craig They are requesting oil change receipts for something that has nothing to do with oil. They don't work with you
- Extended Warranty Scam
- Fail to Honor Warranty on Repairs
- Comprehensive coverage, refused to pay any cost associated with clear manufacturing defect
- Never do business with these thieves!
- They won't honor there on mechanical protection plan ripoff
- Ripoff on extended warranty on 2003 Ford Taraus
Independent Sources
Shown for context — not merged with USAComplaints' own numbers.
Contacts
- Claims (per BBB and First Automotive dealer manual; check the number printed on your contract): 877-727-7247 9 complaints mention this number
- iA American Warranty Group (contract help: copy, claim status, cancellation): https://iaawg.com/contact-us
- Main office, Albuquerque (BBB): 505-881-2244 1 complaint mentions this number
- Administrator (Dealers Alliance Corporation) per dealer manual: 800-519-1566
- Claims email (dealer manual): [email protected]
- Fax (BBB): 505-883-7794
Locations
| Type | Address |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | 2400 Louisiana Blvd NE, Bldg 4, Ste 100 Albuquerque NM 87110-4329 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 30250 Albuquerque NM 87190-0250 |
Have a Superior Protection or First Automotive contract? How claims and cancellations work
If you're trying to reach someone about a "Superior Protection" or First Automotive vehicle service contract, start with the Administrator or Claims phone number printed on your own contract — different First Automotive-branded contracts have used different administrators and phone numbers over the years. Per the Better Business Bureau and the First Automotive Dealer Procedure Manual (a dealer-facing document published by iA American, marked "Rev 12.08.21", the group that now includes First Automotive), the claims line is 877-727-7247, staffed Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturday 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Central time. iA American's own online contact form also lets you request a copy of your contract, check the status of a claim, or cancel a contract, and it separately lists both "Superior Protection" and "First Automotive (All Products)" among the programs it handles. If you don't have a copy of your contract, iA American's contact page says to reach out to the dealer who sold it to you.
The dealer manual describes how claims are handled: the selling dealer or repair shop is told to make sure the customer understands that prior authorization is required on all claims before repairs begin. The shop is expected to verify that the manufacturer's recommended maintenance was performed and to request maintenance receipts covering the claim. If the Administrator doesn't authorize the claim, the customer can be required to pay for the teardown and diagnosis themselves. Under normal circumstances an inspection isn't required, but the Administrator can inspect a claim before repair, and the manual says that can take up to 48 business hours. Replacement parts for a covered repair may be new, rebuilt, remanufactured, or used, at the Administrator's discretion. Depending on the specific contract, some customers may be required to have repairs done at the selling dealer's own repair facility.
- Keep every oil-change and maintenance receipt for as long as you hold the contract — the dealer manual tells repair shops to verify the manufacturer's recommended maintenance and request receipts relevant to a claim.
- If a claim is denied, get the claim number and ask for the denial reason in writing, with the specific contract section it's based on.
- Ask your repair shop to put the diagnosed cause of failure in writing; it's your evidence if you dispute a "not covered," "wear and tear," or "pre-existing condition" denial.
- If you can't resolve a dispute with the Administrator, you can escalate to your state's insurance regulator or consumer-protection office, your state attorney general, or the Better Business Bureau. BBB shows First Automotive's license as issued by the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance, which takes complaints online at osi.state.nm.us/en/complaints — its page notes it cannot order a company to pay a claim or refund a premium.
To cancel: the dealer manual's Standard VSC example says a cancelable contract can be canceled in writing, using a Service Contract Request to Cancel form together with the original contract; a notarized odometer statement may also be required. Under the manual's Standard VSC example, canceling within 30 days of the sale with no claim filed means a full refund to the customer and/or the finance company; canceling later, or after a claim, means a pro-rata refund minus a cancellation fee. Your own contract and state rules may differ. If the vehicle was financed or later repossessed, the refund may go to the finance company instead of you. Contracts differ, so check the cancellation terms in your own paperwork rather than assuming this example applies.
One important caveat: the dealer manual quoted above is a dealer-facing document (revision dated December 8, 2021; copyright 2022). If your Superior Protection or First Automotive contract was sold between 2003 and 2017 — the years covered by the USAComplaints complaints described below — its administrator, claims process, and cancellation terms may have been different from what's described here.
Company background
According to its Better Business Bureau profile, First Automotive Service Corp. is headquartered at 2400 Louisiana Blvd NE, Bldg 4, Ste 100, Albuquerque, New Mexico, with a business start date of January 1, 1992 and an incorporation date of August 9, 1999. BBB lists Mike Stickney as President. BBB's records show a license issued by the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance, shown on BBB as "SBS Company Number: 69241604." In its own "About" text on that BBB profile, the company describes itself this way: "First Automotive is our brand for vehicle service contracts (VSCs), limited warranties and extended VSCs for certified vehicles, limited warranties, aftermarket products, and guaranteed asset protection (GAP). We currently offer over twenty different First Automotive products for dealerships and their customers."
A separate BBB profile in Texas, for "SouthwestRe" of Addison, Texas, lists "First Automotive Service Corp" and "Southwest Reinsure, Inc." as alternate names for that business, using the same "First Automotive is our brand…" description. That is a distinct BBB listing with its own complaint and review numbers — this page doesn't combine its figures with the Albuquerque profile's.
Per iA American Warranty Group's own history page, the company was formed from two predecessor F&I providers, Innovative Aftermarket Systems (IAS) and SouthwestRe: "SouthwestRe and DAC became subsidiaries of iA Financial Group in 2018," and "iA Financial Group purchased Innovative Aftermarket Systems (IAS) in 2020." (DAC is Dealers Assurance Company, an affiliated Property & Casualty insurer.) Under the current First Automotive Dealer Procedure Manual, the Administrator and Obligor on these contracts is Dealers Alliance Corporation, and the Program Insurer is Dealers Assurance Company. BBB lists Dealers Alliance Corporation (rated A+) at the same Albuquerque street address and P.O. Box, and at 15920 Addison Rd in Addison, Texas.
How "Superior Protection" connects to First Automotive specifically isn't fully documented in the material checked for this page, but three things point the same direction: an Ohio appeals court opinion (described below) notes that "certain purchase documents stated that Superior was 'First Automotive Service Corporation'"; the contract-type drop-down in iA American's online contact form lists "Superior Protection" alongside "First Automotive (All Products)" (seen on September 28, 2026); and multiple older USAComplaints posts about "Superior Protection Plan" contracts name First Automotive's Albuquerque address or phone numbers. This page treats "Superior Protection" as a First Automotive-administered brand on that basis, without claiming a more precise corporate relationship than what these sources show.
Complaint record: USAComplaints, BBB, and ComplaintsBoard, reported separately
Several sources track complaints about First Automotive and "Superior Protection" plans, and this page reports each separately rather than blending them into one figure.
- USAComplaints: 21 own complaints filed between 2003 and 2017 naming First Automotive, "Superior Protection," or a related brand as the offender, plus 3 further complaints about dealers (Auto Plaza Ford, Middletown Nissan, and VIP Auto Outlet) that mention a Superior Protection or First Automotive plan without First Automotive itself being the primary subject. Recurring themes in the 21 own complaints: claims denied as "not covered," "wear and tear," or a pre-existing condition; a requirement to produce maintenance receipts; payouts consumers say were limited to the vehicle's value; long waits for inspection or authorization; and dealers who described the plan to buyers as "bumper to bumper" coverage.
- BBB (Albuquerque, NM profile): First Automotive Service Corp. has been BBB Accredited since May 26, 2010, with a BBB Rating of A+ — that letter rating is BBB's own grade of the business and is separate from BBB's customer-review score. BBB's profile shows 46 complaints in the last three years (15 closed in the last 12 months) and a customer-review score of 2.04 out of 5 from 28 reviews. Recent complaints displayed on that profile (2026) include a consumer who says a dealer finance manager didn't clearly explain an add-on vehicle service contract (about $4,365) and a tire-and-wheel product ($895), and a claim denied for engine overheating and a valve problem the company said wasn't covered, which the consumer disputes. The company answers BBB complaints with private responses attached, in at least one case asking that "this communication remain between the consumer and not posted publicly."
- BBB (SouthwestRe, Addison, TX profile): a separate, not-accredited BBB listing (also rated A+) that lists First Automotive Service Corp as an alternate name. Its complaint and review counts are not combined with the Albuquerque profile's above.
- ComplaintsBoard: a profile for "First Automotive Service," updated August 9, 2026, showing a 2.6 overall reputation rating based on 4 reviews and 14 complaints (7 of the 14 complaints marked resolved, 7 unresolved).
No Trustpilot profile for First Automotive was found, and the company does not appear in the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Because each source covers a different population and time window, this page does not add or average these numbers together.
Court cases involving First Automotive and 'Superior' contracts
All of the following are outcomes of specific filed cases, not a general finding about First Automotive; a company can be sued, or sue, without that meaning it did anything wrong, and any allegation described below is exactly that — an allegation — unless a court decision is noted.
Whitson v. Dixie Imports, Inc. (Ohio Court of Appeals, Twelfth District, Butler County, 2020-Ohio-1549, decided April 20, 2020): the Whitsons bought a used 2011 Chevrolet Malibu with over 114,000 miles in 2018, along with a $1,686 service contract. After the engine seized, the dealership (Sweeney) found the engine "severely neglected" with oil "harder than sludge," and an employee of the warranty company, referred to in the case as "Superior," told the Whitsons that because Dixie had never serviced the vehicle, Superior would not honor the warranty. The court's opinion notes that "certain purchase documents stated that Superior was 'First Automotive Service Corporation.'" A small-claims court awarded the Whitsons $6,000 against the dealer, Dixie Imports, for the dealer's own breach; the appeals court affirmed. The warranty company was not a defendant in this case and was not held liable for anything. The practical lesson from this case is about keeping maintenance records and being wary of dealer promises, not a finding against the warranty company.
Miller v. First Automotive Service Corporation and Credit Acceptance Corporation (U.S. District Court, E.D. Ark., No. 4:18-cv-00502-DPM): the Millers bought a used Chevrolet Silverado, financed through Credit Acceptance, and also financed a service contract from First Automotive. When the truck had oil-pressure problems, First Automotive paid for the first repair; the second time it wouldn't pay, and it eventually canceled the contract, first citing a mileage-tampering issue and then citing oversized wheels and tires the Millers had put on the truck. Credit Acceptance repossessed the vehicle. Because the Millers had signed an arbitration agreement and hadn't opted out, the court granted the motions to compel arbitration; on September 13, 2019 the complaint was dismissed with prejudice. The judgment doesn't explain why the dismissal was with prejudice, so that reason isn't reported here.
Willoughby v. First Automotive Service Corporation (U.S. District Court, N.D. Miss., No. 3:18-cv-00039): filed February 16, 2018 and closed July 18, 2018. No filings from this case were available to review, so only the docket's filing and closing dates are reported here.
Separately, First Automotive Service Corporation and an affiliated risk-retention group were once on the other side of a business dispute with insurers First Colonial Insurance Company and Northbrook Indemnity Company (U.S. District Court, M.D. Fla.): a court compelled arbitration in 2008, First Automotive's side lost that arbitration, and on June 16, 2010 the court denied First Automotive's challenge and confirmed the arbitration awards against it. This was an insurance-industry dispute between businesses, not a consumer case.
Cantu v. Ken Nelson Auto Mall, Inc. (N.D. Ill., No. 3:09-cv-50256): Illinois buyers sued their dealer and First Automotive, claiming breach of the service contract and, for a proposed class of Illinois customers, consumer fraud — allegations only. First Automotive moved the case to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act; in September 2010 the judge kept the First Automotive claims in federal court and sent the dealer claims back to state court. The federal case closed in June 2011; the documents available do not show how the claims against First Automotive were resolved or that any class was certified.
Is First Automotive (Superior Protection Plan) Legitimate?
First Automotive Service Corp. is a real, operating company: it holds Better Business Bureau accreditation for its Albuquerque, New Mexico profile (accredited since May 26, 2010, with a BBB Rating of A+), and BBB lists a license with the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance ("SBS Company Number: 69241604"). It is part of iA American Warranty Group, itself part of iA Financial Group, a group that also owns Dealers Assurance Company, the Program Insurer named in First Automotive's current dealer procedure manual. Alongside that, the complaint record described above exists: 21 USAComplaints posts from 2003–2017, 46 BBB complaints in the last three years against a 2.04-out-of-5 BBB review score, a 2.6 ComplaintsBoard score, and court cases in which the company has both paid a claim (Miller's first repair) and been identified in purchase documents as the company behind a "Superior" contract in a case where only the selling dealer was a defendant and was held liable (Whitson). This page assigns First Automotive no rating, score, or "scam" label of its own — readers can weigh the record above for themselves against their own contract and experience.
Court & Public Records
| Case | Authority | Dates | Type | Outcome | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Whitson v. Dixie Imports, Inc. Docket No. CA2019-09-157; 2020-Ohio-1549 | Ohio Court of Appeals, Twelfth District (Butler County) | — | Appeal decided | Appeal decided — see outcome A small-claims court awarded the Whitsons $6,000 against the dealer, Dixie Imports, over a used 2011 Chevrolet Malibu bought in 2018 with a $1,686 service contract; the appeals court affirmed. The warranty company, referred to in the opinion as "Superior" and, per the opinion, named in purchase documents as "First Automotive Service Corporation," was not a party to this case and was not held liable. The dealership had found the engine "severely neglected" with oil "harder than sludge," and a Superior employee told the Whitsons that because Dixie had never serviced the vehicle, the warranty would not be honored. | Source |
| Miller v. First Automotive Service Corporation et al. Docket No. 4:18-cv-00502-DPM | U.S. District Court, E.D. Ark. | — | Dismissed | Dismissed Removed to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas on August 2, 2018. The Millers bought a used Chevrolet Silverado from II Friends Auto Sales, financed through Credit Acceptance Corporation, and also financed a service contract from First Automotive. First Automotive paid for the truck's first oil-pressure repair; the second time, it wouldn't pay, and it eventually canceled the service contract, citing first a mileage-tampering issue and then oversized wheels and tires the Millers had installed. Credit Acceptance repossessed the truck. Because the Millers had signed an arbitration agreement and hadn't opted out, the court (as modified) granted the motions to compel arbitration, and on September 13, 2019 the Millers' complaint was dismissed with prejudice; the order does not state the reason the dismissal was with prejudice. | Source |
| First Automotive Service Corporation, N.M. & First Automotive Insurance Risk Retention Group, Inc. v. First Colonial Insurance Co. / Northbrook Indemnity Co. Docket No. 3:07-cv-00682 | U.S. District Court, M.D. Fla. | Judgment | Judgment entered A business dispute between First Automotive Service Corporation (with an affiliated risk-retention group) and insurers First Colonial Insurance Company and Northbrook Indemnity Company. A court compelled arbitration in 2008; First Automotive's side lost the arbitration. On June 16, 2010 the court denied First Automotive's motion challenging the outcome and confirmed the arbitration awards against it; the judgment was later registered in the District of New Mexico. This was a business-to-business insurance dispute, not a consumer case. | Source | |
| Cantu v. Ken Nelson Auto Mall, Inc. and First Automotive Service Corporation Docket No. 3:09-cv-50256 | U.S. District Court, N.D. Ill. | — | Filed | Filed — no final outcome recorded Illinois buyers sued their car dealer (Ken Nelson Auto Mall) and First Automotive Service Corporation in Illinois state court. Against First Automotive they claimed breach of contract and, on behalf of a putative class of Illinois citizens, consumer fraud under the Illinois Consumer Fraud Act — allegations, not findings. First Automotive removed the case to federal court under the Class Action Fairness Act. On September 29, 2010 the court denied the buyers' motion to remand, and severed the claims against the dealer and sent them back to state court. The federal docket closed on June 23, 2011; how the claims against First Automotive ended is not shown in the documents available on CourtListener, and no class was certified in the material reviewed. | Source |
Related Complaints
Names this company in a role other than the primary subject — not necessarily current or complete.
Company Relationships
- Owned by: iA American Warranty Group (iA Financial Group)
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Superior Protection Plan the same as First Automotive?
Based on the material reviewed for this page, "Superior Protection" appears to be a First Automotive-administered brand, though the precise corporate relationship isn't fully documented. An Ohio appeals court opinion notes that "certain purchase documents stated that Superior was 'First Automotive Service Corporation,'" the contract-type drop-down in iA American Warranty Group's online contact form lists "Superior Protection" alongside "First Automotive (All Products)", and multiple older USAComplaints posts about "Superior Protection Plan" contracts name First Automotive's Albuquerque address or phone numbers. Check your own contract paperwork for the exact administrator and program names that apply to you.
Is Superior Protection Plan legit?
First Automotive, the company associated with "Superior Protection" plans, is a real, BBB-accredited vehicle service contract administrator based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, licensed with the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance and now part of iA American Warranty Group (iA Financial Group). That doesn't mean every claim gets paid the way a buyer expects: USAComplaints has 21 posts from 2003–2017 describing denied claims, and BBB shows 46 complaints in the last three years against a 2.04-out-of-5 review score. This page assigns no "legit" or "scam" verdict — it reports the record so you can weigh it against your own contract.
How do I file a claim with First Automotive / Superior Protection?
Start with the Administrator or Claims phone number printed on your own contract. Per BBB and First Automotive's dealer procedure manual, the claims line is 877-727-7247 (Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Central time). You can also use iA American's online contact form to request a copy of your contract or check a claim's status; if you don't have your contract, iA American says to contact the dealer who sold it to you. Prior authorization is required before repairs begin, and your shop will likely be asked to show that manufacturer-recommended maintenance was performed, with receipts.
Why was my First Automotive claim denied?
Based on USAComplaints posts and BBB complaints about First Automotive and Superior Protection plans, documented denial reasons include: the failed part or repair being classified as "not covered," "wear and tear," or a pre-existing condition; not being able to produce maintenance receipts the Administrator asked for; and, in one court case (Whitson), a warranty company declining to honor a contract because, as the warranty company's employee told the buyer, the dealer had never serviced the vehicle. A contract can also be canceled after the fact: in the Miller court case, First Automotive canceled a contract citing first a mileage-tampering issue and then oversized wheels and tires it said the owners had installed. Ask for your specific denial reason in writing, quoting the contract section it's based on.
Do I have to pay for diagnosis if my claim is denied?
Possibly, per First Automotive's dealer procedure manual: it tells repair shops to get the customer's authorization to tear down and diagnose the vehicle, and to make sure the customer understands they'll be responsible for the teardown and diagnosis cost if the Administrator doesn't authorize the claim. Ask your shop, before any teardown begins, whether that cost would fall on you if the claim ends up denied.
How do I cancel a Superior Protection or First Automotive contract and get a refund?
Per the Standard VSC example in First Automotive's dealer procedure manual, a cancelable contract can be canceled in writing using a Service Contract Request to Cancel form together with your original contract; a notarized odometer statement may also be required. Under the manual's Standard VSC example, canceling within 30 days of the sale with no claims filed means a full refund to the customer and/or the finance company; canceling later, or after a claim, means a pro-rata refund minus a cancellation fee. Your own contract and state rules may differ. If your vehicle was financed or repossessed, the refund may go to the finance company instead of you. Contract terms vary, so check your own paperwork rather than assuming this example applies to you, and contact the Administrator or claims number on your contract to start the process.
Who owns First Automotive now?
First Automotive is now part of iA American Warranty Group. Per iA American's own history page, the company was formed from two predecessor providers, Innovative Aftermarket Systems (IAS) and SouthwestRe: "SouthwestRe and DAC became subsidiaries of iA Financial Group in 2018," and "iA Financial Group purchased Innovative Aftermarket Systems (IAS) in 2020." BBB's profile for First Automotive separately lists a "Date of New Ownership" of January 23, 2018.
My dealer said the plan covered everything — what can I do?
Read your actual contract's coverage section rather than relying on what a salesperson said at purchase — in the Whitson court case, a small-claims court awarded the buyers $6,000 against the dealer for breach, and the appeals court affirmed; the warranty company was not a defendant. If a dealer misrepresented what a contract covers, you can raise that with your state's insurance regulator or consumer-protection office, your state attorney general, or the Better Business Bureau; a consumer-protection attorney can advise on your specific situation. This page can't give legal advice.
How do I contact First Automotive?
The Administrator/Claims phone number printed on your own contract is the most reliable route, since different First Automotive-branded contracts have used different administrators over the years. Per BBB and the dealer procedure manual, First Automotive's claims line is 877-727-7247 (Monday–Friday 7:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m., Saturday 8:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Central time); claims can also be emailed to [email protected]. BBB also lists a main office number, 505-881-2244, and a fax, 505-883-7794, for the Albuquerque office. iA American Warranty Group's online contact form (iaawg.com/contact-us) covers contract copies, claim status, and cancellations.