CarParts.com shipping protection fee lawsuit (Powell v. CarParts.com)

A proposed class action says CarParts.com quietly adds a paid "shipping protection" charge to online orders with a pre-checked box, and misleads shoppers about what happens if a package is lost without it.

The case is Powell v. CarParts.com, Inc., filed October 23, 2026, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California as No. 4:26-cv-12457. It seeks refunds of the fee for everyone in the United States who paid it, plus a court order ending the practice.

The case has just started. CarParts.com has not responded in court, nothing has been proven, and there is no settlement or claim form.

CarParts.com, Inc. is an online seller of aftermarket auto parts and accessories, headquartered in Long Beach, California, and traded on the Nasdaq under the symbol PRTS. Its filings say it was founded in 1995 as U.S. Auto Parts Network, rebranded as CarParts.com in 2020, and sells more than 1.5 million products through its website, mobile app and marketplaces such as eBay and Amazon.

Rodney Powell is the named plaintiff. According to a ClaimDepot summary of the complaint, he bought two bumper covers from CarParts.com and paid a $3.10 shipping protection fee he says he never noticed.

Dovel & Luner, LLP represents him.

Extend Inc. is the company that administers the shipping protection sold at checkout, according to the complaint. Extend's own guide says it "administers shipping protection on behalf of the retailer." Extend is not named as a defendant.

According to the complaint as summarized by ClaimDepot:

• At checkout: The shipping protection charge does not appear in the cart or on the first checkout screen. Once a shopper saves a shipping address, the fee is added to the order total, with the box already checked.
• The amount: About 3.3% of the merchandise subtotal.
• The layout: The checkbox sits in the shipment details section under the delivery method, and the order summary lists shipping protection just above the shipping line. At the final step, that section is collapsed and grayed out, so removing the charge takes an extra click.
• The message: The checkout module tells shoppers that "CarParts.com does not cover lost, stolen or damaged packages."

Key dates:

• October 14, 2026: Powell's lawyers sent CarParts.com a pre-suit notice letter under California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act.
• October 23, 2026: The complaint was filed, along with a corporate disclosure statement, according to the court's public docket feed.
• October 28 and 29, 2026: Docket trackers show the case was reassigned, with a later clerk's notice listing it as No. 3:26-cv-12457.

The plaintiff alleges that the fee is a hidden, pre-checked add-on that shoppers did not choose. He says he would not have paid it had the site presented it clearly.

He also argues the checkout warning is false. According to the summary, the complaint says carriers are responsible for packages they lose, federal law lets cardholders dispute charges for goods that never arrive, and many card issuers reimburse stolen purchases.

The complaint says the protection has limits checkout does not mention. It points to Extend's guide, which says shoppers must wait five days past the estimated delivery date to report a lost or stolen package, and that approved claims may be paid with a gift card. The complaint also alleges CarParts.com keeps a share of every fee. It cites an Extend case study in which another merchant's shipping protection sales rose 1,200% after it switched from an opt-in box to a pre-checked one.

He brings four claims: unjust enrichment, and violations of California's Unfair Competition Law, Consumers Legal Remedies Act and False Advertising Law.

CarParts.com has not filed a response, and Class Action Pulse found no public statement from the company about the lawsuit. Extend's published case study describes pre-checked protection as giving customers "peace of mind," which shows how the product is marketed to merchants, not how CarParts.com would answer these claims.

Nothing has been decided. The court has issued only routine scheduling paperwork. It has not ruled on whether the checkout is misleading, whether the fee was lawful, or whether a class should be certified.

The complaint proposes one nationwide class. The court has not approved it.

• Who: Everyone in the United States who paid a shipping protection fee on a CarParts.com order.
• The charge: The Extend shipping protection fee added at checkout.
• Proof: An order confirmation, receipt or card statement showing a shipping protection line would help show you paid it.
• Not covered by this definition: Orders where the box was unchecked and no fee was paid.

The plaintiff may revise the class later, including the time period covered.

1. Search your email for CarParts.com order confirmations and look for a "shipping protection" line.
2. Save those receipts and note the fee amount on each order.
3. Check the box before you pay on future orders, on any site, and uncheck add-ons you do not want.
4. Keep in mind your other options if a package goes missing: the seller, the carrier, and your card issuer's dispute process.

You can also use the form on this page to ask about the case. A Class Action Pulse inquiry is only an inquiry. It does not join the lawsuit or create a lawyer relationship.

Nothing is available now. The complaint asks for refunds of the fees with interest and an order barring the practice. Powell says he will seek damages under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act if CarParts.com does not fix the problem within 30 days of his October 14 letter. Powell's own fee was $3.10, so any recovery would depend on how many orders you placed and the terms of any settlement or judgment.

• October 14, 2026: Pre-suit notice letter sent.
• October 23, 2026: Complaint filed.
• About November 13, 2026: End of the 30-day window in that letter, based on the reported date.

There is no claim, opt-out or objection deadline. You keep all your rights.

• Shipping protection: A paid add-on that pays out, often in store credit or a gift card, if a package is lost, stolen or damaged in transit.
• Pre-checked box: An option selected by default, so shoppers pay for it unless they uncheck it.
• Unjust enrichment: A claim that a company kept money it is not fairly entitled to keep.
• Unfair Competition Law: A California law against unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices.
• Consumers Legal Remedies Act: A California law against deceptive practices in consumer sales. It requires a notice letter before damages can be sought.
• False Advertising Law: A California law against untrue or misleading advertising.
• Class certification: A court's decision that a case may proceed on behalf of a group.

CarParts.com will likely answer or ask the judge to dismiss some or all claims. If the case survives, the parties would exchange evidence about the checkout design and fee revenue, and the plaintiff would later ask the court to certify the class. Class Action Pulse will update this page as the case develops.

This page relies on ClaimDepot's summary of the complaint, the court's public docket feed and docket trackers, CarParts.com's SEC filings, and Extend's shipping protection guide and case study. Class Action Pulse did not obtain the complaint itself. Extend's current guide also lists "delivered" packages that never show up among claimable situations, so how the complaint's coverage arguments apply may be disputed. Whether CarParts.com receives part of each fee is an allegation.

Class Action Pulse is not a law firm or settlement administrator and does not guarantee eligibility or payment. This article is general information, not legal advice.