---

APCO Announces Administration Agreement With Thrifty Car Sales

8 February 1999

Automobile Protection Corporation (APCO) Announces Private Label Administration Agreement With Thrifty Car Sales

    ATLANTA, Feb. 8 -- Automobile Protection Corporation
announced that it has entered into a 2-year exclusive agreement
with Thrifty Car Sales to administer limited warranties and extended service
contracts for the Thrifty Certified used vehicle program.
    Thrifty Car Sales announced at a press conference held during the annual
National Automobile Dealers Association show in San Francisco on Sunday
February 7, 1999, that they will be franchising the Thrifty Car Sales concept
to independent automobile dealers, who will offer consumers the ability to
purchase Thrifty Certified used vehicles.  APCO will administer limited
warranties on and extended service contracts on a non-exclusive basis for
Thrifty Car Sales.  Every eligible vehicle sold at a Thrifty Car Sales
location will carry a certified limited warranty from APCO.
    Larry I. Dorfman, President/CEO of APCO stated: "We look forward to the
opportunity to provide world class service to Thrifty Car Sales. We believe
that the Thrifty brand name is well recognized and will inspire confidence in
consumers and we will make sure that Thrifty's consumers receive high level of
service that they expect.  Another exciting part of this agreement is that we
have been contracted to assist in developing the training and development
processes for the Thrifty Car Sales locations that will help their franchisees
realize maximum results."
    Mr. Dorfman also noted: "The opportunity to get the Thrifty Car Sales
account came directly from our relationship with Manheim Auto Auctions.  APCO
developed the Manheim EasyCare vehicle service contract program for Manheim's
independent dealers and we partnered with Manheim to acquire this premier
private label account.  We expect some immediate results from this program as
Thrifty currently has several locations ready for installation of our service
contract and certification programs.  Thrifty has indicated that they expect
to open 40 locations by year end and continue to grow thereafter."
    Jay Betz, President of Thrifty Car Sales stated: "We looked for the
company that had the most successful experience in customer oriented Certified
Used Vehicle Programs.  Nothing we saw in the market place equaled the
coverage or service offered the customer by EasyCare Certified from APCO.
Contracting with APCO to have them develop a similar program for our Thrifty
Car Sales franchisees was an easy decision and one that we think will be one
of the cornerstones of developing the Thrifty Car Sales franchise system."
    APCO, established in 1984, is a leading marketer and administrator of
products and services to automobile and recreational vehicle dealers.  The
Company's core business is the marketing and administration of EasyCare(R)
vehicle service contracts.
    "Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995:  To the extent that this news release discusses financial
projections, information or expectations about our products or markets, or
otherwise makes statements about the future, our statements are forward
looking and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could
cause actual results to differ materially from the statements made.  The
specific risk factors are described in the Company's Form 10-K that has been
filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission in connection with its 1997
year.