GM Extended Warranty Coverage

Buying extended warranty coverage for your General Motors vehicle can protect your wallet against unexpected repair costs. But before you purchase GM’s factory coverage, be sure to learn about its limitations and how a third-party warranty might benefit you.

Here are some shopping tips to find the best warranty coverage for your GM or Chevrolet vehicle at the most affordable price.

What to Do When Your GM Factory Warranty Expires

Is your warranty about to expire? Ask yourself a few questions to help you decide what to do next:

• Do I want to keep my car? If you’re planning on selling in the near future and your warranty covers you for a good portion of that time, you could take your chances. On the other hand, adding an extended warranty to your car can increase the resale value.
• How likely am I to have expensive issues with this car? Certain repairs tend to only need to be done once during the average lifetime of a car. But if you know you haven’t replaced your water pump yet and you’re pushing 90,000 miles, for example, it might be good to stock up on coverage.
• What issues have others had with this car? Do your research to get a better understanding of what might be on the horizon for your GM car. For example, here’s a sampling of common issues for Cadillacs, Buicks, GMCs, and Chevrolets and their repair costs:
  • Cadillac: Coolant and oil leaks ($280–$368)
  • Buick: Intake manifold gasket leak ($262–$419)
  • GMC: Intake manifold gasket leak ($290–$535)
  • Chevrolet: (ABS) front wheel speed sensor failure ($149–$189)
• If I do want an extended warranty, which one do I want? There are multiple protection plans offered by GM as well as comparable plans offered by third-party companies that can help you prepare for costly repairs.

Extended Warranty Basics: GM Protection Plans

The General Motors Extended Protection Plan (GMEPP) is the warranty policy from GM and its brands, including Chevrolet, Buick, Cadillac, and GMC. This plan comes from the dealer and allows you the choice between two basic levels of coverage:

1. Silver—This is GM’s inclusionary repair or replacement coverage, meaning you’ll have to consult the contract for which components are covered, and in what circumstances. It’s comparable to a powertrain warranty, but also includes the safety restraint system, electrical and enhanced electrical systems, brakes, air conditioning, and seals and gaskets of covered components.
2. Platinum—This is GM’s exclusionary coverage, meaning that unless you see it as “excluded” in your contract, you can expect coverage (similar to a bumper-to-bumper warranty). Coverage extends to both manufacturer and “wear and tear” causes of breakdown through XS Wear® Lease Protection.

Both plans are flexible in terms of year/mileage duration (you’ll likely negotiate this and cost with your dealer), but there’s a maximum expiration mileage of 150,000 miles for all GM plans. This applies to the miles you put on the car after your protection plan kicks in, not total mileage.

Those with used cars may want to consult a sample contract to see what mileage caps might exist for pre-owned vehicles under different coverage levels. (Note: this contract is for a Chevrolet vehicle, but Buick, Cadillac, and GMC warranty plan contracts are all identical in terms).

GM Extended Limited Warranties

In October 2018, GM announced a new extended coverage option for its vehicles. With an Extended Limited Warranty, owners can lengthen their limited 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty to 5 years/60,000 miles, whichever comes first. Just like the new car warranty, this extension covers repairs (including parts and labor) for defects in workmanship or materials. That means any repairs caused by regular use aren’t included.

The new GM warranty is different from traditional extended warranty programs because it’s an extension of the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, not a service contract. There aren’t added perks with the extension, other than the longer warranty period.

Getting a Warranty from GM vs. Third-Party Companies

It’s worth noting that the factory GM Warranty has an average review of one star on Consumer Affairs as of 2019. The most commonly cited complaint is difficulty in getting the warranty to cover repair costs. If customer satisfaction is so low, selecting the Extended Limited Warranty  or a GM Protection Plan may not be the most reliable choice.

Thankfully, GM’s warranty isn’t the only way to cover your Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, or GMC. Many third-party companies have an average review of four stars or higher on Consumer Affairs, with many rated by the Better Business Bureau (BBB):

Updated March 2019.

What’s Covered by Silver and Platinum Plans Under GM Extended Warranties

Should you choose a GM extended warranty through the dealership, you can expect coverage for hundreds if not thousands of parts. Whether you buy the Silver or Platinum plan or want to shop around a bit, be sure you read the fine print and understand exactly what’s covered and what’s excluded. While you’re researching your options, also read driver reviews and complaints of the GMEPP.

Here are just a few of the items covered by a GM Extended Warranty. See your specific warranty for the complete list.

Extra Benefits of a GM Extended Warranty

All of GM’s levels of coverage offer the following benefits, across the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands. Check your specific warranty for cost limitations and details.

• Rental car reimbursement
• Towing/roadside assistance
• Trip interruption
• Lost key and lockout

Limitations and What’s Not Covered

Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering a GM Protection Plan or Extended Limited Warranty from a GM dealer, regardless of the level of plan you choose:

• Parts not original to the car and parts that were not installed by an authorized GM technician are not covered under the GM Protection Plan.
• Repairs must be done by a certified service technician at an authorized GM dealership in order for the costs to be covered.
• Having parts (including tires) repaired or replaced anywhere other than a GM dealership could void your warranty.
• Regular maintenance services and parts aren’t covered. If the breakdown occurs because you haven’t properly maintained your car, the repairs aren’t covered.
• Repairs or replacements that are the result of a collision aren’t included in your warranty.
• Coverage exclusions are extensive and detailed, so read the warranty agreement carefully and check out the list below for parts that aren’t included and cases where your protection plan either wouldn’t kick in or would be rendered null and void.

This is not extensive, so make sure to check your specific warranty and your provider questions when purchasing your warranty.

Keep in mind that GM drivers are not limited to GM warranty coverage on their vehicles, and that third-party warranty providers often offer more flexible terms and more coverage options.

Third-Party Extended Warranties

A third-party warranty plan offers comparable protection for your GM extended warranty at a more affordable price. Here are some tips dealers don’t want you to know when you’re shopping for an extended warranty:

• Avoid that dealership mark up
  • Dealers often mark up the price of a warranty when throwing it on top of the car’s purchase price. They’ll also tell you that you have to buy the coverage at the same time as the car.

• Repair options
  • Most third-party warranties allow you flexibility to have your car repaired at your choice of auto mechanic shops. Manufacturer coverage limits you to the dealership’s licensed locations.

• Buy before your GM factory warranty is up
  • In order to keep your costs low, buy your extended warranty before the factory warranty from GM expires.

Learning these tips will help you to save money and better understand what protection you need for your car.

What to Look for in an Extended Warranty

• Look for flexible coverage and term length.
• Look for reliability and a reputation for quality. Check out the Better Business Bureau to see if the company is accredited.
• Read coverage details and exclusions extensively.
• Make sure you can choose a mechanic you trust for your GM repairs.
• Find a company that pays claims directly to the repair shop (so you don’t have to foot the bill and then wait around for reimbursement).

Getting a GM Extended Warranty for a Used Car

As with any extended warranty for a used car, it’s important to assess a few factors:

• What’s the car’s repair history?
• What’s the car’s make and model track record?
• How long do I plan to keep this car?
• Is the car still under a warranty, and if so, for how long?

When buying a warranty for a used car, you should figure out what repairs haven’t been done yet but are inevitable (i.e. replacing “wear and tear” parts), as well as what the chronic issues are for this particular vehicle (i.e. a persistent heating or cooling issue).

Researching your car’s reliability rankings can help you go into extended warranty negotiations with an educated guess about what your repair future might hold. Of course, be sure to read the list of exclusions in your potential contract before signing: you’ll want to make sure that any repairs you know are likely for your car are covered.

CARCHEX Extended Warranty Coverage

Outside of what a manufacturer can offer, CARCHEX offers five different levels of coverage— Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze—that can be tailored to fit your specific car and driving habits. The length of our plans range from 5–7 years and we offer a number of protection plans within each level to suit your needs.

For nearly 20 years, CARCHEX has given drivers peace of mind and a superior customer experience. That’s why CARCHEX boasts an A+ customer service rating from the Better Business Bureau and is rated at the top of the industry.

Finding a warranty quote online is free, fast, and easy. Or call CARCHEX today at 866-261-3457 to find the best extended warranty to cover your General Motors vehicle.

————

Sources:

Angie’s List: https://www.angieslist.com/articles/when-replace-your-cars-water-pump.htm

RepairPal: https://repairpal.com/problems/

Chevrolet protection plan: https://www.chevrolet.com/content/dam/chevrolet/na/us/english/index/owners/warranty/02-pdfs/GEP0515-protection-plan-veh-serv-contract-chevy-sample.pdf

Buick protection plan: https://www.buick.com/content/dam/buick/na/us/en/index/owners/protection/protection-plan/02-pdfs/buick-protection-plan-sample-contract.pdf

Cadillac protection plan: https://www.cadillac.com/content/dam/cadillac/na/us/english/index/ownership/protection/protection-plan/02-pdfs/cadillac-protection-plan-sample-contract.pdf

Consumer Affairs: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/automotive/gm-warranty.html

Consumer Affairs: https://www.consumeraffairs.com/auto_warranty/#compare

U.S. News & World Report: https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/used

Better Business Bureau: www.bbb.org/greater-maryland/business-reviews/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-in-hunt-valley-md-23015869

Thoroughly Reviewed: www.thoroughlyreviewed.com/car-warranty/carchex-reviews/

Common car repairs: https://www.thestreet.com/slideshow/12798392/1/most-common-car-repairs.html

JD Power used car rankings: https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/rankings/used