Manufacturer warranties are offered to customers as a promise that the seller backs their product. Normally, a seller will repair, replace or reimbursement the customer if the product breaks or fails in some way. Normally, manufacturer warranties come with kitchen appliances, mattresses, and of course, vehicles.
Whether you’ve purchased a new or certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle, chances are your car manufacturer offers a basic warranty plan along with your purchase.
No matter the car brand, your car is most likely going to outlast the manufacturer warranty—and when that happens, you’ll want to consider an extended warranty, which offers continued protection for your vehicle.
CARCHEX is a leading extended warranty provider with over 20 years in the industry. Get a free quote from one of our experts to see how affordable it can be to cover your vehicle.
A manufacturer warranty is also called a factory warranty. It usually covers parts and systems that break down due to flaws or defects in factory-installed parts. Typically, a warranty is offered on any new or certified pre-owned vehicle and covers any defect or breakdown that occurs from the manufacturer’s design. If you buy your vehicle from a friend or from someone online, you won’t get a manufacturer warranty, unless they transfer it to your name.
The plans vary depending on the manufacturer, but here are some types of warranties you’re going to come across.
Limited warranties on new vehicles usually cover the majority of car systems and parts for a few years. Most last up to three years or 36,000 miles, but this really depends on your car model, make, year, etc. Some will last much longer.
Vehicle manufacturers are required by law to provide at least two years or 24,000 miles of emissions control coverage. Some parts are required to be covered for up to eight years or 80,000 miles. Not every state requires an emissions inspection, but if your state does and your car fails, the manufacturer should cover the repairs while under warranty.
“Lifetime” always sounds good, but what exactly is covered for a lifetime? When it comes to vehicles, the lifespan is getting longer and longer. If you maintain your vehicle properly, it could last beyond 200,000 miles. A limited parts warranty means the manufacturer will cover the repair or replacement of certain parts for the duration of your car’s lifetime. Some plans include a term for some parts and lifetime for others.
Not all, but some manufacturers offer maintenance warranty plans. These are typically offered as additional add-on coverage. Because car repair and maintenance costs an average of $1,186 per year, it’s worth considering. One issue is these warranty plans often must be purchased when you buy your vehicle. Also, your vehicle will typically outlast them.
A manufacturer warranty will cover repairs and replacements due to factory errors, but not damage outside of that.
Here’s what’s not covered by a typical car warranty:
Vehicles aren’t meant to last forever, but they can last for many, many years if taken care of properly. In addition to sticking to proper maintenance, it’s a good idea to consider an extended warranty plan, which ensures your car gets covered for mechanical breakdowns long after your car warranty ends.
Not all manufacturer warranties are the same. The length varies depending on the car brand, make, model, year, and more. Here is a comparison of some of the most common car warranties (by brand) and their lengths:
| Car Brand | Bumper-to-Bumper Coverage | Powertrain Coverage |
| Nissan | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Hyundai | 5 years or 60,000 miles | 10 years or 100,000 miles |
| Chevrolet | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Toyota | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Ford | 3 years of 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
When your factory warranty ends, you lose coverage on your vehicle parts and systems, which is why extended warranty is so important. Buying extended auto warranty plans from a third-party provider like CARCHEX are typically more affordable than buying them from the factory.
Extended warranties, also called vehicle service contracts, are warranties that provide coverage after your manufacturer warranty ends. Some manufacturers offer their own contracts, but there are often restrictions on when you can buy one. For example, some manufacturers require that the car is still under its original warranty.
Outside of the manufacturer, you can buy an extended warranty through a car dealer or a third-party provider such as CARCHEX. The timing of when you can purchase these plans is generally more flexible. For example, CARCHEX covers cars past 100,000 miles.
One of the biggest differentiators between a manufacturer warranty and an extended warranty is that manufacturer warranties come with new or certified pre-owned vehicles. You pay extra for an extended warranty, since it’s a separate contract.
You can buy an extended warranty before or after your manufacturer warranty expires. You can expect to save money on your extended warranty cost if you purchase it before the manufacturer warranty expiration. This is because the car will be newer.
Repairs and replacements can be costly and stressful when you don’t expect them. A car transmission, for example, costs an average of $1,800 to $3,400 to replace. A fuel pump costs an average of $425 to replace, and a coolant change can cost anywhere from $115 to $140. The average cost of replacing a power steering pump is anywhere from $487 to $716.
Vehicle service protection plans can save you hundreds, if not thousands, on unexpected repairs and replacements. This is extremely beneficial, especially if you have a high-mileage vehicle that’s more likely to need repairs. Mechanical breakdowns and everyday wear and tear on car parts are inevitable, no matter how well you take care of your vehicle, so get the peace of mind you need with extended coverage on your vehicle.
With five different protection plan levels, CARCHEX offers customizable care. Get a basic powertrain warranty or a bumper-to-bumper, comprehensive warranty and enjoy all of the benefits of choosing CARCHEX, including:
With CARCHEX, you get peace of mind knowing that you’ll be covered should anything happen after your manufacturer warranty ends. Our customer Horacio S. left us this review on Better Business Bureau in 2019:
Great prices and great customer service! Would recommend it to anyone looking for an extended warranty for their vehicle.”
When your manufacturer warranty expires, don’t forget to get coverage. You don’t want to end up paying a high repair cost, especially if you’ve only had your vehicle for a few years. Save yourself the hassle and call to speak with a CARCHEX expert today.
866-261-3457A manufacturer defect warranty is typically meant to cover any repairs, replacement, or reimbursements needed should the product fail or break due to manufacturer defects. This extends to various consumer items.
You should be able to check the warranty terms and conditions online. Have your vehicle identification number (VIN) on hand.
You can only get a factory warranty on a certified pre-owned vehicle. You can also get a factory warranty on a leased vehicle, but you can’t get one on a non-certified pre-owned vehicle. So, if you’re considering a Craigslist car, you’ll want an extended warranty right away.
It depends on the manufacturer and the vehicle. Sometimes, just part of the warranty will transfer, or the second owner will get a shortened version of the warranty. Check your warranty agreement to know for sure.
An implied warranty of merchantability is a guarantee by a seller that any product being sold is free of defects and is functional. Essentially, this law ensures that consumers are able to repair, replace, or return a product that is damaged or defective. When the product costs more than $10, the seller must include “full” or “limited” to define their warranty plan
When your factory warranty expires, you lose coverage. That’s why having an extended warranty is so important.
Sources:
EPA: https://www.epa.gov/transportation-air-pollution-and-climate-change/frequent-questions-related-transportation-air
AAA: https://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/emissions-inspection/
AARP: https://www.aarp.org/auto/trends-lifestyle/info-2018/how-long-do-cars-last.html
Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/car-repair-maintenance/make-your-car-last-200-000-miles/
AAA: https://newsroom.aaa.com/tag/cost-to-own-a-vehicle/
Transmission Repair Guide: https://www.transmissionrepaircostguide.com/
Auto Service Costs: https://autoservicecosts.com/fuel-pump-replacement-cost/
RepairPal: https://repairpal.com/estimator/coolant-change-cost
RepairPal: https://repairpal.com/estimator/power-steering-pump-replacement-cost
Better Business Bureau: https://www.bbb.org/us/md/hunt-valley/profile/extended-warranty-contract-service-companies/carchex-0011-23015869/customer-reviews
Cornell: https://www.law.cornell.edu/ucc/2/2-314
UpCounsel: https://www.upcounsel.com/warranty-laws-by-state
