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A factory warranty helps you get your vehicle back on the road after a mechanical breakdown occurs. Many drivers are protected by a factory warranty, also called a manufacturer’s warranty, as they come with all new and certified pre-owned vehicles. But how do they actually work?
In this article, we’ll walk you through the ins and outs of factory warranty coverage, including warranty types, term lengths, typical exclusions and more. We’ll also discuss the benefits of lengthening your coverage with an extended warranty.
If you’re interested in adding coverage, our research team has reviewed the best extended car warranty providers in the industry. Click below to get free, no-obligation quotes from our top picks.
In this article:
- What is a factory warranty?
- Types of factory warranties
- Manufacturer warranty exclusions
- How long does a factory warranty last?
- Is your car still under factory warranty?
- What is an extended warranty?
- Is an extended warranty worth it?
What is a factory warranty?
A factory warranty acts as a guarantee from your automaker to repair or replace any damage from defective materials or workmanship once you drive your vehicle off the lot. It’s the manufacturer’s promise that your car is in proper working condition when it’s sold to you. However, factory warranty coverage only applies to damage caused by normal use. Wear-and-tear parts like brake pads and routine maintenance services like oil changes aren’t covered by your factory warranty.
Factory warranty coverage typically includes several layers of protection, the most prominent of which are the bumper-to-bumper limited warranty and the powertrain limited warranty. Bumper-to-bumper warranties typically last between 3 years/36,000 miles and 5 years/60,000 miles, while powertrain warranties can extend up to 10 years/100,000 miles. Your factory warranty length depends on your car manufacturer, but it can be extended with a vehicle service contract.
Factory warranties come with all new cars, but most manufacturers cover their certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles with warranties as well. If you purchase a used vehicle from a private seller, it may still be covered under the original factory warranty depending on the car’s age, mileage and manufacturer coverage period.
Types of factory warranties
Your vehicle’s factory warranty includes several coverages that last a certain amount of time. Here are the different types of warranties you’re likely to come across when shopping for a new vehicle:
Bumper-to-bumper warranty
This warranty acts as exclusionary coverage—which is often the highest level of coverage available—for almost all mechanical and electrical components in your vehicle, including the high-tech systems, air conditioning, suspension and engine. This type of coverage is also referred to as a new vehicle limited warranty or basic limited warranty by some automakers.
Powertrain warranty
A powertrain warranty protects a vehicle’s most vital components, including the engine, transmission and drive system. It may also cover accessory components like the seals and gaskets associated with the engine. Powertrain warranty coverage usually lasts longer than a bumper-to-bumper warranty, as the components it protects are made to hold up over time.
With more hybrid and electric vehicles entering the market, manufacturers also offer coverage for electric drivetrains. Without a fuel-powered engine to cover, these warranties typically protect the vehicle’s battery against capacity issues.
Some manufacturers, especially luxury automakers, will only offer a bumper-to-bumper warranty with their new vehicles. While this might seem concerning, the coverage still protects powertrain components, just for a shorter period.
Other factory warranty coverages
Other common factory coverages include corrosion, emissions and safety restraint system (SRS) warranties. You’ll also likely have access to a roadside assistance program for the length of your bumper-to-bumper warranty.
- Corrosion warranty:Also called an anti-rust or anti-perforation warranty, this coverage protects rusted-through body sheet metal panels. It typically does not cover perforation caused by environmental damage, like acid rain.
- Emissions warranty: This coverage comes in two parts, the Emissions Performance Warranty and the Emissions Defect Warranty, both of which are regulated by the federal government. The coverage protects all emissions-related components to ensure that the vehicle’s emission output is within federal limits. California has its own set of emissions guidelines, which automakers also include in their factory warranty coverage.
- SRS warranty: This warranty applies to the vehicle’s seat belts, air bags and other related safety components.
- Roadside assistance: Your roadside assistance program usually covers services like towing, winching, battery jump-starts, lockout services, emergency fuel deliveries and flat tire changes.
Manufacturer warranty exclusions
As mentioned, your factory warranty does not cover every component or situation. If your car incurs damage that was not caused by regular use, it’s probably not covered by your warranty. You can find more details about what your manufacturer does and does not cover in your factory warranty booklet or owner’s manual, but most automakers will not cover:
- Normal wear-and-tear parts
- Routine maintenance services
- Environmental damage
- Aftermarket parts and alterations
- Damage caused by an accident or collision
- Damage caused by misuse or abuse
- Damage caused by lack of maintenance
How long does a factory warranty last?
The length of your factory warranty depends on your vehicle manufacturer. Many popular automotive brands offer 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranties. Luxury car brands often combine powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage, so their factory warranties tend to last a total of 4 years/50,000 miles.
To give you a better idea of how long factory warranty coverage lasts, we’ve listed new car warranty details from 10 popular automakers below.
| Manufacturer | Bumper-to-Bumper Factory Warranty Term | Powertrain Factory Warranty Term |
| Hyundai | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Kia | 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Infiniti | 4 years/60,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Cadillac | 4 years/50,000 miles | 6 years/70,000 miles |
| Volkswagen | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| BMW | 4 years/50,000 miles | 4 years/50,000 miles |
| Ford | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Toyota | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Honda | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Chevrolet | 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles |
Can you void your factory warranty?
Drivers can void their manufacturer’s warranty before it expires. To keep your factory warranty in place, you should avoid the following:
- Off-road driving and racing
- Installing unauthorized aftermarket parts or modifications like lift kits
- Not following your factory-recommended maintenance schedule
- Using improper fluids
Is your car still under factory warranty?
If you purchased your used car from an individual rather than a dealership, you might not know what factory warranty coverage is still valid for your vehicle. However, it’s easy to check. After locating your vehicle identification number (VIN) — you can usually find it in your owner’s manual, vehicle registration or on the inside of the driver’s side door — contact your dealership. A service representative can look up any remaining warranty information using your VIN.
CPO factory warranties
You may also want to know if your certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle is still under warranty. After completing a multi-point inspection, CPO vehicles are typically covered by any remaining bumper-to-bumper warranty from the car’s original in-service date. For example, if your CPO car is a year old and the new vehicle limited warranty lasts 3 years/36,000 miles, you’d be covered for the remaining two years.
The manufacturer may also offer a 12-month/12,000-mile CPO limited warranty after this coverage expires, as well as a separate powertrain warranty.
However, most CPO warranties are not as extensive as new car warranties. They may cover fewer components and sometimes require you to pay a deductible when repairs are made. Be sure to read your CPO warranty booklet carefully so you’re not caught off-guard with extra expenses or non-covered repairs.
What is an extended warranty?
An extended warranty, or vehicle service contract, continues to cover vehicle repairs after your factory warranty expires. Rather than pay for repairs out of pocket, contract holders only pay the cost of their contract and a set deductible per repair.
Coverage usually includes both parts and labor costs, and many extended warranties come with added perks like roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement and trip interruption reimbursement, regardless of the provider you choose.
Extended warranties can be purchased from a manufacturer or an independent warranty company, and there are pros and cons with either option:
| Manufacturer Extended Warranty | Independent Provider Extended Warranty |
| Guarantees repairs are made by factory-trained technicians using genuine replacement parts | Does not guarantee factory-trained technicians or genuine parts, but repairs can be made at a dealership if preferred |
| Usually must be purchased before original factory warranty expires | Can be purchased at any time, often regardless of vehicle age or mileage |
| Repairs generally must be performed at a dealership or authorized repair center | Repairs can be performed at dealerships and licensed repair shops nationwide |
| Vehicle-specific contracts | Generalized contracts apply to vehicle makes and models across the industry |
| Drivers can usually choose between one and three coverage plans | Drivers can usually choose between four and six coverage plans |
| Term limits typically extend up to 150,000 miles | Top-rated providers offer term limits up to 250,000 miles |
Is an extended warranty worth it?
Deciding whether to purchase an extended warranty can be a tough call. If you own a highly reliable vehicle with affordable repair costs, you may not need to invest in added coverage. Instead, it may be beneficial to set aside a savings account for auto repairs. However, the cost of an extended warranty contract may be well worth the peace of mind, especially for drivers with expensive ownership costs.
Using data from RepairPal, we’ve outlined average annual repair costs for a few popular auto brands below.
If you want to see whether the cost of an extended warranty would outweigh average repair costs for your vehicle, the best way to do so is to shop around and get free quotes from multiple extended car warranty providers. To kick-start your research process, click below to get free, no-obligation quotes from some of the best vehicle service contract providers in the industry.
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