Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.
- A bumper-to-bumper warranty offers the highest level of warranty protection.
- Hyundai and Kia provide the longest-lasting bumper-to-bumper coverage.
- After Your manufacturer’s warranty expires, you can extend bumper-to-bumper protection through a third-party provider.
Affiliate disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may be compensated when you purchase the products in this article.
A bumper-to-bumper warranty covers repair and labor for almost all parts of a vehicle. It is normally included with new vehicles as part of a factory warranty or is offered as a comprehensive extended warranty coverage option. In this article, we’ll explain what you need to know about bumper-to-bumper warranties and which manufacturers offer the best bumper-to-bumper coverage.
You’ll also learn how to continue your bumper-to-bumper warranty after your factory coverage expires with a plan from one of the best extended car warranty companies on the market. If you want to see how much an extended warranty from one of our top-rated providers would cost you, click above.
What Does A Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Cover?
A bumper-to-bumper warranty covers the majority of a car’s components and systems, including:
- Braking
- Steering
- Suspension
- Vehicle body
- Fuel delivery
- Air conditioning and heating
- Electronics and electrical systems
- Engine, transmission, and drive axles
Bumper-to-bumper warranties are sometimes called “exclusionary” warranties. This is because, rather than a full list of covered items, only items that are not covered are listed in your contract. While specifics may vary from contract to contract, most bumper-to-bumper warranties exclude:
- Tires
- Glass
- Bulbs
- Fuses
- Wheels
- Bumpers
- Upholstery
- Wiper blades
- Clutch linings
- Brake pads and shoes
Keep in mind that coverage from the manufacturer only includes repairs or replacements for defective or faulty parts or workmanship – not repairs from normal use. Damage that is the result of improper use, racing, theft, vandalism, or an accident is generally not covered.
It is also important that you maintain your vehicle in accordance with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule. Missing an oil change can void your bumper-to-bumper warranty.
What’s A Powertrain Warranty?
Powertrain coverage normally lasts longer than a bumper-to-bumper warranty – usually five years or 60,000 miles at a minimum. A powertrain warranty covers only components of a car’s engine, transmission, and drive axle. The protected components will be listed in your contract.
How Long Does A Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Last?
Bumper-to-bumper warranty terms typically last three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. After this limited warranty expires, you can still purchase bumper-to-bumper coverage in the form of an extended warranty, or vehicle service contract. Drivers often get these warranties for the added peace of mind, especially if they accrue miles quickly or want to keep their car for a long time.
Most manufacturers sell extended warranty coverage that lengthens your bumper-to-bumper warranty by several years. Many independent warranty companies also offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for a range of vehicle makes and models.
Comparing Manufacturer Bumper-to-Bumper Warranties
Listed below are the details of six popular brands’ new vehicle limited warranties. You can see that some companies offer long bumper-to-bumper warranty lengths, while others have terms that are significantly shorter.
| Manufacturer | Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty Length | Powertrain Warranty Length | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles | ✓ | |
| 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles | ✓ | |
| 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles | ✓ | |
| 3 years/36,000 miles | 5 years/60,000 miles | ✓ | |
| 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles | ✓ | |
| 5 years/60,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles | ✓ |
Conclusion: Best Manufacturer Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty
Hyundai and Kia offer the best bumper-to-bumper warranties. Coverage lasts for five years or 60,000 miles. These warranties also cover wear-and-tear items for the first year or 12,000 miles. Combined with each company’s ten-year or 100,000-mile powertrain warranty, Hyundai and Kia lead the industry in factory warranty protection.
However, these limited manufacturer warranties aren’t meant to last forever. Unless you’re covered with a comprehensive service contract, you will still foot the bill for common repairs after your factory warranty expires. A protection plan from a third-party provider can even cover repairs the manufacturer wouldn’t.
Benefits of A Third-Party Extended Warranty Company
Third-party websites are the most used resources for online car shopping. So, why shouldn’t it be the same for extended warranties?
There are several cases to make for third-party bumper-to-bumper extended warranties:
- They tend to be affordable because there are many companies competing in the market. Also, dealerships may wrap your extended warranty cost into your financing, meaning you’ll paying interest on it. Independent warranty companies offer zero-interest financing.
- You don’t have to repair your car at the dealership, and you’re not limited to the manufacturer’s parts. You can choose from a larger network of repair or parts facilities.
- You can find multiple plan options from each company to better fit your particular needs, rather than choosing between only a powertrain or full-coverage warranty.
Companies like Endurance, CARCHEX, and Protect My Car provide plans with very extensive coverage that protect new, certified pre-owned, or used cars with high mileage. And, you’ll still get many of the same additional perks, such as roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage, and rental car reimbursement.
Featured Extended Warranty Companies
We reviewed the best extended auto warranty providers, and here are our top picks.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
