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- The manufacturers with the best new car warranties are Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Mitsubishi.
- While the standard factory warranty lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles, these four brands offer a factory warranty of 5 years/60,000 miles.
- A new car warranty covers your vehicle in the event of a manufacturer’s defect.
In the world of new car warranties, it’s standard to find factory coverage for 3 years/36,000 miles. However, some manufacturers have warranties that go above and beyond. To determine the best new car warranty, we researched all major manufacturers to see which ones provide the highest levels of bumper-to-bumper coverage and powertrain protection.
We’ve spent over 1,475 hours researching, mystery shopping, surveying past customers, and reading hundreds of online reviews for third-party extended warranty providers. We’ll go in depth on some of our recommended providers that offer the best extended warranties on the market.
What Is A New Car Warranty?
A new car warranty, also known as a factory warranty, is a contract between you and the manufacturer of a car. This contract states that any defects in your new vehicle will be repaired or replaced within a certain timeframe or mileage. This ensures that your new car is protected and guaranteed to remain at a certain quality level, as long as you take care of it and hold up your end of the bargain. This typically means having all of your warranty work performed at a dealership.
Keep in mind that new car warranties don’t cover the costs associated with wear and tear items or routine maintenance, such as brake pad and wiper blade replacements or oil changes.
Car warranties can extend beyond what is offered by the manufacturer. Once your factory warranty term expires, you can get coverage with an extended warranty through the automaker or a third-party company like Endurance. Third-party companies also offer used car warranties if you are a secondary vehicle owner.
What Makes A New Car Warranty Good?
To make a decision on the best new car warranty, you should consider the following criteria:
- Length: Factory warranties come with limits, and most new car warranty terms include both years and mileage. You’ll no longer be covered once one of those milestones is reached, so the longer the terms, the better the warranty generally is. In most cases, powertrain warranties have longer terms than bumper-to-bumper coverage, mainly because a powertrain warranty covers fewer components.
- Inclusions: New car warranties often feature a list of what’s included. You should examine this and make sure you understand which parts are and aren’t covered in case a defect occurs.
- Exclusions: You should also look at the list of exclusions, if applicable, as these parts will not be covered by the manufacturer if something goes wrong. Bumper-to-bumper warranties tend to come with the most coverage, so the list of exclusions should be relatively short.
- Additional benefits: Some new car warranties only feature a few perks, but others have numerous benefits. Look for roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage during your search for the best new car warranty. Some manufacturers provide free oil changes or towing as well.
What Dealer Has The Best New Car Warranty?
We have looked at all of the brands to determine which one provides the best coverage. Here are the top ten manufacturers, plus the warranties offered by each:
Manufacturer |
Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty |
Powertrain Warranty |
---|---|---|
5 years/60,000 miles |
10 years/100,000 miles |
|
5 years/60,000 miles |
10 years/100,000 miles |
|
5 years/60,000 miles |
10 years/100,000 miles |
|
5 years/60,000 miles |
10 years/100,000 miles |
|
5 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
|
4 years/60,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
|
4 years/50,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
|
4 years/50,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
|
4 years/50,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
|
4 years/50,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Top 5 Best New Car Warranties
We’ll take a closer look at the top 5 best new car warranties below, offering more information on their powertrain and bumper-to-bumper warranty terms, in addition to extra perks offered:
Hyundai
Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Hyundai has consistently been at the top of the list for the best new car warranty in recent years. Its factory warranty provides great bumper-to-bumper and powertrain protection. Combine that with high vehicle reliability ratings, and Hyundai gives the competition a run for its money.
In addition to its bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, Hyundai offers other coverages and perks for its new vehicles, such as:
- Anti-perforation warranty for 7 years/unlimited miles
- 24-hour roadside assistance for 5 years/unlimited miles
- Replacement parts and accessories limited warranty for 1 year.12,000 miles
- Federal emission defect and performance warranty for 8 years/80,000 miles
- California emissions control systems warranty for 7 years/70,000 miles
- Hybrid and electric vehicle battery warranty for 10 years/100,000 miles
Read more: Hyundai warranty
Kia
Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Kia was once known as a budget manufacturer, but it has quickly become one of the top brands in the industry. Not only are Kia cars and SUVs affordable, but the warranty rivals that of its sister brand, Hyundai. It features the same bumper-to-bumper coverage as Hyundai, lasting 5 years/60,000 miles. Plus, it provides powertrain protection for 10 years/100,000 miles.
One of the main differences is that Kia has shorter term lengths for roadside assistance and corrosion. See below for more information on some of the additional warranties and coverages offered by Kia:
- Anti-perforation warranty for 5 years/100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance plan for 5 years/60,000 miles
Read more: Kia warranty
Genesis
Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Genesis is the luxury offshoot of Hyundai, so its reputation runs high. The automaker ties with Hyundai and Kia for term lengths with 5 years/60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper protection and 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain protection. This makes Genesis one of the best new vehicle warranty providers in the market.
Additional coverage and perks offered by Genesis to consumers include:
- Complimentary service valet and diagnostic check for 3 years/36,000 miles
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance for 3 years/36,000 miles
- 24/7 enhanced roadside assistance for 5 years/unlimited miles
Read more: Genesis warranty
Mitsubishi
Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Mitsubishi is another well-known automaker that offers a long bumper-to-bumper warranty on its vehicles, as coverage lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles. It also offers a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. However, the powertrain warranty lowers to 5 years/60,000 miles for secondary owners. Other warranties provided through Mitsubishi for its new vehicles include:
- Anti-corrosion and perforation limited warranty for 7 years/100,000 miles
- Roadside assistance plan for 5 years/unlimited miles
- Manufacturing adjustment warranty for 1 year/12,000 miles
Read more: Mitsubishi warranty
Jaguar
Bumper-to-bumper warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Powertrain warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
A luxury brand that started in the United Kingdom, Jaguar has been in the auto business for over 87 years. It offers a bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranty that lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles, in addition to other perks that are often found with luxury manufacturers. Extra coverage and perks afforded to Jaguar models include:
- Complimentary scheduled maintenance for 5 years/60,000 miles
- 24/7 roadside assistance for 5 years/60,000 miles
- Electric battery warranty for 8 years/100,000 miles
Read more: Jaguar warranty
Other Manufacturer New Car Warranties
See below for a breakdown of new car warranties from other popular and well-known auto manufacturers:
Is an Extended Car Warranty Worth It?
Car owners who have a factory warranty from one of these top brands may feel that they have enough protection, but it’s important to think about your car in the long term. Even if your manufacturer warranty lasts longer than most, it’s not going to last forever. It can often be cheaper to purchase an extended car warranty before your factory coverage expires.
Here are some of the benefits to investing in additional extended protection:
- Peace of mind: An extended warranty guarantees that covered repairs will be paid for, minus your agreed-upon deductible.
- Selling feature: If you plan to sell your car and have a transferable warranty in place, your vehicle could be more attractive to potential buyers.
- Extra perks: Many extended warranties include roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and other benefits related to car repairs.
Where Should You Buy An Extended Warranty?
When it comes time to purchase an extended warranty plan, you have plenty of options available, like signing up for the factory-backed vehicle service contract at the dealership. If you’re thinking of doing this, it’s wise to take these factors into consideration:
- You’ll end up paying more in interest if you bundle the extended warranty costs into your car loan.
- With manufacturer-backed warranties, you generally have to use a dealership service center for repairs. This doesn’t allow for much flexibility.
If you don’t want to go through a dealership to purchase an extended warranty, there are many reputable third-party car warranty companies that provide exceptional coverage at a fraction of the price. Take a look below at the results from our consumer extended auto warranty survey, which compares initial purchase prices of third-party warranties to dealership warranties.
Our Best Extended Warranty Review And Methodology
When ranking third-party extended car warranties, we look at a provider’s strengths and weaknesses across five key categories. Our overall scores take into account a warranty provider’s industry standing, coverage, cost, transparency, and customer service reviews. We’ll go into more detail on each category below.
How We Rate Extended Car Warranties
To give you the most up-to-date information, we update our review standards several times each year. Our warranty research evaluates providers in the following categories:
Industry Standing
A warranty provider’s industry standing is one of the first things we consider when rating a company. If a provider has been in the industry for many years, holds high ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), or has been awarded for its warranty services, we’ll likely score it highly in this category.
Coverage
We take into account a provider’s coverage levels and offered protection plans when calculating an overall rating. We examine its plan offerings, term and mileage limits, waiting periods for coverage, and extra perks such as roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and towing provisions. We also consider if a company offers any unique coverages that sets it apart from other providers.
Cost
No one wants to break the bank when shopping for an extended warranty. We mystery shop, study sample contracts, consider deductible options, survey current warranty owners, and compare total costs when deciding on a rating for each provider. Companies that offer great coverage at an affordable price will score well in this category.
Transparency
Our criteria for transparency is straightforward and simple. If a provider is forthcoming and offers sample contracts, detailed plan outlines, and a money-back guarantee to consumers, it’ll receive high marks in this area.
Customer Service
Good customer service when purchasing an extended warranty and responsiveness when dealing with the claims process is something we look for in each provider we review. We consider whether a company offers a mobile app or online chat, and take into account the ease of obtaining a quote. We pour over customer reviews from consumers like you when deciding on a rating.
Best Third-Party Extended Car Warranties
Learn more about three of our top-rated third-party extended warranty providers below:
Endurance: 4.6 Stars
Founded: 2006
Headquarters: Northbrook, Illinois
Coverage options: Six levels of coverage
Coverage terms: Up to 8 years/200,000 miles
Endurance scores highly across all six of our key review categories, earning it the title of Best Coverage from our team. It offers six levels of coverage to consumers, including one that’s a combination of extended warranty and maintenance coverage.
In addition, Endurance is unique because it offers direct-to-consumer warranties, which means endurance handles all claims itself. It also allows car owners to choose from any repair shop that’s certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) to get your vehicle’s repairs done.
Read more: Endurance warranty review
CarShield: 4.5 Stars
Founded: 2005
Headquarters: St. Peters, Missouri
Coverage options: Six levels of coverage
Coverage terms: Up to 10 years/300,000 miles
CarShield is known for its high-mileage coverage and low prices, in addition to its extended warranty options for high-tech and luxury vehicles such as Audi and BMW models. We give it the award for Best Monthly Payments, as it has flexible payment options to customers. It also offers plans that are month-to-month, saving you from being locked into a warranty plan for longer than you’d like.
CarShield has solid reviews online from customers, and it’s also one of the few extended warranty providers that offers additional warranties for motorcycles and ATVs.
Read more: CarShield review
CARCHEX: 4.4 Stars
Founded: 1999
Headquarters: Baltimore
Coverage options: Five levels of coverage
Coverage terms: Up to 10 years/250,000 miles
CARCHEX has been in the extended warranty business for over 20 years, offering five levels of coverage that can be further broken down into over 20 different warranty contracts. You’ll find comprehensive coverage similar to your manufacturer’s warranty, in addition to coverages that take care of your engine and transmission.
Additional perks that come with CARCHEX extended warranties are trip interruption services, 24/7 emergency roadside assistance, gas delivery, and lockout services. CARCHEX also has endorsements from well-known industry giants like Kelley Blue Book and Edmunds.
Read more: CARCHEX review
Best New Car Warranty: Conclusion
Automakers Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis offer the best new car warranties on the market. Each manufacturer offers an industry-best 5-year/60,000-mile new car limited warranty and a 100,000-mile powertrain warranty. Mitsubishi and Jaguar also offer better-than-average factory warranties on their new vehicles.
In any case, if you want to continue your warranty coverage after your factory warranty expires, you have quite a few options to choose from. While many manufacturers offer their own extended warranty plans, coverage from a third-party warranty provider can be cheaper, more flexible, and provide better benefits. We recommend obtaining quotes from multiple third-party extended car warranty providers to find a coverage plan that fits your needs.