GM Extended Warranty Overview

GM offers three different extended warranty plans: Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain. While they protect different car components, each of these coverage options can last for up to eight years or 100,000 miles. All new GM extended warranty plans are administered by Safe-Guard.

General Motors notes that there could be slight differences in coverage depending on the car brand and your location. For instance, a Cadillac protection plan could have slight changes from a comparable warranty for a GMC model. Similarly, owners in Florida and California could see a few differences between their GM extended warranties.

GM Platinum Plan

The Platinum plan provides protection for over 1,500 unique components, making it the most comprehensive option from General Motors. Because of this, it’s also the priciest choice overall. You’ll receive coverage for everything from basic powertrain components to high-tech parts that would be extremely expensive to replace on your own.

GM Silver Plan

GM’s Silver coverage is a middle-ground choice that protects all major car components but leaves out some specialized parts. You’ll lose coverage for nearly all high-tech parts but get protection for important powertrain, braking, steering, and electrical components.

GM Powertrain Plan

Those seeking an affordable but basic powertrain warranty may want to consider the GM Powertrain plan. Your car’s most important pieces such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle will receive coverage at a relatively reasonable price.

GM Extended Warranty Added Benefits

Along with protection for valuable car parts, each GM extended warranty includes the following perks:

• 24/7 roadside assistance and towing
• Rental car reimbursement for up to 10 days
• Trip interruption benefits for up to five days
• 30-day money-back guarantee

While these benefits are helpful, they’re pretty standard for the industry. Additionally, third-party warranty providers often provide more perks than those offered by GM itself.

GM Extended Warranty Exclusions

The GM extended limited warranty pays for damages caused by defective parts or workmanship errors, and genuine GM parts are used for car repairs. You have to take your vehicle to a GM-affiliated dealership for repairs and must pay a deductible before work is performed.

Below are some of the main coverage exclusions from the GM extended warranty:

• Cracks or chips in exterior paint or glass
• Damage to the finish of a truck bed liner
• Issues related to your car’s tires
• Your vehicle’s bumpers, headlights, and upholstery
• Wear and tear items like brake pads and wiper blades
• Routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations
• Damage caused by severe weather, car accidents, or instances of theft or vandalism
• Issues stemming from reckless driving or lack of regular maintenance

Also note that the automaker-backed GM extended warranty must be bought before the expiration of your new vehicle limited warranty. After that point, you’ll need to consider independent warranty providers like CarShield instead.

For most drivers, GM extended warranty coverage will cost somewhere between $1,500 and $2,500. The Platinum protection plan, which is the closest to bumper-to-bumper coverage, will cost the most due to its extensive offerings. You’ll also pay more if you opt for a longer coverage term or a lower deductible.

While the cost of a GM extended warranty can be rolled into your monthly new car payments, we’d recommend not doing so. That’s because you’ll end up paying interest on both the vehicle and on its extended coverage, meaning you’ll be charged more overall.

GM Extended Warranty Price Estimates

To give you a clearer idea of how much GM protection plans cost, we gathered free quotes from a GM-authorized warranty provider. The following coverage options all came with a $100 deductible:

In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, all four GM brands ranked better than the industry average. While the typical car brand has 186 problems per 100 vehicles, here’s how GM’s brands ranked:

Chevrolet: 162 problems per 100 vehicles
GMC: 175 problems per 100 vehicles
Buick: 159 problems per 100 vehicles
Cadillac: 173 problems per 100 vehicles

GM Brand Reliability

RepairPal has far less favorable reliability scores than J.D. Power for GM’s models. Below is how each brand fared on the site along with their average annual repair costs:

Chevrolet: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars; annual repair cost of $649
GMC: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars; annual repair cost of $744
Buick: 3.5 out of 5.0 stars; annual repair cost of $608
Cadillac: 3.0 out of 5.0 stars; annual repair cost of $783

Keep in mind that the average annual repair cost across all automakers is $652.

RepairPal also ranks all 32 car brands that operate in the United States based on their overall dependability. Chevy models came in 20th place, GMC vehicles in 22nd place, Buick cars in 13th place, and Cadillac vehicles in 26th place.

GM Extended Warranty Transfer

When it comes time to sell your car, the GM extended warranty is fully transferable after you pay a $50 fee. On this point, GM aligns with most automakers by tying warranties to the vehicle identification number (VIN) rather than to the car’s owner.

With third-party extended protection, coverage for your GM vehicle can last far beyond 100,000 miles. Leading vehicle service contracts also include roadside assistance options and let you go to any repair shop you want.

Another benefit of third-party coverage is that you can get a GM extended warranty even after the car is ineligible for vehicle protection plans from the automaker. This gives you flexibility and extra time to consider whether you actually want an extended warranty. Below are the results of our 2021 survey on why consumers purchase extended auto warranties:

GM Coverage From Endurance

Our team found that Endurance has a strong combination of warranty options and overall value. The company is a direct provider of its warranty plans, meaning that all warranty services and claims will be handled directly by Endurance.

Endurance Coverage Plans

Customers who choose Endurance can pick from six different coverage plans:

• Supreme: Endurance’s exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper warranty.
• Superior: High-tier plan that provides coverage for hundreds of listed parts.
• Premier: Coverage for high-mileage vehicles with a fairly extensive inclusion list that focuses on the powertrain.
• Secure Plus: Mid-level warranty with a short waiting period of only 30 days or 1,000 miles.
• Secure: Endurance’s most basic auto warranty that only covers parts of the powertrain.
• EnduranceAdvantage™: Covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance needs like oil changes, engine diagnostics, and brake pad replacements.

Coverage can extend up to 200,000 miles, which is twice as long as the GM extended warranty. Endurance pays all car repair costs directly to the repair facility, so you won’t have to front the money for costly covered repairs. While some companies require you to pay upfront and wait to be reimbursed, that isn’t the case here.

Read more: Endurance warranty review

GM Coverage From CARCHEX

CARCHEX is a solid GM extended warranty choice for those with used cars. The company is a warranty broker that works with administrators to find you the best coverage plan and price. Unlike GM itself, CARCHEX lets car owners have repairs done at nearly any repair facility.

CARCHEX Warranty Plans

Here’s how the five CARCHEX warranty plans look:

• Titanium: Covers everything except for a small number of excluded items.
• Platinum: Takes care of all major systems but leaves out the most sophisticated parts.
• Powertrain Plus: A good plan for high-mileage vehicles that need more than a powertrain warranty.
• Powertrain: A basic plan that takes care of only the most critical powertrain parts.
• Extra Care: Covers nearly all car components apart from those in the powertrain.

A CARCHEX vehicle service contract tops out at 250,000 miles, which is significantly higher than the automaker’s GM extended warranty. The company has BBB accreditation with an A+ rating and is endorsed by industry leaders like CARFAX, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com.

Read more: CARCHEX review

GM Coverage From CarShield

We’d also recommend considering a GM extended warranty from CarShield. This warranty company is very popular, having garnered over 41,000 reviews on Trustpilot alone. CarShield is known for its month-to-month payment plans which help customers keep warranty costs down.

CarShield Warranty Plans

Here are CarShield’s six different coverage tiers:

• Diamond: Continues factory-level coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty.
• Platinum: Inclusionary coverage for cars with higher mileage.
• Gold: Enhanced powertrain coverage that adds the water pump, starter, and more parts.
• Silver: Base-level coverage for crucial powertrain components.
• Aluminum: Specifically meant for vehicles with advanced tech parts.
• Motorcycle & ATV: Coverage tailored for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.

We like that CarShield has special coverage options for high-tech vehicles with pricey equipment that wouldn’t be covered by a standard warranty. Alongside that, CarShield has a plan for motorcycles and ATVs, which sets the company apart from its competitors.

Read more: CarShield review

GM extended warranty plans offer strong coverage and peace of mind, but they also come with a fairly high price tag. On top of this, they’re actually administered by a third-party warranty provider. For these reasons, it may be worthwhile to simply pick an option from Endurance, CARCHEX, or CarShield instead.

Below are some frequently asked questions about the GM extended warranty:

In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.

• Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
• Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
• Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
• Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
• Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.

*Data accurate at time of publication.