GM Extended Warranty Overview

Motor1 Reviews Team Take:

• Customers report spending between $1,500 and $2,500 on GM extended warranty plans, which is less expensive than protection plans from many other automakers.
• GM brands (including Buick, Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC) often have average repair costs and reliability ratings.
• In our customer surveys, owners of GM extended warranty plans are generally satisfied with their coverage.
• With affordable pricing, a variety of coverage options, and excellent perks, Endurance is our top choice among third-party warranty providers.

Those with new Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac models receive only a few years of factory warranty coverage. For this reason, it may be worthwhile for owners to purchase a General Motors (GM) extended warranty to keep their car safe for years to come.

Our team has explored the ins and outs of the GM vehicle service contract (VSC)* and will explain its pros and cons below. We’ve also researched the best extended car warranties from third-party providers like Endurance, so we’ll compare these plans to General Motors’ options as well.

*VSCs are technically not extended warranties, because they do not “extend” the coverage of a car’s original factory warranty. VSCs are often created by separate companies (though offered and sold through dealerships)—and have their own regulations. 

However, VSCs serve the same functions as extended warranties and can be considered as such when offered by auto manufacturers. For this article, the terms “vehicle service contract”, “protection plan”, “service plan”, and “extended warranty” are all used interchangeably.

---

GM Extended Warranty

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 8 years or 100,000 miles—whichever comes first. All new GM extended warranty plans are administered by Safe-Guard Products International.

GM Extended Warranty Plans

Here’s an overview of what’s covered by each GM extended warranty plan:

Vehicle Component	Platinum Plan	Silver Plan	Powertrain Plan
Engine	✓	✓	✓
Transmission	✓	✓	✓
Drive axle(s)	✓	✓	✓
Hybrid and electric parts	✓	✓	✓
Front and rear suspension	✓	✓
Electrical parts	✓	✓
Steering parts	✓	✓
Climate control	✓	✓
Brakes	✓	✓
Audio system	✓
Navigation system	✓
High-tech parts	✓

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.

What’s Not Covered by the GM Extended Warranty?

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

GM Extended Warranty 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 ($40 per day maximum)
• Trip interruption benefits for up to five days ($200 per day maximum)
• 30-day money-back guarantee

GM Extended Warranty Terms and Conditions

You can get a full refund for your GM extended warranty if you cancel within 30 days of getting the coverage. After that, you can still get a prorated refund. With a $50 fee, you can also transfer your GM extended warranty within 30 days of selling your car to a private party.

Note that the automaker-backed GM extended warranty must be bought before your new vehicle limited warranty expires. After that point, you’ll need to consider an independent warranty provider like Endurance.

GM Extended Warranty Maintenance Plans

GM features two levels of pre-paid maintenance. You can choose a plan with the following terms:

• 24 months/3 covered services
• 36 months/6 covered services
• 39 months/6 covered services
• 60 months/10 covered services
• 72 months/12 covered services

Maintenance Plan Option	Term Length	Coverage Details
Pre-Paid Maintenance Plus	Up to 72 months	Covers everything in Pre-Paid Maintenance while adding cabin air filters, engine air filters, brake fluid, wiper blades, and more
Pre-Paid Maintenance	Up to 72 months	Covers oil and oil filter replacements, tire rotations, and multi-point vehicle inspections

GM also offers a pre-paid maintenance option for electric vehicles. This plan covers regenerative brake inspections, battery coolant inspections, tire rotations, and more.

All of the maintenance services listed above can be performed at any GM dealership, though drivers are encouraged to return to the dealer of purchase.

More GM Protection Products

GM features a range of optional protection plans to complement its extended warranties.

GAP Coverage

Guaranteed asset protection, or GAP coverage, protects you if your vehicle is declared a total loss after a collision, theft, or natural disaster. GAP helps waive the difference between what you owe on your vehicle and what your car insurance covers.

Tire & Wheel Protection

GM offers three levels of protection to cover tire repairs, replacements, wheel damage, and cosmetic wheel damage. Towing assistance is included in each Tire & Wheel Protection option.

Advanced Protection

This plan is designed to cover replacements for wear-and-tear items that aren’t typically covered by extended warranties. The optional Advanced Protection Plus plan covers up to 1,500 mechanical parts.

XS Wear Lease Protection

This helps cover wear-and-tear charges you may receive at the end of a GM vehicle lease. It waives up to $5,000 for damage such as stains, tire wear, dents, dings, and more.

---

GM Extended Warranty Vs. Factory Warranty

A GM extended warranty plan can cover your vehicle well beyond the factory warranty coverage that comes with a new Buick, Cadillac, Chevy, or GMC. The longest factory warranty among these brands lasts for 4 years or 50,000 miles, which can be doubled with a GM Protection Plan.

GM New Car Warranty

Here’s an overview of the factory coverage you get with a new GM vehicle:

GM Brand	Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty	Powertrain Warranty
Buick	3 years/36,000 miles	5 years/100,000 miles
Cadillac	4 years/50,000 miles	6 years/70,000 miles
Chevrolet	3 years/36,000 miles	5 years/100,000 miles
GMC	3 years/36,000 miles	5 years/100,000 miles

GM Certified Pre-Owned Warranty

With a certified pre-owned (CPO) Buick, Chevy, or GMC vehicle, you get a bumper-to-bumper warranty that lasts for 1 year or 12,000 miles. CPO Cadillacs come with 1 year of bumper-to-bumper coverage with unlimited mileage.

---

GM Extended Warranty Cost

GM Protection Plans are among the most affordable manufacturer extended warranties. Below are the sample quotes we received for long-term coverage on various GM vehicles:

Vehicle Model	Vehicle Mileage	GM Protection Plan	Term Length	Total Cost
2022 Buick Encore	25,000	Platinum	7 years/84,000 miles	$1,713
2021 Buick Enclave	30,000	Silver	6 years/60,000 miles	$1,697
2020 Cadillac CT5	30,000	Platinum	5 years/75,000 miles	$2,903
2022 Cadillac XT5	32,000	Powertrain	6 years/60,000 miles	$2,015
2021 Chevrolet Equinox	35,000	Platinum	5 years/75,000 miles	$1,885
2023 Chevrolet Tahoe	23,000	Silver	7 years/84,000 miles	$2,240
2021 GMC Terrain	35,000	Platinum	6 years/60,000 miles	$1,922
2022 GMC Yukon	30,000	Powertrain	6 years/72,000 miles	$2,244

---

What Our Survey Respondents Say about GM Warranties

In 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 people across the U.S. who had purchased a manufacturer extended warranty. Of these respondents, 142 had Chevrolet or GMC extended warranties. The majority of people with Chevy or GMC warranties were satisfied with their coverage. Here are a few things respondents said:

• “I was very pleased with it. I had to have the entire engine replaced and the warranty covered it completely.”
• “I was very satisfied, especially when the transmission failed.”
• “We were pretty satisfied. It covered a part of the A/C that broke pretty soon after we bought it, which saved us about $1,000.”
• “I’m extremely happy with the extended warranty I purchased. The coverage has been so amazing and I know they have my back if I have any issues with my truck.”

That said, a few people expressed dissatisfaction with different aspects of the GM extended warranty:

• “It is okay. There are still some surprises when repairs are needed.”
• “I really was disappointed. There were too many loopholes […] that they used to void it, like excessive documentation.”

These bring up common issues with extended warranties—manufacturer-backed or not. No warranty covers everything, so you need to read the fine print before the 30-day money-back period has ended. 

---

Should You Buy a GM Extended Warranty?

GM brands typically have average or lower repair costs and solid reliability ratings. However, none of them come with above-average factory warranty terms. You’ll need to consider these facts as you decide whether or not to invest in a GM Protection Plan.

Reliability of GM Vehicles

We refer to auto repair estimator site RepairPal and J.D. Power consumer studies to determine how reliable a brand’s vehicles are. The better a car’s reliability rating, the less likely it is to need expensive repairs in the first few years of ownership. 

J.D. Power Reliability Ratings

All GM brands performed reasonably well in the J.D. Power 2024 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, which measures how many problems vehicle owners face after three years of driving. The study average score was 190 problems per 100 vehicles on the road. 

Buick and Chevrolet bested the study average with scores of 149 and 174 respectively. Cadillac was just below average at 196, while GMC checked in at 206.

RepairPal Reliability Ratings

RepairPal offers its own reliability ratings, along with annual ownership costs, repair frequency, and repair severity metrics (probability of a repair/issue being severe). Here’s how GM brands compare to the site’s industry average ratings:

GM Brand	Annual Repair Cost	Overall Reliability Rating	Repair Frequency	Repair Severity
Buick	$608	3.5 out of 5.0	0.3 times per year	13%
Cadillac	$783	3.0 out of 5.0	0.4 times per year	17%
Chevrolet	$649	3.5 out of 5.0	0.3 times per year	15%
GMC	$744	3.0 out of 5.0	0.3 times per year	17%
Industry Average	$652	3.4 out of 5.0	0.4 times per year	12%

Cost of GM Repairs

Here are some repair estimates we received for various GM vehicles in different parts of the country, courtesy of RepairPal:

GM Model	Location	Repair	Estimated Repair Cost
2020 GMC Terrain	Albany, NY	Alternator replacement	$612 – $658
2021 Cadillac CT5	Sacramento, CA	Starter replacement	$768 – $904
2019 Buick Encore	Toledo, OH	AC compressor replacement	$769 – $839
2021 Chevy Equinox	Raleigh, NC	Water pump replacement	$1,291 – $1,509
2018 Chevy Tahoe	Austin, TX	Fuel pump replacement	$1,472 – $1,615
2021 GMC Sierra 1500 4WD	Athens, GA	Timing belt replacement (oil pump drive belt)	$1,622 – $2,054

---

GM Extended Warranty Vs. Third-Party Warranty

A GM Protection Plan isn’t your only option if you want to extend your factory warranty coverage. Third-party vehicle service contract providers often feature a greater selection of plans and more flexible contract terms. An independent warranty company also gives you more freedom of choice when it comes to repair facilities.

However, third-party warranty repairs and replacements are often performed using aftermarket parts instead of original equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. If genuine OEM parts and factory-trained repair technicians are important to you, you’ll be better off with a manufacturer extended warranty plan.

Our Experience Buying Third-Party Warranties

In 2023, our team purchased vehicle service contracts from a variety of top-rated warranty providers. Here’s a quick look at our experiences dealing with these independent vehicle service contract companies:

Third-Party Company	Plan	Price	Coverage Terms	Our Buying Experience	Cancellation
autopom!	Exclusionary (comprehensive)	$135 for 15 months	5 years/unlimited miles	The salesperson was helpful and patient, though it took a few calls to reach a live person	Cancellation by phone was easy and we received email confirmation
Carchex	Titanium (comprehensive)	$140 per month	Month-to-month	The agent was helpful and not pushy about buying right away	Smooth cancellation process
CarShield**	Silver (powertrain)	$159 per month	Month-to-month	Rep was helpful though they pushed the Diamond plan instead	Cancellation was easy within 30 days
Endurance	Secure Plus (mid-level)	$150 for 30 months	4 years/48,000 miles	Easy experience overall, though salesperson pushed Supreme plan at first	Cancellation within 30 days was quick with the policy number
Olive®	Powertrain	$35 for 36 months	3 years/185,000 maximum miles	100% online purchase was easy to do in under an hour	Canceled via email easily, though contracts say mailing cancellation is required

*The Carchex plan applies to a 2019 Jeep Wrangler with 49,313 miles. All others apply to a 2021 BMW X5 with 26,000 miles.

**Editor’s Note: On July 31, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced that CarShield will pay $10 million to settle FTC charges that its advertisements and telemarketing for vehicle service contracts are deceptive and misleading, and that many purchasers found that repairs were not covered. In response, the Motor1 Reviews team reevaluated CarShield’s rating to better reflect its industry standing and transparency with consumers.

What Our Survey Data Says about Buying Third-Party Warranties

In May 2024, we surveyed 1,000 consumers who had bought extended car warranties. Of these respondents, about two-thirds chose to buy a plan from a third-party provider. 

Here’s what third-party warranty customers said about their coverage in our survey: 

Who is your extended warranty provider?

These were the most popular independent warranty companies in our survey:

• CarShield: 32.5%
• Endurance: 8%
• EasyCare Warranty: 7%
• Carchex: 6.5%
• American Dream Auto Protect: 4.1%
• Omega Auto Care: 3.7%

What level of coverage did you purchase?

About 41 percent of those surveyed bought an exclusionary vehicle service contract. Nearly a quarter purchased powertrain warranty plans, while about 23 percent went with a mid-level protection option.

How much did you pay for your extended warranty?

Of the 609 respondents who pay for their extended warranty on a monthly basis, about 56 percent reported paying between $50 and $100 per month. Of respondents who paid for their coverage upfront, about 19 percent said they paid between $1,000 and $1,500 for their plan, while about 51 percent reported paying between $1,500 and $3,500. 

---

Best Third-Party Vehicle Service Contract Options

While the GM warranty has its perks, we recommend checking out Endurance, which won our Best Coverage award in our 2024 industry review. Before you get a quote from Endurance, compare the company’s coverage to what GM offers in the table below.

Endurance Vs. GM Extended Warranty

See how an Endurance vehicle protection plan compares to a GM extended warranty side by side: 

	Endurance	GM
Plan Options	6	3
Maximum Mileage	Unlimited	100,000
When To Buy	Anytime	Before expiration of factory warranty
Choice of Repair Shop	Any mechanic certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®)	GM-branded dealers and select authorized facilities
Maintenance Coverage	Advantage™ plan covers oil changes, brake pads, cooling system maintenance and more	Two levels of pre-paid maintenance
Benefits	Roadside assistance, trip interruption, rental car plus Elite Benefits like key fob replacement and tire repair for one year	Roadside assistance with towing, rental car reimbursement of $40 per day for up to 10 days, trip interruption benefits of $200 per day up to five days

---

GM Extended Warranty: Bottom Line

GM Protection Plans offer solid coverage and peace of mind, but you’ll find more flexibility and coverage options with a third-party provider. We recommend that you compare quotes from GM and leading independent warranty companies like Endurance to find the best match for your budget and vehicle protection needs.

---

GM Extended Warranty: FAQ

Below are commonly asked questions about the GM extended warranty: 

---

Methodology

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.

---