When shopping for a new car, warranty coverage might not be the first thing on your mind. However, it’s a crucial factor, particularly if you plan to keep your vehicle for several years. A solid warranty can save you considerable expense if unexpected issues crop up.
New car buyers prioritizing long-term ownership should look beyond predicted reliability to assess warranty coverage. Aim for a factory warranty lasting nearly as long as your car loan to avoid costly repairs while still making monthly payments.
Warranties usually comprise two key elements: mileage and years. When either limit is reached, coverage ends. Keep in mind that automakers can modify their warranty coverage from year to year, and occasionally, specific models might have different warranty terms. Vehicle price doesn’t necessarily dictate warranty quality, with some mainstream brands offering excellent coverage, while certain German luxury brands, such as BMW and Mercedes-Benz, provide only average coverage.
Types of New Car Warranties
Most cars come with two main warranty types, plus specific warranties for items like emissions systems, rust protection, hybrid batteries, and tires.
A basic warranty, also called a bumper-to-bumper or comprehensive warranty, usually covers most vehicle systems, including expensive components like air conditioning and infotainment systems. However, standard warranties exclude wear-and-tear items such as filters, wiper blades, and brake pads.
A powertrain warranty specifically covers the components that make the car move, including the engine, transmission, differential, and axles.
What Is a Powertrain Warranty?
An extended warranty, also known as a service contract, offers additional coverage after your factory warranty expires. These can be manufacturer-backed or provided by independent companies. Extended warranties are an added expense separate from the vehicle’s price.
Here is a list of car brands with the best warranty coverage:
29) Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
These General Motors mainstream brands offer new vehicles with bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles. The warranty includes roadside assistance, including towing to the nearest dealership for covered repairs, loaner vehicles, or reimbursement for alternate transportation during a covered repair.
28) Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
While coverage varies among Stellantis brands, most are similar. These brands offer bumper-to-bumper coverage for three years or 36,000 miles and a powertrain warranty for five years or 60,000 miles, plus roadside assistance to tow the car to the nearest dealership for covered repairs. Diesel engine vehicles have a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
27) Honda
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Honda’s warranty coverage is standard. It features three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, and corrosion coverage for five years with no mileage limit. Honda also includes 24-hour roadside assistance, accessible by phone, throughout the warranty period.
26) Ford
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Ford’s warranty coverage is average. It offers three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Ford models with a Power Stroke diesel engine get a five-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.
25) Mazda
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Mazda’s warranty is comparable to most mainstream competitors, with three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. They also provide 24/7 roadside assistance during the first three years or 36,000 miles.
24) Nissan
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Nissan offers an average warranty, with three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
23) Subaru
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Subaru provides the average warranty coverage of its cars and SUVs, including three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. Vehicles with electric or hybrid components have battery and charging coverage for eight years or 100,000 miles, plus five years of corrosion protection.
22) Toyota
- Basic Warranty: Three years/36,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
Toyota offers the standard three years or 36,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty, similar to other mainstream automakers.
21) Alfa Romeo and Fiat
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
These brands from Stellantis have four years or 50,000 miles of coverage for both the bumper-to-bumper and powertrain. Roadside assistance is typically included for help with issues like flat tires and jump starts, or towing to the dealership for a covered repair.
20) Audi
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Audi’s warranty is typical for a luxury brand, providing four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. Emergency roadside assistance is available 24/7 for four years.
19) BMW
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
BMW vehicles are covered by four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties, as well as roadside assistance during the warranty period. They also include a 12-year corrosion warranty, along with scheduled maintenance for three years or 36,000 miles.
18) Land Rover
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Buyers of new Land Rover vehicles receive four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties. They also offer roadside assistance throughout the warranty period, accessible via phone, for assistance with lockouts, flat tires, and 24-hour emergency towing to the nearest Land Rover dealership.
17) Mercedes-Benz
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
New Mercedes vehicles are backed by four years or 50,000 miles of coverage, for both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain. They include roadside assistance while the warranty is active.
16) Polestar
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Polestar provides four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. They also offer a battery warranty that guarantees at least 70% of the original capacity after eight years, with a 12-year corrosion warranty. Scheduled maintenance is included for the initial three years or 30,000 miles, with pickup and delivery available. Polestar 2 and 3 models have four years of roadside assistance, while the Polestar 4 has it for three years.
15) Volkswagen
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Volkswagen offers better basic warranty coverage than many non-luxury brands, providing four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. Volkswagen owners receive 24-hour emergency roadside assistance for three years and complimentary scheduled maintenance for two years or 20,000 miles.
14) Volvo
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
Volvo provides four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. Hybrid and electric vehicles have a battery warranty that guarantees at least 55% of the battery’s original capacity after eight years or 100,000 miles.
13) Acura
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Acura offers above-average warranty coverage, including a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. Acura Total Luxury Care roadside assistance is included for four years or 50,000 miles.
12) Cadillac
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Cadillac provides four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper and six years/70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Roadside assistance is available for the first six years/70,000 miles. This service includes towing to the nearest Cadillac dealership, with possible loaner vehicle provision or expense reimbursement. To deter “flipping,” warranties of certain models can be voided if sold within six months of purchase. Buyers also get complimentary first service.
11) Lexus
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Lexus, Toyota’s luxury brand, offers four years/50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and six years/70,000 miles for the powertrain. Hybrid buyers also get eight years/100,000 miles of coverage on the hybrid battery and components, with comprehensive roadside assistance for four years, regardless of mileage. Complimentary first and second scheduled maintenance are offered, with loaner vehicles if service takes longer.
10) Lincoln
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Lincoln SUVs and crossovers have strong bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage: four years/50,000 miles and six years/70,000 miles, respectively. New buyers receive 24-hour roadside assistance for the basic warranty’s duration. Original buyers also get extended roadside assistance, including up to 100 miles of towing with no out-of-pocket expenses, and a concierge service offering vehicle pickup, loaner delivery, and return upon service completion.
9) Lucid Motors
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Eight years/100,000 miles
Lucid Motors, a newer car company, provides excellent warranty coverage for its high-performance electric vehicles. It includes a four-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and an eight-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The company guarantees that the battery pack will retain 70% of its original capacity for the warranty duration. Lucid offers mobile technicians for various repairs or maintenance. They have also been expanding the number of service centers. Two years of complimentary scheduled maintenance is also included.
8) Tesla
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Eight years/100,000, 120,000, or 150,000 miles (depending on model)
Tesla offers outstanding new vehicle warranties, with specifics for powertrain coverage depending on the model. Roadside assistance is provided for four years/50,000 miles. For Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck, battery and drive unit warranties extend to eight years/150,000 miles, ensuring the battery retains 70% of its original capacity. Model 3 and Model Y Rear-Wheel Drive customers get the eight-year/100,000-mile coverage, whereas other Model 3 and Model Y configurations have an eight-year/120,000-mile powertrain warranty.
7) Infiniti
- Basic Warranty: Four years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Six years/70,000 miles
Infiniti, a luxury automaker, offers a four-year/60,000-mile basic warranty offering a higher mileage limit than most bumper-to-bumper warranties provide. Powertrain coverage lasts six years/70,000 miles. Infiniti includes three years of scheduled maintenance with complimentary pickup and dropoff, plus roadside assistance for four years regardless of mileage. Infinti also provides trip interruption benefits.
6) Jaguar
- Basic Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
For 2025, Jaguar has some of the best comprehensive warranty coverage among luxury brands, particularly for bumper-to-bumper coverage which offers five years or 60,000 miles. However, the powertrain warranty, which provides five years/60,000 miles, trails many luxury brands, though the electric I-Pace has an eight-year/100,000-mile battery warranty. Jaguar provides complimentary scheduled maintenance, roadside assistance, and InControl connectivity and trip interruption coverage if you have a breakdown more than 50 miles from home.
5) Rivian
- Basic Warranty: Four years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: Eight years/120,000 or 150,000 miles, depending on configuration
Rivian provides a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper new car warranty for second-generation models from the 2025 model year, whereas some older models offer five-year/60,000-mile coverage. Their electric powertrain and battery are covered for an exceptional eight years (120,000 or 150,000 miles, depending on the configuration) and for up to 175,000 miles, for older models. Dual-Motor Rivian models have a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and an eight-year/150,000-mile powertrain warranty. Rivian also offers corrosion (perforation) coverage that’s better than many automakers offer. They provide a five-year warranty on Rivian Wall Chargers if installed by a licensed electrician and meet building codes, and the coverage of Rivian Adventure Gear matches the vehicle’s warranty.
4) Kia
- Basic Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Kia offers some of the best warranties, including bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage that matches the market’s leaders. The brand provides five years/60,000 miles of basic coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain protection. Basic coverage is transferable to a second owner, with powertrain coverage possibly transferring if purchased as a Kia Certified Pre-Owned car. Kia’s roadside assistance program is limited to five years/60,000 miles, however, and they also provide trip interruption coverage when a warranty-covered breakdown occurs over 150 miles from home.
1) Mitsubishi (tie)
- Basic Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Mitsubishi vehicles feature excellent warranties with five years/60,000 miles of comprehensive coverage, and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. The basic warranty is transferrable to subsequent owners. Mitsubishi offers a seven-year/100,000-mile corrosion/perforation warranty, along with 10 years/100,000 miles of coverage for their plug-in electric vehicle components and battery pack. The Mitsubishi roadside assistance program has unlimited miles, and includes trip interruption coverage for warranty-related breakdowns.
1) Hyundai (tie)
- Basic Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Hyundai was a pioneer in offering a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage and continues to lead with outstanding powertrain coverage and features to save owners considerable funds. Comprehensive coverage is good for five years/60,000 miles. It’s transferable to second owners. They also offer seven years of anti-perforation coverage. Buyers or lessees of 2024 and 2025 Hyundai cars receive free maintenance for three years/36,000 miles, plus complimentary navigation map updates. Roadside assistance provides coverage for five years with no mileage limit and includes towing and trip interruption insurance if you’re more than 150 miles from home.
1) Genesis (tie)
- Basic Warranty: Five years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
As the luxury arm of Hyundai, Genesis offers an exceptional new car warranty, including five years/60,000 miles of comprehensive coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles for the powertrain, with several value-added benefits. While benefits are similar to Hyundai, Genesis owners receive additional advantages., including free maintenance, Genesis Service Valet, and map updates.
Extended Warranties: Should You or Shouldn’t You Buy One?
Car buyers often wonder if they should invest in an extended warranty. These extended service contracts cover your vehicle after the factory warranty expires. Say, for example that the air conditioning compressor fails at 65,000 miles, but the five-year factory coverage ended at 60,000 miles. In this case, an extended warranty might cover the repair. Extended warranties typically do not cover routine maintenance or wear-and-tear items.
Deciding whether to buy an extended warranty depends on several factors, including the cost and coverage details. You also have to consider where to buy it and consider if you can go to an ASE-certified mechanic of your choosing for repairs.
When buying a new car, a good warranty is key to protecting your investment. Comparing the coverage and service provided by different brands will help you select a vehicle that offers peace of mind and long-term value.
