There is no feeling quite like purchasing a brand new car and driving off the dealership lot. Not only do you know you’re getting the latest and greatest when it comes to technology and safety features, but you also get the peace of mind knowing you’ll have the protection of the car’s factory warranty.

But, while a factory or manufacturer’s warranty is often one of the biggest benefits of purchasing a new car over a used car, they will vary from vehicle to vehicle, so it is important to know what you are getting and what parts are covered. Even more so, they also won’t last forever, so learning everything you can about it can help you take advantage of what your car’s factory warranty has to offer.

What Is a Factory Warranty?

A factory warranty, also commonly referred to as a manufacturer’s warranty, is a type of coverage you receive as part of your new vehicle purchase. Factory warranties come in various offerings and are designed to protect your vehicle in the event you need a repair on a covered component caused by manufacturing defects or premature wear and tear.

Most manufacturers offer powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage, which protect just about every part of your vehicle. However, just because most automakers provide these factory warranties doesn’t mean that applies to your vehicle. So to help you know exactly what kind of manufacturer’s coverage you have, you will need to review your factory warranty closely to see which components are and which components are not covered.

Different Types Of Factory Warranties

While factory warranties are provided to car owners when purchasing a new car from a dealership, most manufacturers offer four different types of warranties.

These include:

Powertrain

A powertrain warranty will cover the components included in your vehicle’s powertrain, such as your engine, transmission and drivetrain. The powertrain warranty is designed to protect your vehicle’s most expensive components while showcasing the manufacturer’s faith in their product.

Bumper-to-Bumper

Not only is the bumper-to-bumper warranty the most common type of factory warranty, but it’s also the most comprehensive option available to protect your vehicle. Much like the name states, a bumper-to-bumper factory warranty will cover the majority of your car’s components from the front to rear bumpers and everything in between.

Corrosion

A corrosion warranty helps cover the cost of repairing any corrosion on your vehicle. Most corrosion warranties cover rust (and other types of corrosion) that occurs on the surface of a body panel after the paint has been damaged in an accident or due to natural exposure.

Emissions

An emissions warranty is coverage that repairs and corrects any emissions-related component, such as a catalytic converter, that fails within the warranty period. Most emissions warranty policies will require proof that the vehicle receives regularly scheduled maintenance from a warranty authorized repair facility.

Common Manufacturer’s Factory Warranties

To give you a better idea of what types of factory warranties you can expect from popular automakers, we have listed a few below as well as some of the average cost of some repairs below. These include:

Ford

• Powertrain Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• New Vehicle Limited Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Unique Component Coverage: 8-Year/100,000 Miles
• Emissions Defect Warranty: 8-Year/80,000 Miles
• Diesel Engine Coverage: 5-Year/100,000 Miles
• Corrosion Warranty: 5 Years
• Safety Restraint Warranty: 5-Year/60,000 Miles

Ford owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

Honda

• Limited Vehicle Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Powertrain Warranty: 5-Year/60,000 Miles
• Accessory Limited Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Replacement Parts Limited Warranty: 1 Year
• Remanufactured Parts Limited Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Corrosion Warranty: 5 Years

Honda owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

Toyota

• New Vehicle Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Accessory Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Toyota Certified Used Vehicle: 1-Year/12,000 Miles
• Hybrid Battery Warranty: 10-Year/150,000 Miles

Toyota owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

Jeep

• Basic Coverage: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Anti-Corrosion Perforation: 3 Years
• Outer Panel Warranty: 5-Year/100,000 Miles
• Federal Emissions Warranty: 2-Year/24,000 Miles
• Federal Emissions Warranty Specified Components: 8-Year/80,000 Miles
• California Emissions Warranty: 3-Year/50,000 Miles
• California Emissions Warranty (Specified Components): 7-Year/70,000 Miles

Jeep owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

Chevrolet

• Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• Chevrolet Optional Extended Limited Warranty: 5-Year/60,000 Miles
• Powertrain Limited Warranty: 5-Year/60,000 Miles
• Emission Control System Limited Warranty: 8-Year/80,000 Miles
• Electric & Hybrid Warranty: 8-Year/80,000 Miles

Chevrolet owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

BMW

• No Cost Scheduled Maintenance: 3-Year/36,000 Miles
• New BMW Limited Warranty: 4-Year/50,000 Miles
• Certified Pre-Owned Warranty: 5 Years
• High-Voltage Lithium-Ion Battery Limited Warranty: 8-Years/80,000 Miles
• Corrosion Warranty: 12 Years

BMW owners can expect to pay the following amounts for specific repairs or maintenance without the help of a factory warranty:

How Much Can I Save with My Factory Warranty?

A factory warranty can save you a significant amount of money in most cases, though this will ultimately depend on how well you take care of your vehicle. A vehicle that is regularly maintained can often last for years to come. But, if repairs are needed while your factory warranty is still active, it can be a great way to help you save. For example, while most repairs will be fairly easy, a significant component such as an engine could cost thousands if you are not covered with a warranty.

To help give you an idea of these types of savings, take a look at the ever-popular Ford F-150. According to RepairPal, for this vehicle, a single-window regulator replacement can cost anywhere between $394 to $525 on average. This would be covered under their new vehicle limited warranty if it went out in the first three years or 36,000 miles, costing you nothing to have it replaced.

Another example can be seen with the Toyota Tacoma, which can need a leaf spring replacement that can cost between $668 and $739. But, just as if you owned an F-150 with a bad single-window regulator, if this repair happens on your new Tacoma on your new vehicle within the 3-year/36,000 miles period, you will be covered.

If you have a serious issue with a luxury vehicle, such as needing a clutch replacement for a BMW M3, you can expect to pay $2,254 to $2,661 without coverage!

What Happens When My Factory Warranty Expires?

While a factory warranty can provide almost complete protection, it won’t last forever. Ultimately, the length of your new car’s factory warranty will vary depending on the automaker, though most will be the standard 3-year/36,000 miles or a 5-year/60,000 miles.

Once this coverage ends, however, you’ll be left paying for any repairs or services out-of-pocket. So if you’re planning on owning your vehicle for years to come, it’s crucial to remember that many vehicles will begin to experience problems later down the road once they get older and components begin to wear out. So, in order to keep your vehicle protected after your factory warranty expires, you can purchase what is known as an extended warranty.

What Is an Extended Warranty?

Similar to your car, truck or SUV’s factory warranty, an extended warranty (which isn’t technically a warranty but a vehicle service contract or VSC for short) will help by giving you coverage regarding breakdowns and repairs. These types of auto coverage plans are often found either through the dealership that you purchased your vehicle from or from various third-party VSC or extended warranty providers, such as us here at Endurance.

Choosing an auto protection plan from Endurance lets you rest easy, knowing you’ll have comprehensive coverage for your vehicle’s most vital components well after your factory warranty has expired. Not only that, but with Endurance, you’re not limited to getting your repairs done directly at the dealership. Instead, you’re able to take your vehicle to any certified repair shop or ASE Certified mechanic to get your repairs done. You’ll even get perks such as 24/7 roadside assistance, substitute transportation and trip-interruption coverage included with the purchase of any Endurance plan, as well as immediate access to a full year of Elite Benefits. Simply pick the plan that’s right for you, and with simple enrollment, enjoy extra benefits like collision discounts, key fob replacements and even up to two tire replacements or repairs.

To help you better understand the type of coverage you can get with an Endurance plan, check out the breakdowns below:

Advantage

As Endurance’s most comprehensive package, Advantage allows its customers to get both extensive component coverage AND up to $3,5000 in maintenance benefits, something not typically found at many VSCs or extended warranties from other auto warranty providers. This plan covers the cost of essential services such as up to three engine filter/oil changes, tire rotations, engine diagnostic exams and more. Each Advantage plan also comes with several other special, one-time services like a battery replacement, cooling system maintenance and more, helping to give you even more coverage and savings.

Supreme

Endurance’s Supreme package is an exclusionary coverage plan and is the most comprehensive vehicle service contract available. With a Supreme plan, you will have only a few excluded specific components making it perfect for those who rely heavily on their vehicle and are looking for the closest thing to their original factory warranty coverage.

Supreme for Highline Vehicles

As Endurance’s newest offering, this extension of the comprehensive Supreme plan will help provide coverage on select luxury vehicles from automakers such as BMW, Porsche, Audi, Mercedes-Benz and more. Vehicles up to eight years old and with up to 80,000 miles are eligible, though a $500 deductible will apply. There are also several exclusions on all makes/models, including for vehicles with an incomplete chassis, fuel systems other than gas or diesel and those weighing over a ton. Other exclusions include vehicles that have a quad-turbo setup or more than 8 cylinders in their engines.

Superior

The Superior plan from Endurance will be the most complete inclusionary coverage plan available. This plan will come with the highest stated component coverage available and is great for those looking for peace of mind while on the road.

Select Premier

If you have a high-mileage vehicle, the Select Premier plan is the perfect plan for you. Designed specifically for high-mileage vehicles up to 150,000 miles, this plan will cover the core components like the engine, transmission and drive axle assembly, along with select electrical & A/C parts.

Secure Plus

If you drive your vehicle constantly and are looking for premium protection at an affordable price, the Secure Plus plan is for you. The Secure Plus plan from Endurance is going to cover your vehicle’s major components such as the engine, transmission, A/C, brakes, steering, and more.

Secure

Endurance’s most affordable coverage, the Secure plan, was specifically designed for daily drivers who need coverage on core components. This plan covers lubricated engine parts, the transmission, and powertrain systems.

Regardless of the plan you select, it’s crucial to remember that while factory warranties or an extended warranty can help with some repairs, they differ from any car insurance, mechanical breakdown insurance (MBI) or gap coverage you may have.

Extended Your Warranty Coverage with Endurance

A factory warranty offers great coverage for the first few years of ownership, allowing you to take advantage of potentially thousands of dollars of repairs being covered at no cost to you. But, as a factory warranty can’t last forever, you need to find continued coverage to help you protect your vehicle as it gets older. This is especially true for luxury vehicles, such cars from automakers like Porsche, Jaguar, Audi, and BMW, as these high-end vehicles will often have high-end components that can cost hundreds of dollars more to repair or replace compared to other vehicles. But, by choosing an auto protection plan from Endurance, you can get peace of mind knowing your car, truck, SUV or select luxury vehicle is covered well after your factory coverage expires.

You can even save up to $3,500 on the cost of your vehicle’s regular maintenance needs with Advantage, including PSI checks, tire rotations and engine diagnostic exams. You can also get several other special, one-time services such as a front or rear wiper blade set replacement, a battery replacement and more. You can also receive a full year of Elite Benefits, including perks such as key fob replacements, tire replacements or repairs and more great perks and savings with the purchase of any Endurance protection plan.

Having an Endurance auto protection plan can also be a great asset whenever you sell your vehicle. As many of our protection plans are transferable, you can help make your vehicle more appealing to any potential buyers with the comprehensive coverage, standard parks and Elite Benefits that can come with an Endurance auto protection plan.

So, don’t get yourself stuck paying for expensive auto repairs out-of-pocket. Instead, learn how you can protect your vehicle with Endurance and get started by requesting a free quote or giving our award-winning team a call directly at 800-253-8203. You can also find even more informative and fun articles on a variety of automotive topics such as DIY maintenance tips, buying guides, how-to guides and more by visiting our Learning Center.