September 9th is World EV Day, and it is a great opportunity to consider all the benefits of owning an electric vehicle and the logistics. While charging is an obvious concern for EV owners, protecting electric cars and keeping them in good shape is just as important. When you buy a new EV, it will come with a warranty provided by the manufacturer that covers the battery, electric motor, charging system, and other components that keep the car running.

The kind of warranty you get with your electric vehicle should be just as much of a concern as how much power it puts out and what kind of range it has. By picking a vehicle manufacturer that provides a robust warranty, you can be sure that your EV will last for many years. With a good understanding of what you can expect from your EV warranty and what your options are when it runs out, you can make the most of your electric car and keep yourself safe on the road.

What Makes EV Warranties Different From Gas-Powered Cars?

When you buy a gas-powered car from the dealership, it will most likely come with a factory warranty that covers a wide range of components. This is usually called the limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and will be good for somewhere around three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. It will also come with a powertrain warranty that covers powertrain components like the engine, drive axle, and transmission. This is generally valid for somewhere around five years or 60,000 miles. Once these warranties are up, you will be financially responsible for any issues that arise with the vehicle, whether they are the fault of the manufacturer or not.

When it comes to electric vehicles, the warranty periods tend to be quite a bit longer. While the limited bumper-to-bumper warranty will usually be around four years or 48,000 miles, the battery warranty is much longer. For the most part, you can expect this warranty to be good for somewhere between eight years or 100,000 miles. This is because of how important these components are and the fact that they often need to be replaced rather than repaired. When shopping for an electric car, be sure to look at the length of the warranty and how that can help you protect your wallet in the long run.

What’s Typically Covered in a Factory EV Warranty?

Like most other vehicles, an EV model will come with a limited warranty and a powertrain warranty. The powertrain warranty covers things like the drive unit and the electric motors, while the limited bumper-to-bumper warranty covers other components like the steering and brakes. Perhaps the most important aspect of a factory EV warranty, though, is the battery warranty. Since EV batteries can be incredibly expensive to replace, making sure that your battery warranty is good for at least eight years or 100,000 miles is the best way to save yourself money down the line.

Some EV manufacturers offer more comprehensive coverage for the battery and drivetrain components of their vehicles. Tesla, for example, includes a warranty for the battery and the drive unit that is good for eight years or 150,000 miles. This warranty also guarantees a minimum retention of 70% for the original battery. While some specific models have a lower mileage cap for the warranty, Tesla is generally considered to have one of the longest and most useful factory warranties for EV drivers.

What’s Not Covered: Common EV Warranty Exclusions and Limitations

As with any vehicle warranty, EV warranties will have some exclusions and limitations that you have to keep an eye out for. Wear-and-tear items like brake pads, windshield wiper blades, and tires will not be included in the factory warranty. This is because these parts are meant to wear out and will need to be replaced on a fairly regular basis. They should be taken into consideration by any car owner, so manufacturers usually do not include them in warranty coverage.

There are also some limitations and actions that can void your warranty. Any kind of damage that occurs due to negligence, for example, will not be covered by your EV warranty. Things like exceeding the vehicle’s load limits or neglecting routine maintenance could void the warranty, so it is important to read the fine print and fully understand what is and is not expected of you as a car owner.

Do Endurance Plans Cover EVs and Hybrids?

While having a long, comprehensive factory warranty is important, sooner or later, it is going to run out, and you will have to pay for any repairs that your vehicle needs. When that happens, an extended warranty, which is more accurately called a vehicle service contract (VSC), from a third-party provider is your best option. With extended coverage, you can protect your vehicle beyond what the manufacturer includes with the sticker price and keep your car running for a long time without having to worry about expensive repairs.

Endurance is a leading VSC provider on the market with plans for nearly every kind of vehicle and driver. In addition to top-notch coverage for gas vehicles, Endurance also has plans for HEVs and EVs that can help protect you from costly repairs. Endurance offers HEV and EV coverage through our Advantage plan. This covers crucial components like the electric drive motor, power controller, inverter assembly, and generators.

Hybrid vehicle add-ons are also available for the Secure Plus and Superior plans, giving you the same component protection for added peace of mind. While Endurance plans exclude HEV batteries, most automakers provide a separate, federally mandated warranty on EV and hybrid batteries, though coverage terms can vary. For fully electric vehicles, Endurance does not cover every make or model, but we do offer a dedicated plan for Tesla vehicles that includes EV battery protection.

Protect Your Gas or Electric Vehicle With Endurance

When your electric vehicle’s factory warranty runs out, it is important to have coverage you can count on. With a protection plan from Endurance, you can be sure that no matter what problems you run into over the years, you will be able to get repairs and get back on the road. Endurance offers a wide range of plans for vehicles of all kinds, from older high-mileage cars to luxury and exotic vehicles. Endurance will even cover vehicles that other providers won’t, such as Canadian Gray Market cars, vehicles with a rebuilt or salvage title, and cars used for commercial purposes like rideshare and delivery.

In addition to top-of-the-line coverage, Endurance plans also come with a comprehensive set of standard benefits and perks. This includes things like 24/7 roadside assistance, towing, rental car coverage, and travel interruption coverage. Customers can also get access to a year of FREE Endurance Elite Benefits, which include tire repair costs or replacement, key fob replacement, windshield coverage, and more.*

When you are ready to gain peace of mind for your hybrid or electric vehicle, contact our team at (800) 253-8203 for a FREE quote. You can also shop online to see your price and plan recommendations right away.

For more auto expert resources, be sure to check out the Endurance Warranty blog. There, you will find more helpful guides like this one as well as DIY tips and tricks, provider comparisons, and much more.