What Is The Longest Car Warranty?
Find out which car manufacturers and aftermarket providers offer the longest warranty coverage.
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Key Points:
- Kia, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and Genesis all offer 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranties that protect key engine, transmission, and drive axle components.
- CarShield and Carchex offer extended car warranties that last until 250,000 miles or more.
- According to J.D. Power, the most reliable auto brands are Lexus, Genesis, Kia, Buick, Chevrolet, and Mitsubishi.
Car warranties can provide both protection for your vehicle and peace of mind. However, when purchasing a new car, you’ll discover that most factory warranty coverage expires after three years. And if keeping your vehicle protected for as long as possible is a priority, this guide will help you find the longest car warranty.
Our research team has taken a look at both the best new car warranties and the best extended car warranty companies to see which ones offer the most extensive, and longest, coverage. When looking at your warranty options, it’s best to compare free quotes from multiple providers.
An extended car warranty refers to mechanical breakdown coverage offered by a vehicle manufacturer. However, this term is often mistakenly used to describe coverage from third-party companies. Independent providers offer similar protection through vehicle service contracts, but we’ve used the terms interchangeably in this article for convenience.
What Is A Car Warranty?
A car warranty is a vehicle service contract stating that a car manufacturer or third-party provider will pay for any repairs and part replacements that are required due to a car’s mechanical failure or poor workmanship. Warranty providers will not cover damages caused by auto accidents or environmental factors, as auto insurance takes care of that.
Factory Warranties
New vehicles come with a factory warranty, which is usually a combination of a few different warranties that the dealership packages into the price of a new car. Also called manufacturer warranties, these often include certain types of protection plans and perks:
- Bumper-to-bumper warranty: Covers all vehicle components minus a few exclusions.
- Powertrain warranty: Covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
- Corrosion warranty: Covers corrosion and rust perforation.
- Roadside assistance: Usually includes towing and rental car coverage.
Some manufacturers, like Tesla, include warranties for specialized electronic components as well. Popular automakers like Ford, Chevrolet, Jeep, and Ram all offer 3-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage and 5-year/60,000-mile powertrain coverage. Other manufacturers offer bumper-to-bumper warranties that last up to five years and powertrain warranties that can last up to 10.
Extended Warranties
While extended warranty plans can be purchased from the manufacturer, there are many third-party warranty companies on the market. Most aftermarket providers offer several different levels of coverage to choose from, including exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage, basic powertrain coverage, and mid-tier stated-component coverage.
Keep in mind that car warranties don’t usually cover wear-and-tear components such as brake pads, or routine maintenance services like oil changes. Some automakers and aftermarket providers will offer maintenance packages that cover items like these at an additional cost.
Based on a survey our team conducted in fall 2023, most respondents decided to purchase an extended warranty with CarShield, while Carchex and Endurance rounded out the top three.
Longest Factory Car Warranties
Our research team reviewed the best new car warranties and found that Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Mitsubishi are your best bets for the longest coverage terms.
| New Car Warranty
Manufacturer | Bumper-to-Bumper | Powertrain | Corrosion | Roadside Assistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | 5 years/
60,000 miles | 10 years/
100,000 miles | 7 years/
unlimited miles | 5 years/
unlimited miles |
| Genesis | 5 years/
60,000 miles | 10 years/
100,000 miles | 7 years/
unlimited miles | 5 years/
unlimited miles |
| Kia | 5 years/
60,000 miles | 10 years/
100,000 miles | 5 years/
100,000 miles | 5 years/
60,000 miles |
| Mitsubishi | 5 years/
60,000 miles | 10 years/
100,000 miles | 7 years/ v100,000 miles | 5 years/
unlimited miles |
Hyundai
Among the top automakers, offering bumper-to-bumper coverage for 5 years/60,000 miles and powertrain coverage for 10 years/100,000 miles has become the industry standard. The Hyundai warranty mirrors these standards.
Hyundai calls its factory coverage plan “America’s Best Warranty,” and the company sets itself apart with a corrosion warranty that has no mileage limit. This warranty lasts for seven years, making this factory warranty the longest warranty on the market. Additionally, Hyundai vehicles are the eighth-most reliable out of 31 major automaker brands, according to the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM. With the five-year bumper-to-bumper coverage on a very reliable vehicle, Hyundai car owners can drive with peace of mind for years.
Read more: Hyundai warranty review
Genesis
Because Genesis is Hyundai’s luxury brand, the coverage terms of its factory warranty are just as generous as its parent company. Its powertrain coverage is the same 10-year/100,000-mile warranty as Hyundai’s. Genesis also puts no mileage cap on its corrosion warranty or the bundled roadside assistance.
According to J.D. Power, Genesis is even better than Hyundai in terms of reliability (second overall in the 2023 dependability study). So, when driving–even years from now–you’ll have less to worry about than the average driver.
Kia
Kia’s factory warranty is fairly similar to the coverage both Hyundai and Genesis offer. Bumper-to-bumper coverage is 5 years/60,000 miles and the powertrain warranty lasts for 10 years/100,000 miles. But Kia offers shorter terms for its corrosion warranty and roadside assistance. Corrosion coverage lasts for 5 years/100,000 miles and roadside assistance lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles.
J.D. Power gives Kia the number three spot in vehicle dependability. The average repair cost for a Kia is $474 per year, according to RepairPal. Yet the long warranty is still a welcome benefit considering that catalytic converter replacements can cost up to $1,209 out of pocket and radiator replacements can run up to $1,162 for certain Kia vehicles.
Read more: Kia warranty review
Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi also offers lengthy terms for its limited warranty. Its bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties have the same coverage terms as the other three car makers mentioned. J.D. Power ranked Mitsubishi sixth overall in the 2023 vehicle dependability study.
Additionally, RepairPal shows Mitsubishi vehicles having average annual repairs of up to $535, which is an above average cost for ownership. Having a long warranty can help you maintain peace of mind if your Mitsubishi ever needs repairs.
Other Car Manufacturers With Lengthy Warranties
While they may not have coverage terms on par with our top four selections, some car makers do offer fairly lengthy new vehicle warranties.
- Volkswagen: Volkswagen’s corrosion warranty lasts for 7 years/100,000 miles. While its models from 2020 and up only get four-year warranties with bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, its 2018 and 2019 models are covered for 6 years/72,000 miles.
- Infiniti: Infiniti’s powertrain warranty lasts for 6 years/70,000 miles and its corrosion warranty covers cars for 7 years/unlimited miles.
- Cadillac: Cadillac’s powertrain warranty covers new cars for 6 years/70,000 miles, and has one of the longest roadside assistance terms–lasting 6 years/70,000 miles.
- Lincoln: Lincoln’s powertrain warranty lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles, but offers unlimited roadside assistance.
- Acura: The luxury car maker’s powertrain warranty runs to 6 years/70,000 miles.
- Lexus: Lexus’s powertrain coverage lasts 6 years/70,000 miles.
Longest Aftermarket Extended Warranties
When researching the best extended warranty companies, our team found that CarShield and Carchex offer the longest car warranties.
CarShield
CarShield is the most popular auto warranty company on the market. The warranty broker offers six tiers of coverage which include month-to-month payment plans that range from $109.99 to $149.99. Some of its warranty plans can also cover vehicles up to 300,000 miles.
When combined with the pay-as-you-go model, you can enjoy comprehensive coverage for quite some time. Customers enjoy CarShield’s accessibility, as reflected in the 43,000+ reviews on Trustpilot that earn CarShield an average rating of 4.2 out of 5.0 stars.
Read more: CarShield review
Carchex
Over the past 20 years, Carchex has built a strong reputation in the auto warranty industry. It offers five tiers of coverage, each of which features several plans from partnered providers. With a total of 22 warranty contracts, you’ll find coverage that meets your needs.
Carchex offers five coverage levels (Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care) that can last up to 10 years or 250,000 miles. Monthly payments for Carchex warranties generally range from $110 to $140 per month. Carchex also holds an accredited A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB).
Read more: Carchex review
Longest Car Warranty: Conclusion
Hyundai, Genesis, Kia, and Mitsubishi offer the most generous bumper-to-bumper warranty terms with new vehicles. When it comes to extended warranty providers, CarShield and Carchex offer plans that can stretch until 250,000 miles and beyond. These lengthy warranty options can help you drive with peace of mind for the long haul.
Longest Car Warranty: FAQ
Here are some frequently asked questions about the longest car warranties:
Who offers the longest car warranty?
Kia, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and Genesis (Hyundai’s luxury brand) all offer powertrain warranties that last 10 years or 100,000 miles. Each of these auto brands also come with 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranties.
What is the best car warranty to buy?
When it comes to extended car warranties, our team ranks Endurance as the top choice. If you’re looking for the longest warranty terms, CarShield and Carchex offer plans that last until your car hits 250,000 miles and beyond.
Which brand of vehicle is the most reliable?
According to J.D. Power’s 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, the most reliable auto brands are Lexus, Genesis, Kia, Buick, Chevrolet, and Mitsubishi.
How We Rate Car Warranty Companies
Our review team extensively researches extended car warranty providers to deliver informed and unbiased assessments of leading companies. We evaluate several key rating factors that are important to consumers to determine which providers are the best in the industry:
- Reliability: Warranty providers that earn strong ratings from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), work with reliable partners and administrators, and have a long history in the warranty industry score well in this category.
- Coverage Plans: We take a close look at the coverage plans available through each provider, including how many are offered, maximum term limits, plan exclusions, and more. We also evaluate the added benefits companies include with their warranty plans, such as roadside assistance and trip interruption benefits.
- Pricing: Our team performs a secret shopper analysis for a variety of vehicles and coverage plans to get a sense of a provider’s average costs. We see how each company’s pricing, deductible options, and discount opportunities compare to competitors when determining this score.
- Transparency: We evaluate the availability and transparency of each company’s contracts, as well as whether each provider offers a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Experience: We consider customer reviews and complaints from sites like the BBB and Trustpilot. Our team also reaches out to customer service reps during our secret shopper analysis to get a sense of the customer experience with each company.
