Are bumper to bumper warranties worth it

Reviewed by Carrie Adkins, VP of Content.

New cars often come with a "bumper-to-bumper" warranty, but not every consumer knows what that covers.

A bumper-to-bumper warranty comes from the car manufacturer and protects against possible faulty equipment or defective pieces. Despite the name, a bumper-to-bumper warranty isn’t all inclusive, and you might need additional coverage to be truly protected.

Here's how to find out if bumper-to-bumper is included in your new car warranty, what it covers, and information on other kinds of warranties.

What is a bumper-to-bumper warranty?

A bumper-to-bumper warranty is a warranty from a car manufacturer that covers your car from one bumper to another. This does not replace insurance, but a warranty on top of insurance is never a bad idea to ensure that you're totally protected.

If you are buying a new car, a bumper-to-bumper warranty is usually included for three years. Ask your dealership to make sure you know what warranty is currently on your car.

The warranty is offered as a safeguard against defective parts or faulty equipment that comes from the manufacturer. If you purchased your car from a dealership, the salesman may ask if you want to extend your warranty for up to five years for an additional fee.

Key Takeaway: Bumper-to-bumper is a warranty against any manufacturer defects from one car bumper to another. Though you should ask your dealer to be sure, new cars tend to have this warranty for three years, and can be extended to five for a fee.

Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage

If you're wondering what a bumper-to-bumper warranty actually covers, you'll be happy to know that it's aptly named. The name "bumper-to-bumper" is meant to include coverage on everything between the two bumpers.

For example, the bumper-to-bumper warranty would cover engine issues or problems with the transmission. In the event of a maintenance complication, you would be able to bring your car in for free repairs while it is still under warranty.

What does a bumper-to-bumper warranty not cover?

A bumper-to-bumper warranty does not cover normal wear and tear, and it doesn’t cover tires.

Any damage to the car caused by the driver or other vehicles is also not covered. Tire wear, scratches, and windshield cracks are all excluded under the typical bumper-to-bumper warranty. These types of damages are outside of the manufacturer’s control and therefore not included in the warranty.

Carefully read your warranty

Warranties are not universal; they differ depending on the model, manufacturer, and year of purchase.

Even if you have researched similar warranties ahead of time, the warranty tied to the vehicle you purchase could be completely different. Take the time to read over your own warranty so that you understand what is and isn’t covered.

If you purchase a luxury brand vehicle, your warranty may include things such as regular service, tune-ups, and tire rotation. Some warranties cover roadside assistance for a limited amount of time. Knowing your warranty will allow you to make use of these features.

Key Takeaway: Not all warranties are the same, so read yours carefully. Different things can be included or not depending on the car.

Consider a powertrain warranty

If you are only interested in covering the most expensive parts of your car, consider requesting a powertrain warranty. Powertrain warranties cover the engine, transmission, and other engine components that keep the car running. A powertrain warranty is more of a no-frills approach and disregards issues that might not be as vital.

Even with a bumper-to-bumper warranty, your new vehicle will still need comprehensive coverage. If you’re shopping for car insurance, Jerry will generate quote estimates from top providers in less than a minute. It even lets you skip the paperwork and phone calls too, so you can savings and coverage, without the hassle!

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You may have heard of a bumper-to-bumper warranty if you’re looking to buy a new car or if you’re considering extended coverage. Few people understand what a bumper-to-bumper warranty actually covers, though, so we’ll break down the protection plan below.

In this article, we’ll take a close look at how a bumper-to-bumper warranty works and mention how long coverage lasts. Our team of experts has combed through the aftermarket auto industry to find the best extended warranty companies, so we’ll also give recommendations for if you’re considering an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty.

What Is The Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty?

A bumper-to-bumper warranty comes with almost all new cars and covers the repair and replacement of the vast majority of your vehicle’s parts. Bumper-to-bumper warranties only pay for repairs caused by defective parts or workmanship errors.

Bumper-to-bumper warranty plans are typically included as part of the factory warranty that comes as part of a new vehicle purchase. The details of your plan, including the length of coverage, are decided by the car manufacturer.

Manufacturers have many names for the bumper-to-bumper warranty. Ford and Hyundai offer “new vehicle limited warranty” plans, whereas Lexus calls its coverage the “basic warranty.”

Powertrain Warranty Coverage

Another common piece of the bumper-to-bumper warranty is powertrain coverage. A powertrain warranty backs the most essential components that provide power to your vehicle. 

Common items included in a powertrain warranty include:

• Engine
• Transmission
• Fuel pump
• Drivetrain
• Transfer case
• Seals and gaskets

You’ll need to contact your warranty provider to find out exactly what’s covered under your powertrain warranty. Generally, powertrain coverage outlasts your bumper-to-bumper warranty due to the importance of the parts it covers.

Extended Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty

The average factory bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for around 4 years/50,000 miles. After that, you’ll be on your own when dealing with unexpected repair costs. You’ve got two options if you’re hoping to extend your bumper-to-bumper warranty: picking up coverage through the automaker or turning to a third-party provider.

Purchasing extended warranty coverage from the dealership is something a salesperson will likely bring up when you’re buying a new car. That’s because you can only purchase an extended warranty from the manufacturer before your original factory warranty expires.

If you choose this route, buying early does have its perks. You’ll get access to genuine manufacturer parts and service from specialized dealership technicians. The downside is that coverage from a dealership is usually pricey, and adding an extended auto warranty to your vehicle’s financing plan means that you’re paying interest on potentially unneeded car repairs.

By contrast, third-party bumper-to-bumper warranty providers tend to offer greater flexibility. You won’t be limited to repair service from your local dealership, there are far more plans to choose from, and you can even get an extended warranty for cars over 100,000 miles.

Car manufacturers sell customers extended bumper-to-bumper warranty plans, while third-party companies offer nearly identical vehicle service contracts. Third-party contracts tend to provide greater flexibility at lower costs, and they can be bought at any point in your car’s life.

What Does The Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty Cover?

While a bumper-to-bumper warranty almost always offers comprehensive coverage of car components, exact details vary by the automaker. The best way to check what’s covered is by carefully reviewing your warranty contract.

Since the extensive coverage offered by many bumper-to-bumper warranty options covers hundreds of parts, many manufacturers write exclusionary warranties. This means that your warranty contract will specifically list only the parts that are ineligible for repairs. The reverse of this is stated component coverage, where the manufacturer only lists out covered parts.

Here are some components usually covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty:

• Air conditioning and heating
• Engine cooling system
• Steering
• Electrical systems
• Suspension
• Entertainment, audio, and high-tech systems
• Powertrain components (for the duration of the powertrain warranty)

While a bumper-to-bumper warranty offers protection for most major components of your car, it has its limits. For one thing, coverage is only for problems caused by defective parts or workmanship errors.

Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty Exclusions

While a bumper-to-bumper warranty covers repair costs for a number of components, not everything is backed by your vehicle’s coverage. Here are a few common exclusions:

• Normal wear items like windshield wiper blades and brake pads
• Windshield glass
• Body panels and paint
• Standard maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations
• Damage from a collision or environmental factors
• Damage from owner neglect or abuse

How Long Does A Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty Last?

The length of a bumper-to-bumper warranty varies depending on your car manufacturer. The same is true of third-party extended bumper-to-bumper warranties, as these providers may also have coverage limits.

Below are bumper-to-bumper warranty term lengths for several major automakers:

As can be seen, coverage lengths are pretty standard across the auto industry. The industry’s longest bumper-to-bumper warranty plans are 5 years/60,000 miles and are provided by Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi, and Kia.

What Is The Cost of A Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty?

Bumper-to-bumper warranty plans are included as part of the manufacturer’s warranty, which is in turn folded into the price of a new car. Buying a manufacturer’s extended warranty usually comes with a higher price tag compared to third-party protection plans.

If you end up needing a covered repair during the life span of the factory warranty, check your warranty contract to see if you’ve got a deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you must pay up front at the repair shop before a warranty covers the rest.

Deductibles usually range from $0 to as high as $250 depending on the automaker. Some plans include vanishing deductibles, which means your up front payment is waived if you get service done at a specific dealership.

Cost Of A Third-Party Extended Warranty

Our research on the aftermarket warranty industry found that the average cost of a third-party bumper-to-bumper extended warranty is around $2,394. If you don’t choose to pay up front for coverage, there are monthly payment plans that range from under $60 to around $90 per month.

To get a better sense of how much an extended warranty costs, we reached out to leading warranty companies for free quotes on a 2018 Honda Civic with 30,000 miles. Our warranty experts were quoted the following prices:

All of the bumper-to-bumper warranty plans we obtained quotes for include deductibles of $100. While CarShield was easily the cheapest option, its coverage length is far eclipsed by that of CARCHEX and Endurance.

Should You Buy A Bumper-To-Bumper Extended Warranty?

Deciding whether to buy an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty hinges on many factors, such as the reliability of your car, the overall cost of the warranty, and the company that will be providing repair services.

Getting an extended warranty can be a smart way to budget for unexpected auto repair costs, especially if you’d rather have peace of mind while on the road. Many warranties also include additional coverage such as roadside assistance and towing services, which can make mechanical breakdowns less stressful to deal with.

Paying out of pocket may save you money in the long run if you’ve got a reliable car. After all, your car may not need enough repairs to justify the cost of an extended warranty.

If you choose a third-party option, consider the reputation of the company. Look at reviews from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot to search for recurring issues and learn how customer complaints are handled. If you’re considering an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty, read our breakdown of reputable extended car warranty companies.

Our Recommendations For Extended Warranties

Our team has reviewed the market and selected Endurance and CARCHEX as two of the best extended warranty providers for their extensive coverage offerings and strong customer reviews.

Endurance: Best Coverage

Endurance offers some of the best coverage plans in the auto warranty business. The company is a direct provider of warranties, meaning it manages its own plans rather than contracting with other companies for some services.

Endurance has six offerings that range from bumper-to-bumper warranty plans to repairs for only the essential powertrain components. All customers who purchase Endurance plans get one free year of membership in Endurance Elite Benefits, which includes perks such as tire repair and replacement.

 Learn more about this provider by checking out our complete Endurance warranty review. Be aware that Endurance plans are not available in California.

CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars

If you have an older car that you want to keep on the road, CARCHEX may suit your needs. It’s our top choice for used vehicles since it offers coverage up to 250,000 miles and has consistently low pricing.

What makes CARCHEX truly stand out is its solid reputation after more than 20 years in the industry. The company is accredited by the BBB and holds a stellar A+ rating on the site.

 Read our CARCHEX review to find out more information about the company’s bumper-to-bumper warranty offerings.

Frequently Asked Questions

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