How to check if your car is still under factory warranty
You can check if your car is still under warranty by looking at the manufacturer’s website, contacting the dealership where you bought your car, using your VIN or by referencing your original purchase paperwork.
To see how much time is left on the manufacturer’s warranty, follow these easy steps:
1. Find the VIN
Before you can look up your car’s warranty, you’ll need to locate the VIN. It can usually be found in several places:
- On the driver’s side of the dashboard (look through the windshield)
- Inside the driver’s side doorjamb
- In the engine compartment, near the front
- On the underside of the hood
- Inside the rear wheel well
If you’re having trouble finding the VIN, you can also get it from your car registration, title or insurance paperwork. If you have an older car, it may be stamped on the front frame near the engine.
2. Check the odometer
Car warranties last for a specified mileage and number of years. To determine if the warranty is still valid, you’ll need to know the current mileage. You can find your car’s current mileage on the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel. Write down the mileage as displayed on your car’s odometer.
Car warranties by model year
Unfortunately, you can’t tell a car’s warranty strictly by the model year since many models are released for sale before the year they’re labeled with. For example, a 2021 model might’ve been purchased in 2020, or it might have sat on the lot until 2022. What matters is when the vehicle was first sold — that’s when the warranty begins.
3. Look up the warranty
Once you have the VIN and mileage, here are some ways you can look up the warranty:
- Contact the dealership directly: You can call or email a dealership to see if your car’s warranty is still valid.
- Use an online system: Most dealerships provide an online portal to look up service dates, recalls and warranty information. If the dealer doesn’t have one, you can find it on the manufacturer’s website.
- Check purchase paperwork: If you still have the paperwork from when the car was purchased, you can figure out how much time is left on the warranty.
- Read the owner’s manual: There may be warranty information in your owner’s manual. If you don’t have an owner’s manual, you can get one online or through a local dealership.
» RELATED: What is a dealership warranty?
Should you use a VIN lookup tool?
VIN lookup tools can provide detailed information about a vehicle, including your car’s remaining warranty coverage (both year and mileage limits), recalls and more. However, the information may vary depending on the manufacturer and whether the vehicle has registered service records. Always verify the details with the manufacturer or your dealership to ensure accuracy.
Free VIN reports
Free VIN checks provide basic information like the manufacturer, model year, any recalls and basic warranty status. Most auto manufacturers allow you to look up your warranty coverage for free with your VIN, though you may need to create an online account first.
Note that free VIN tools, like National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) recall tool, won’t reveal warranty status. It will only share information about the vehicle’s plant of manufacture.
Paid VIN reports
There are also lookup services like Carfax and AutoCheck, but these services typically cost around $30 to $60. With a paid VIN report, you’ll generally get a more detailed vehicle history. This may include accidents, service records, title issues, transferability for used vehicles and extended warranty coverage.
What does a car warranty cover?
What your car warranty covers depends on the type of warranty you have. At the least, new cars generally come with bumper-to-bumper coverage and powertrain coverage.
Here are some common types of car warranties and what they cover:
- Bumper-to-bumper: Covers most vehicle parts and systems
- Powertrain: Covers the engine, transmission, drive systems, drive shaft and transaxle
- Rust and corrosion: Covers rust-through on body panels and sometimes surface corrosion caused by a defect
- Battery: Hybrid and electric vehicles (EVs) have a separate warranty for their batteries
Factory warranties by manufacturer
You can find standard warranty information from any automaker by looking at its website. The site should plainly show what kind of protection you’re getting when you buy a vehicle.
The table below shows some popular manufacturers and their typical new car warranties.
| Manufacturer | Bumper-to-bumper warranty | Powertrain warranty |
|---|---|---|
| Ford | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Honda | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Hyundai | 5 years or 60,000 miles | 10 years or 100,000 miles |
| Kia | 5 years or 60,000 miles | 10 years or 100,000 miles |
| Mercedes-Benz | 4 years or 50,000 miles | 4 years or 50,000 miles |
| Toyota | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
Can you void a car warranty?
Even if you’re still under warranty, you can void it if you don’t follow the manufacturer's rules. Here are some ways you can void a car warranty:
- Neglect: If you don't take your car in for regular maintenance, the warranty may be voided. The automaker isn't going to pay for a new engine if you haven’t been changing the oil.
- Misuse: This includes racing or going off-road in vehicles that aren’t designed for off-road ventures.
- Salvage title: If the vehicle was totaled in an accident, you won’t get warranty protection.
- Aftermarket modifications: Adding non-factory parts won’t automatically void your warranty, but coverage can be denied if the dealer can prove the modification has caused the problem.
- Odometer tampering: You can’t mess with the odometer in hopes of getting more warranty coverage.
It’s important to read through the warranty paperwork to familiarize yourself with all the rules for keeping your car under warranty.
Should you get an extended warranty?
If you look up your manufacturer’s warranty and it’s already expired, you may be able to purchase a manufacturer or third-party extended warranty. These warranties can help cover expensive repairs after your original warranty expires.
An extended warranty can provide peace of mind after a factory warranty expires.
Extended warranties are often offered at the time of purchase, but you can also buy one later from some manufacturers or else from a third-party extended warranty provider. They usually come in various levels of coverage, from basic powertrain protection to more comprehensive plans.
To help you decide if an extended warranty is right for you, compare the cost of a warranty against what you believe you’d pay for repairs without one. Be sure to read the fine print so you know what’s covered, what’s excluded and how to file a claim if something goes wrong.
FAQ
Will a VIN check show if the warranty was voided?
A VIN check typically shows active warranty status, but it may not reflect voided coverage due to accidents, misuse or aftermarket modifications. For this information, you should contact the manufacturer or your dealership directly, as they maintain records of any warranty disputes or voided claims.
Can you check extended warranty coverage with a VIN?
You can often check your extended warranty coverage with a VIN. Most manufacturers and warranty providers allow you to enter the VIN online to see the remaining coverage, expiration dates and included services, just as you would for checking factory coverage.
Can used car buyers check warranty coverage with a VIN?
Used car buyers can use the VIN to check if a vehicle still has active manufacturer warranties. Before buying a used car, request a VIN-based warranty check from the dealer or manufacturer. It can provide peace of mind and help you negotiate a fair price.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Federal Trade Commission, “Magnuson Moss Warranty-Federal Trade Commission Improvements Act.” Accessed Feb. 23, 2026.
- National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, “Check for Recalls.” Accessed Feb. 23, 2026.
