Chevrolet Silverado extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Chevrolet Silverados are known to have average reliability, so extended warranty options could offer extra protection against unexpected repairs as the vehicle ages.
We’ll break down what a Chevrolet Silverado warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Chevrolet Silverados come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Silverado ranged from $1,009.56 to $2,723.12 a year. That’s more expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightChevrolet has average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on a Silverado gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightChevrolet Silverado extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Silverado comes with. For context, Chevrolet Silverados come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old truck with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Chevrolet Silverado, you have two options:
- Buy the official Chevrolet extended warranty, called Chevrolet Protection Plan.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your truck to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
Without significant savings, having to deal with a massive repair bill can be disastrous. A ConsumerAffairs investigation found that most drivers surveyed couldn't afford to pay cash for a $1,000 repair bill, and 13% of respondents had no way to deal with a bill that large — even with credit.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
Note that auto warranties only pay for repairs and replacements of parts that are specifically covered and fail from normal wear and tear. They don't cover damage from accidents or aftermarket modifications. In general, repairs also aren’t covered under warranty if you don’t properly maintain the vehicle.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Chevrolet Silverado extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $2,723.12 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,009.56 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Chevrolet extended warranty is called Chevrolet Protection Plan, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Chevrolet dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Silverado with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Compare quotes from multiple providers to be sure that you're getting a good deal on an extended warranty.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Chevrolet Silverado were more expensive by comparison.
You can save money by going with less coverage, but bumper-to-bumper plans usually provide better value because of how much more protection you get.
Remember that some extended warranty plans, particularly those from manufacturers, start from the date that the original owner purchased the car. In such a case, if you're getting a "seven-year/100,000-mile" warranty and the factory warranty is three-year/36,000 miles, you're really paying for four years or 64,000 miles (whichever comes first) of additional coverage.
Is a Chevrolet Silverado extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Chevrolet Silverado extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Chevrolet as a brand has average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Chevrolet 4th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Silverado specifically, RepairPal gave it a 3.5 out of 5.
2007 to 2012 and 2014 to 2023 V8-equipped models have experienced numerous engine failures under warranty due to the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, which shuts down individual cylinders but can lead to catastrophic engine failure due to inadequate oiling. An extended warranty could make more sense if you own one of these Silverados.
Chevrolet maintenance isn’t too pricy, but Silverado upkeep costs more than most models. If you can find an extended warranty for a reasonable price, you’re likely to come out ahead by purchasing a protection plan.
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:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Chevrolet Silverado Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
