What Does a Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty Cover?

What is a bumper-to-bumper warranty?

A bumper-to-bumper warranty provides the most comprehensive coverage available. These types of warranties are designed to cover unexpected mechanical or electrical breakdowns caused by factory defects or workmanship errors, not wear and tear or damage from external causes.

There are two main types of bumper-to-bumper warranties:

Factory bumper-to-bumper warranties

Factory bumper-to-bumper warranties are included with new vehicle purchases at no extra cost. They’re backed by the automaker and typically last at least three years or 36,000 miles, though some warranties may be as long as five years or 60,000 miles. They are sometimes referred to as a new vehicle limited warranty or basic warranty in an owner's manual. Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner, so they’ll automatically transfer to a new owner if you sell the vehicle.

Extended bumper-to-bumper warranties

Extended bumper-to-bumper warranties are available from manufacturers or third-party extended auto warranty providers. They typically offer similar coverage, though they may be labeled as exclusionary plans instead of bumper-to-bumper plans. These types of warranties only kick in after the factory warranty expires.

Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage

Bumper-to-bumper car warranties cover every component on your vehicle except for the parts that are explicitly excluded in your contract. Repairs across the following systems are typically covered with bumper-to-bumper warranties:

• Engine

• Transmission

• Drive axle

• Steering

• Air conditioning and heating

• Engine cooling

• Fuel system

• Electrical

• Front and rear suspension

• Brakes

• Instrument panel

• Luxury features like sunroofs

• Safety systems

If a part within one of these systems fails for no discernable reason, the repair is likely covered under your warranty.

Bumper-to-bumper warranties generally cover both parts and labor costs. However, some warranties may not cover diagnostic fees. Additionally, some bumper-to-bumper warranties may require a deductible, which is typically around $100 per visit, although the amount can vary.

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

Bumper-to-bumper warranties generally exclude specific parts, wear and tear, damage, abuse and modifications.

Excluded parts

Bumper-to-bumper warranties exclude certain parts, such as vehicle parts that usually break down over time from regular use. These are classified as wear-and-tear parts and typically include tires, brakes, batteries and wiper blades, though some brake components may be covered.

These warranties also typically exclude specific parts, which may vary from automaker to automaker. For example, specific parts that are typically excluded include timing belts, exhaust systems and bodywork.

Routine maintenance

Oil changes, tire rotations, alignments and fluid replacements typically aren’t covered by bumper-to-bumper warranties. Also, most warranty agreements require you to keep up with routine maintenance. If you don’t, your claim may be denied due to neglect. You should keep records of routine maintenance and services in case you ever need proof during a warranty claims process.

Cosmetics, upholstery and bodywork

Cosmetic and upholstered items, like interior trim, cloth or leather seats, headliners and seat belts, are rarely covered. Also, items like glass, wheels, bumpers and other body panels are typically excluded.

Damage, abuse or misuse

Damage from an accident, theft, vandalism or weather won’t be covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty. Instead, damage from these incidents might be covered by your auto insurance policy.

These types of warranties also don’t cover damage due to misuse or abuse, such as going off-road, going to a racetrack or towing beyond the vehicle’s rated capacity. Some warranty providers cover track and off-road use if the vehicle was specifically built for it, but don’t assume that either will be covered.

Unauthorized repairs or aftermarket parts

Bumper-to-bumper warranties don’t cover unauthorized repairs, which are any repairs performed before the warranty provider approves them. Warranty repair work requires pre-authorization, so if you send a receipt after the work is already done, your claim will likely be denied. For this reason, many warranty terms require drivers take their vehicle to an authorized dealer for repairs to ensure the work is approved beforehand.

These warranties also don’t cover aftermarket parts or any failure caused by these parts. Exclusions typically include lift kits, performance upgrades or parts that aren’t from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM).

» MORE: What voids a car warranty?

How much does a bumper-to-bumper warranty cost?

Factory bumper-to-bumper warranties for new cars are included in the price of your vehicle purchase, so you won’t need to pay anything extra for this type of warranty.

However, extended bumper-to-bumper warranties cost about $1,000 per year on average. That means their overall prices usually range anywhere from $1,000 to $8,000, depending on the vehicle’s make, model, age, length of coverage and other factors. Typical deductible amounts are $0, $100 and $200, although some providers may raise the deductible to $500 on niche performance or luxury vehicles.

Should you get an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty?

Factory bumper-to-bumper warranties are included in the price of the vehicle and last for a specified number of years or miles. Once the factory warranty ends, you may consider an extended warranty, which costs extra but can prolong coverage for several additional years.

Before you choose an extended warranty, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Determine if you need extended coverage

Many drivers never end up using their extended warranties, and even those who do tend to pay more for coverage than they get back in benefits. So, purchasing an extended auto warranty makes the most sense when the expected cost of unplanned repairs is significantly more than the cost of the warranty.

Still, extended bumper-to-bumper coverage offers a better value than lower-tier plans. But if you’re on a budget and only want a specific part or component covered, you might consider a cheaper, less comprehensive plan.

Read customer reviews about claims

It's one thing to rate a warranty provider highly because you had an easy experience purchasing coverage, but it's another thing entirely to rate it well because you had a good experience filing a claim. If a company has tons of bad reviews from customers citing a difficult claims process, that's a huge red flag.

Renessa, a reviewer from Louisiana, said that they had a good experience with getting an extended bumper-to-bumper plan.

“I had the bumper-to-bumper coverage because I got a newer model car, the 2019,” Renessa said. “I wanted to make sure that if the transmission went out or if I had any problems with a lot of the electrical stuff or a motor it would be covered. [...] Getting started with the plan was easy. [...] The rep that I dealt with was really good. She ran me through what my coverages were.”

Be wary of scams

Never purchase an extended auto warranty from an unsolicited caller or an unverified source of any kind. To avoid auto warranty scams, it's always best to purchase any kind of coverage directly from a provider's website or by calling the number listed on their website.

» MORE: Is an extended car warranty worth it?

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