What is the best bumper to bumper warranty?

• A bumper-to-bumper warranty is the highest level of protection, but what does it cover or exclude?
• Which automakers provide the longest coverage?
• Your manufacturer's warranty is expiring.
• See how you can expand your third party bumper protection.

Affiliate Disclosure: Automoblog and its partners may receive compensation when purchasing the following products.

Sales forecasts from April 2019 ranked GM, Ford, Honda, Nissan and Hyundai - in that order - as the most popular auto brands in the US. You may have your own preference for Ford over Nissan or Honda over Hyundai, but in the event of a mechanical failure, is that ranking correct for their bumper-to-bumper warranties?

The Bumper to Bumper Warranty covers the repair and labor of almost all parts of the vehicle. It is usually included in the manufacturer's warranty or is a coverage level option for an extended warranty. There are exceptions such as tires, air filters, brake drums or wipers that must be specified in your contract.

We'll explain what you need to know about bumper-to-bumper warranties and which manufacturer offers the best bumper-to-bumper coverage. You'll also learn how to continue this comprehensive coverage after your manufacturer's extended warranty expires with a leading third-party supplier, CARCHEX.

CARCHEX offers several extended coverage options, including bumper-to-bumper extended warranties. To learn more about their plans and receive a free quote, call 866-254-0205 or fill out the online form.

What is a bumper to bumper warranty?

The bumper warranty covers most vehicle components such as:

• Braking
• Steering
• Suspension
• car body
• Heating cooling
• Fuel supply system
• Electronics and electrical systems

Please note that manufacturer's coverage only covers the repair or replacement of defective or faulty parts or workmanship, not repairs under normal use. Check your specific warranty to see if labor and parts are included.

Bumper-to-bumper warranties rarely cover tires, wiper blades, or brake pads. They also do not cover routine maintenance, wear and tear, accidental damage or neglect.

Terms are often three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first, but some are longer. If this limited warranty has expired, you can still purchase bumper-to-bumper coverage. People get these guarantees for peace of mind, especially if they are fast gaining miles or want to keep the car for a long time.

Bumper-to-bumper warranties are sometimes referred to as "exclusive" warranties because the contract specifies several exclusions rather than a full list of items covered. There are two types of bumper-to-bumper warranties you can get from the manufacturer:

• Exceptional coverage under the new manufacturer's limited warranty typically guarantees repairs and labor coverage for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. The prices are included in the financing of the car.
• Exceptional Extended Warranty coverage provides protection beyond the expiration of the new limited warranty. These contracts can have terms of several years, sometimes up to 10 years. Because these plans are vehicle maintenance contracts and not true warranties, you purchase them separately from your vehicle.

What is a transmission warranty?

Drivetrain coverage typically lasts longer than a bumper-to-bumper warranty—usually five years or 60,000 miles at a minimum. The transmission warranty covers vehicle engine, transmission and drive axle components. Protected components will be listed in your contract.

Comparison of bumper manufacturer warranties

When it comes to warranties, are Chevy and Ford still coming out on top? Do Nissan and Hyundai have faster cars in the race? Below is a quick comparison of each new manufacturer's limited warranties.

Chevrolet (GM)

• Limited Warranty 3 years / 36,000 miles
• 2 trips within 2 years or 24,000 miles
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Exceptions:
  • Tire wear
  • Damage to bed linen
  • Trip interruption costs

ford

• Limited Warranty 3 years / 36,000 miles
• For defective tires: 100% coverage for the first 12,000 miles, 60% coverage for the first 24,000 miles, and 30% coverage within 36,000 miles
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Exceptions:
  • Tire wear
  • Handsfree and entertainment

Honda

• Limited Warranty 3 years / 36,000 miles
• Seat belt coverage for 15 years / 150,000 miles
• Exceptions: Tires
• Additional restrictions:
  • 6 months for original key fob and remote batteries
  • 6 month period for wiper blade inserts
  • 1 year / 12,000 miles for wheel balancing and alignment (adjustments)
  • 2 years / 24,000 miles for air conditioning refrigerant

Nissan

• Limited Warranty 3 years / 36,000 miles
• 10 year limited seat belt warranty
• Battery Charging for Nissan Leaf and Nissan Titan
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Exceptions:
  • Tires
  • Commercial / car fleet
• Additional restrictions:
  • 12-month air conditioning refrigerant charge period
  • 1 year / 12,000 miles period for adjustments
  • 6 month period for wiper blade inserts

Hyundai

• Limited Warranty 5 years / 60,000 miles
• 24/7 roadside assistance
• Exceptions:
  • car interior
  • Tires
• Additional restrictions:
  • 3 years / 36,000 miles for paint and battery repairs
  • 1 year / unlimited mile period for air conditioner refrigerant
  • 1 year / 12,000 miles for adjustments and wear items (brake pads, wiper blades, light bulbs, etc.)

Conclusion: Best Bumper Manufacturer Guarantee

Hyundai's bumper-to-bumper warranties provide maximum coverage for five years or 60,000 miles. They also cover wear items for the first year or 12,000 miles. Combined with a 10 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty, they lead the industry in protecting factory warranties.

However, these limited manufacturer warranties are not designed to last forever. If you do not have a comprehensive service contract, you still pay for general repairs after the factory warranty expires. A protection plan from a third party provider such as CARCHEX may even cover repairs that the manufacturer won't.

Third Party Extended Warranty Benefits

Third-party sites are the most used online car shopping resources at 78 percent. So why shouldn't it be the same for third party extended warranty vendors?

There are a few cases to make for third-party, bumper-to-bumper extended warranties:

• They tend to be affordable because there are many companies competing in the market. In addition, dealerships may include the cost of an extended warranty in your financing, meaning you pay interest.
• You don't have to have your car repaired at a dealership, and you're not limited to manufacturer parts. You can choose from a wider network of repairs or equipment parts.
• You can find several plan options from each company that suit your specific needs, rather than having to choose between a transmission or a full warranty.

Companies like CARCHEX provide very broad coverage plans that protect new, certified used or high mileage used vehicles. And you'll still get many of the same perks as roadside assistance.

Bumper to Bumper Warranty Options CARCHEX

CARCHEX has extended warranties nationwide for 20+ years. Their portable plans cover five tiers of coverage - Titanium, Platinum, Gold, Silver, and Bronze - but we'll take a look at their two most extensive plans.

CARCHEX plans are backed by trusted companies (American Auto Shield or Royal Administration Services) who ensure your approved claims are paid. Terms vary from five to 10 years.

CARCHEX Titanium Plan

The Titanium plan is the highest level of coverage offered by CARCHEX. Some plans are exclusive, so you will only see unprotected components in the list. These CARCHEX plans are most like a manufacturer's warranty.

CARCHEX gives you five plan options with terms up to seven or 10 years. Just a few of the items covered include:

• Turbo Charger
• Seals and gaskets
• High tech electronics
• 4×4 transmission unit components
• Optional deluxe electronics package (LCD screens, DVD players, etc.)

Exceptions include:

• Accidents
• Wear
• Regular maintenance
• Damage from neglect
• Environmental damage
• Technical repairs (brake pads, spark plugs, catalytic converter, interior, seat belt, bodywork, wiper blades and tires)

CARCHEX Platinum Plan

Platinum plans cover hundreds of parts, but unlike an exclusive plan, each component covered is still specified in the contract.

According to the sample contract, the following items are covered:

• Braking components
• Steering components
• Electrical components
• suspension components
• Fuel supply components
• Heating / cooling components
• Air conditioning components
• Advanced Electrical Components
• 24/7 roadside assistance and trip interruption coverage
• Power train components (engine, transmission, drive axle)
• Optional high-tech package, windshield repair and navigation cover

The exceptions to the platinum level are the same as the titanium level.