When car shopping, everybody thinks about protecting themselves and their loved ones. You look for vehicles with desirable safety and crash prevention features, and you look for vehicles that perform well in crash tests. However, you also want to think about protecting the vehicle itself. After all, it really sucks to have to shell out major bucks to repair a car that you just bought.
That’s where the warranty comes in. It protects your new vehicle from a variety of maladies, including parts failures, build-quality defects, and many other unexpected problems that you hope to never deal with regarding any car, let alone a new one. But all warranties are not created equal. Which automakers provide the best coverage?
Key Takeaways:
- You’ll get at least three years or 36,000 miles of coverage with any new car sold in the United States.
- Powertrain warranty coverage generally extends past the basic new car warranty.
- Some manufacturers offer longer warranty coverage or extra perks.
The typical warranty terms provide limited (sometimes called bumper-to-bumper) coverage for up to three years or 36,000 miles and powertrain coverage for up to five years or 60,000 miles. That’s for nonluxury vehicles; luxury automakers often provide coverage in both areas for up to four years or 50,000 miles.
Some automakers provide coverage for longer periods, both in terms of years and miles, but that’s not the only way that a warranty can be better than the industry standard. The companies with good warranty programs will also carry additional protections for hybrid or electric vehicles that cover the batteries, motors, and other components unique to electrified powertrains. And the best warranty programs provide perks on top of their coverage, such as roadside assistance or complimentary maintenance.
Best New Car Warranties
Best New Car Warranty
Hyundai
Hyundai not only rewrote its past as a budget car maker with questionable reliability, but it also rewrote the industry with its pioneering powertrain warranty of ten years or 100,000 miles. That applies to Hyundai’s robust portfolio of hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and electric vehicle batteries and system components. Hyundai ensures that its electric vehicles will retain at least 70% of battery capacity within that time frame.
The basic coverage of five years or 60,000 miles includes roadside assistance with no mileage limit, and it can be transferred to second owners. It has a seven-year/unlimited mileage perforation warranty. New Hyundais also get three years or up to 36,000 miles of complimentary scheduled maintenance.
- Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
Best New Luxury Car Warranty
Genesis
The luxury brand of Hyundai, Genesis, benefits from its parent brand’s industry-leading warranty. Genesis provides five years or 60,000 miles of basic coverage that includes roadside assistance. A 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty also applies to its electric vehicle battery components. Genesis has what they call a Service Valet to pick up and drop off your vehicle for its complimentary scheduled maintenance for the first three years or 36,000 miles.
Other Brands With Great Warranties
Kia
- Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
A sister brand to Hyundai, Kia has pretty much the same warranty as Hyundai, with a couple of tweaks. Its roadside assistance is for five years, but it’s capped at 60,000 miles, and the perforation warranty is less than Hyundai’s, at five years or 100,000 miles.
Mitsubishi
- Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 10 years/100,000 miles
For the 2024 model year, Mitsubishi updated and expanded its warranty coverage to match the best in the business. Mitsubishi covers its small lineup of three core vehicles with five years or 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage that’s transferable to subsequent owners. The duration includes roadside assistance, and the mileage is unlimited within those five years.
The powertrains are covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles, including the Outlander Plug-In Hybrid’s high-voltage battery pack and electric components. Mitsubishi also provides a seven-year/100,000-mile anti-corrosion/perforation warranty.
Ineos
- Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Ineos, a British startup automaker of off-roading SUVs and trucks, has a basic five-year/60,000-mile warranty that also applies to its powertrains. Most notably, and perhaps most reflective of its rugged character, Ineos guarantees its body will stay intact with a 12-year perforation warranty with unlimited mileage. Perforations refer to rust and corrosion that create a hole in the original metal body panels and chassis frame.
Jaguar
- Basic Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 5 years/60,000 miles
Jaguar offsets a reputation for questionable reliability with a solid bumper-to-bumper warranty of five years or 60,000 miles. However, that’s the same coverage for its powertrain warranty, which is less than what rivals on this list provide. During the warranty period, Jaguar provides scheduled maintenance, roadside assistance, and an allowance for trip interruption.
Rivian
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/up to 60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 8 years/up to 175,000 miles
Rivian separates its warranty based on its Gen 1 models and the Gen 2 versions updated for the 2025 model year. The new R1T and R1S come with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty, which applies to all Gen 1 models except the high-powered Quad-Motor configuration. Those more expensive Quad-Motor models get five years or 60,000 miles of coverage.
Battery pack coverage is good for eight years with both generations, but the mileage limit depends on the size of the three battery packs offered by Rivian. The Gen 1 Quad-Motor is an outlier here as well. Both Gen 1 and Gen 2 models with the Standard pack have 120,000 miles of coverage, while both generations with the Large or Max pack get 150,000 miles. The Gen 1 Quad-Motor model gets 175,000 miles. Accessories, including the Rivian Wall Charger, can also qualify for warranty coverage.
Tesla
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 8 years/150,000 miles
Tesla covers its five models with a four-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that includes roadside assistance. The battery and drive unit warranty mileage depends on the vehicle and its drivetrain, though they’re all covered for eight years. Tesla vehicles sold only with all-wheel drive, including the Tesla Model S, Model X, and Cybertruck, are covered for 150,000 miles.
Base versions of the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, dubbed Rear-Wheel Drive, are covered for 100,000 miles. Other Tesla Model 3 and Model Y configurations get 120,000 miles of battery and drive unit coverage. In all cases, Tesla guarantees that the battery will retain 70% of its rated capacity during the powertrain warranty.
Lucid
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 8 years/100,000 miles
An American electric vehicle automaker, Lucid covers its two vehicles with a basic four-year bumper-to-bumper warranty and a more assuring eight-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. During that time, Lucid guarantees the battery pack will retain at least 70% of its capacity.
Related: Electric Cars With the Longest Range
The first two years of schedule maintenance are covered, and there are Lucid service centers, but the startup also offers to send technicians to tend to maintenance and repairs.
Infiniti
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/60,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
Infiniti’s basic warranty might not jump out as anything special, but if you log a lot of miles, it becomes that much better. Most automakers with a four-year basic warranty only cover their vehicles for 50,000 miles, but Infiniti covers its new cars for up to 60,000 miles, which works out to an average of 15,000 miles per year. The powertrain coverage of six years or 70,000 miles is pretty standard.
In addition to those warranties, Nissan’s luxury brand provides roadside assistance for four years, regardless of mileage, and if a covered breakdown happens more than 100 miles from home, Infiniti promises to limit your out-of-pocket expenses. Infiniti dealers provide three years of scheduled maintenance, and in addition to concierge services such as complimentary pickup and dropoff, some dealers will provide alternate transportation while your vehicle is being worked on.
Lincoln
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
Lincoln covers its crossover SUV lineup for four years or 50,000 miles, and that includes roadside assistance. Powertrain coverage measures up to other automakers on this list at six years or 70,000 miles, and the high-voltage battery and related hybrid components are covered for eight years or 100,000 miles. Lincoln takes luxury another step with a concierge service for work done under warranty, where they’ll pick up and drop off your car, as well as provide you with a loaner vehicle.
Lexus
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
Lexus matches the better warranty packages from other premium automakers on this list, with four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and six years or 70,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Toyota’s luxury brand covers its hybrid and electric vehicles with additional assurances, including eight years or 100,000 miles of coverage for hybrid components and the same for both the hybrid battery and the larger battery pack for the Lexus RZ electric vehicle. Roadside assistance is included for four years, regardless of mileage, and covers the first two scheduled maintenance appointments. Temporary loaners may be provided during extended service.
Acura
- Basic Warranty: 4 years/50,000 miles
- Powertrain Warranty: 6 years/70,000 miles
Acura provides four years or 50,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, as well as a six-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty. It includes Acura Total Luxury Care roadside assistance for four years or 50,000 miles. The Acura ZDX, an electric SUV, has an eight-year/100,000-mile high-voltage battery warranty. In total, Acura’s warranty is better than those from some other luxury automakers such as Audi, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Types of New Car Warranties
New car warranties can cover everything from what’s listed above to emissions systems and tires.
A basic new car warranty can also be called a comprehensive or bumper-to-bumper warranty. Whatever it’s called, it typically covers major vehicle systems, including air conditioning and infotainment systems. It doesn’t cover regular maintenance items such as wiper blades, tires, brake pads, and filters.
A powertrain warranty covers propulsion components, including the engine, transmission, differential, and axles. That often extends to electrified vehicle (hybrid, plug-in hybrid, full battery electric) components such as high-voltage batteries and drive units.
An extended warranty, or service contract, should only be part of the discussion when your factory warranty expires. It’s an extra cost that can be tacked on to the initial new car price for greater peace of mind—for a price. It can be backed by the automaker or by third-party companies.
What Makes a Great Warranty?
A great warranty includes the total package of services offered. Hyundai, Kia, Genesis, and Mitsubishi stand out for their bundles. While five years of basic new car warranty coverage is the basis of the bundle, these brands separate themselves with superlative powertrain warranties for 10 years or 100,000 miles.
These brands sweeten the pot even more by including roadside assistance in case you break down. This is great everyday assurance that if something goes wrong with the car, you’ll have help no matter where you are, usually 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Coverage often includes a tow to the nearest franchise service center if the tech is unable to resolve the issue on site. Some automakers even offer trip interruption insurance coverage to help with out-of-pocket expenses should you be at least 100 or 150 miles from home and your breakdown is covered under warranty.
Another hallmark of a great warranty is for automakers to cover scheduled maintenance such as tire rotations and oil changes within the first two or three years, with mileage limits. Not only does it ensure that your car is being serviced at recommended intervals, which should limit problems later, but it also creates a stronger relationship between owner and dealer.
Some luxury automakers, such as Lincoln and Genesis, provide concierge services. A representative from the dealership will come to your home or office to pick up your car for warranty repairs or scheduled maintenance, provide a temporary loaner while your car is being serviced, and then return your car to your home or office when the service is finished.
Extended Warranties: Should You or Shouldn’t You Buy One?
An extended warranty, or extended service contract, begins when the original basic warranty expires, but it is usually purchased as part of the original new car sale. Let’s say you want more coverage than the original five-year/60,000-mile warranty because you’re worried about questionable reliability around an automaker’s fancy new infotainment system.
The extended warranty can last an additional two to eight years, with a range of mileage caps. It could be a wise decision for owners who know they’re going to hold onto their car a long time and don’t want to deal with surprise out-of-pocket repairs. Like your basic warranty, an extended warranty excludes routine maintenance and regular replacement parts such as tires and brake pads.
Extended warranties could be expensive, and an independent shop with an ASE-certified mechanic might do some of the work covered under the extended warranty for less than the cost of the extended warranty.