Auto Warranty Tips & Advice from Our Experts | Edmunds
Skip to main content

Auto Warranty

Featured Auto Warranty
Understanding Extended Warranties
Get the facts on extended auto warranties: service contracts that can cover repairs after your factory warranty expires.
Extended Auto Warranties: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Say 'Yes'
Asking yourself these five questions will help you determine if you need an extended warranty on your new car. If you do decide you do want one, they'll help you save money.
8 Steps to Buying a New Car
Here's how to locate, price and negotiate the purchase of your next new car.
Interested in an Auto Warranty?

CARCHEX is one of the largest providers of Extended Auto Warranty coverage.

Latest Auto Warranty ArticlesView All Auto Warranty Articles
  • Understanding Tire Warranties
    Understanding Tire Warranties
    Tire warranties can cover premature wear, road hazards and defects, but improper use or maintenance can void your coverage. If something happens to your tires, it's best to know your options.
    Ronald Montoya11/08/2023
  • What Voids a Car Warranty
    What Voids a Car Warranty
    Your vehicle's warranty is designed to protect your wallet should anything fail, but it doesn't apply in all circumstances. Here are some scenarios that can void your warranty.
    Edmunds10/30/2023
  • Extended Auto Warranties: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Say 'Yes'
    Extended Auto Warranties: 5 Questions to Ask Before You Say 'Yes'
    Asking yourself these five questions will help you determine if you need an extended warranty on your new car. They'll also help you get the best price.
    Ronald Montoya11/06/2019
  • 10 Best Family Cars for 2018: Parents magazine & Edmunds
    10 Best Family Cars for 2018: Parents magazine & Edmunds
    Whether you need a three-row SUV with loads of room for passengers and cargo or a fuel-efficient car for errands, Parents and Edmunds recommend 10 great choices.
  • How to Get the Best Price on an Extended Car Warranty
    How to Get the Best Price on an Extended Car Warranty
    An extended car warranty brings peace of mind, but did you know you can negotiate the price? Here's how.
    Ronald Montoya10/15/2018
  • Understanding Extended Warranties
    Understanding Extended Warranties
    Get the facts on extended auto warranties: service contracts that can cover repairs after your factory warranty expires.
    Matt Jones08/15/2017
  • Understanding Tire Warranties
    Understanding Tire Warranties
    Tire warranties can cover premature wear, road hazards and defects, but improper use or maintenance can void your coverage. If something happens to your tires, it's best to know your options.
    Ronald Montoya03/04/2015
  • Third-Party Extended-Warranty Scams
    Third-Party Extended-Warranty Scams
    Third-party extended-warranty companies promise to offer peace of mind, but all too often, their shady practices scam people out of their money.
    Ronald Montoya08/05/2013
  • Used-Car Lemon Laws
    Used-Car Lemon Laws
    A used car is more likely to be a "lemon" than a new car. State and federal used car lemon laws now allow some owners to fight back.
    Edmunds03/05/2013

About Auto Warranty

When deciding which car to buy, make sure you check the auto warranty that comes with the vehicle. In this section we will help you sort through all the auto warranty-related issues. After all, not every new car warranty is created equally. Some will cover all the non-wear items on the car up to only three years or 36,000 miles. Others will cover repairs all the way up to 10 years or 100,000 miles. The strength of the coverage that is included will help you decide whether to buy an extended auto warranty. In some of our articles we will also take a look at the used car warranty.

Before we get into more detail it's important to understand the different parts of an auto warranty. It's also good to know the difference between a new car warranty and an extended auto warranty. A typical new car warranty has two parts: the "bumper to bumper" warranty, which covers everything except the "wear" items such as brakes and tires; and the powertrain warranty that covers all the parts that make the car move, such as the engine and transmission.

An extended auto warranty can be purchased to prolong the coverage of the bumper-to-bumper warranty. Most people are familiar with the extended warranty that is sold at dealerships. This is sometimes called a "factory warranty" because factory-trained technicians perform the required work on the car. There are also "third-party" warranties which can save consumers money but are generally less convenient to use. Many third-party warranties require out-of-pocket payment for repairs before reimbursement. Weigh all these factors carefully before you make your choice.

Pay special attention to this auto warranty section so that, when you need it, it will keep your car in good working order without costing you a lot of money.