new cars for sale on showroom floor
Auto Warranty

Best new car warranty: 2024 guide

Endurance is our #1 choice for an extended auto warranty

A new car warranty is essentially a guarantee that a vehicle is free of defective parts or workmanship errors. Sometimes called a vehicle service contract or factory warranty, this type of warranty guarantees that these types of defects will be repaired free of charge at a dealership.

Factory warranty terms vary by manufacturer. You’ll often get three or four years of coverage when you buy a new vehicle. Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi, Kia and Jaguar stand out for going beyond these industry standards. We ranked the new car warranties in this article by length of warranty.

After your new car warranty expires, you can extend your coverage with a third-party provider. Get a quote from our #1 extended warranty provider here:

4.7
Limited time offer: Get $300 off with code SAVE300

Endurance offers coverage for up to 8 years or 200,000 miles, but it only offers long-term plans.

  • Our top pick for auto warranty
  • Mileage covered: Up to 200,000 miles
  • Longest term: Up to 8 years
  • Money-back guarantee: 30 days
  • Coverage options: 6 plans
  • Discounts: First-time applicant discount
Pros
  • Six coverage plans
  • Mechanical breakdown and maintenance benefits
  • First-time application discount
Cons
  • No unlimited or month-to-month plans
  • Elite benefits only free for the first year
  • BBB pattern of complaints for delay of claims

Which brand offers the best new car warranty coverage?

According to our research, Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi, Kia and Jaguar feature the longest factory warranty plans. You’ll get at least a 5-year/60,000-mile new vehicle limited warranty, or bumper-to-bumper warranty, with each of these brands.

It’s more common to find four years or up to 50,000 miles of limited warranty coverage with a new vehicle. Some automakers only offer three years of factory coverage. These five brands are the best because they offer coverage for longer than average at five years.

Similarly, powertrain warranties are commonly offered for up to five years or 60,000 miles, whereas the best brands offer powertrain coverage for up to 10 years or 100,000 miles.

Here are some more details on our picks for best new car warranty based on coverage length:

BrandNew Vehicle Limited WarrantyPowertrain Warranty
Hyundai5 years/60,000 miles10 years/100,000 miles
Genesis5 years/60,000 miles10 years/100,000 miles
Mitsubishi5 years/60,000 miles10 years/100,000 miles
Kia5 years/60,000 miles10 years/100,000 miles
Jaguar5 years/60,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles

1. Hyundai

Hyundai’s self-proclaimed “America’s Best Warranty” has a basis. Along with generous bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, Hyundai offers the following protections:

  • 8-year/80,000-mile federal emissions and performance warranty
  • 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-perforation warranty
  • 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
  • 1-year/12,000-mile replacement parts and accessories limited warranty

2. Genesis

As Hyundai’s luxury brand, Genesis has the same robust factory warranty coverage. New Genesis vehicles come with a new vehicle limited warranty that lasts for five years and 60,000 miles. Along with this and a 10-year powertrain warranty, Genesis owners receive the following:

  • 10-year/100,000-year electrical vehicle system warranty
  • 7-year/unlimited-mile anti-corrosion warranty
  • 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
  • 5-year/60,000-mile federal emissions and performance warranty
  • 1-year/12,000-mile replacement parts and accessories limited warranty

3. Mitsubishi

Mitsubishi joins Hyundai and Genesis in offering new car buyers five years and 60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage. You also get the same robust 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty when you purchase a new Mitsubishi.

The automaker provides the following additional protections with its new vehicles:

  • 7-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
  • 5-year/unlimited-mile roadside assistance
  • 5-year/60,000-mile restraint system warranty
  • 1-year/12,000-mile adjustments warranty

4. Kia

New Kia vehicles also come with a 5-year/60,000-mile limited warranty and 10 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Kia can’t match the above brands when it comes to roadside assistance, but you still get extra peace of mind in the event of a breakdown.

New Kias feature these other warranties:

  • 5-year/100,000-mile anti-perforation warranty
  • 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance

5. Jaguar

Jaguar has some of the best factory warranty coverage in the luxury class. Jaguar’s new vehicle limited warranty is the same as the other brands on this list, but its powertrain is shorter at 5 years/60,000 miles. 

The brand refers to its new vehicle warranty package as Jaguar EliteCare, and it includes the following coverages:

  • 8-year/100,000-mile electric battery warranty
  • 5-year/60,000-mile complimentary scheduled maintenance
  • 5-year/60,000-mile roadside assistance
  • 4-year/50,000-mile paint and corrosion warranty
  • 1-year/unlimited-mile parts and accessories warranty

New car warranty comparison

As mentioned before, the average new vehicle basic warranty from a manufacturer either lasts for three or four years with the highest mileage limit hitting 50,000 miles. Here’s a quick look at how factory warranties from other popular automakers compare to our top five:

AutomakerNew Vehicle WarrantyPowertrain Warranty
Acura4 years/50,000 miles6 years/70,000 miles
Audi4 years/50,000 milesNone
BMW4 years/50,000 miles4 years/50,000 miles
Cadillac4 years/50,000 miles6 years/70,000 miles
Chevrolet3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Ford3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Honda3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Infiniti4 years/60,000 miles6 years/70,000 miles
Jeep3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Lexus4 years/50,000 miles6 years/70,000 miles
Lincoln4 years/50,000 miles6 years/70,000 miles
Mazda3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Nissan3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Toyota3 years/36,000 miles5 years/60,000 miles
Volkswagen4 years/50,000 miles4 years/50,000 miles

What does a new car warranty cover?

New warranties from the car manufacturer feature both bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage. You also typically get some type of protection for the body panels (anti-perforation), paint, emissions and manufacturer-installed accessories.

Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage

Bumper-to-bumper coverage is the heart of a new car warranty, as it provides comprehensive coverage for all vehicle systems. As long as your car is under this manufacturer’s warranty coverage, you can rest assured that any workmanship flaws or defective parts will be repaired or replaced free of charge by the dealership.

Powertrain warranty coverage

A powertrain warranty protects your car’s engine, transmission and drive axles. This type of warranty essentially covers the components that make your vehicle move. You may see some slight differences in powertrain warranty coverage from one manufacturer to another.

What isn’t covered by a new car warranty?

A new car warranty is intended to protect buyers against production and workmanship flaws in a vehicle. Virtually any other type of damage to your vehicle won’t be covered by your new vehicle limited warranty. 

Here are a few specific new car warranty exclusions:

  • Damage from accidents
  • Damage from environmental causes (including tree sap, bird droppings and road hazards such as salt or stones)
  • Damage from misuse (including driving over curbs, overloading and racing)
  • Damage from vehicle alterations (including body, chassis, software programming and braking system)
  • Tires (typically warrantied by independent tire manufacturers)
  • Wear-and-tear components like brake pads, wiper blades or spark plugs

Should you buy an extended warranty for a new car?

There’s no need to purchase an extended auto warranty while your car is still under factory warranty coverage. However, many automakers offer new car warranties that only last three or four years. If you plan to keep your vehicle much longer than that, an extended warranty is definitely worth it.

Most dealerships require you to buy a manufacturer’s extended warranty either at the time of vehicle purchase or before your new vehicle warranty is up. Otherwise, you’ll need to purchase an extended warranty from a third-party provider, such as Endurance or Carchex.

A good plan from one of the best extended warranty companies will protect you against high car repair costs years down the road and is typically cheaper than a manufacturer’s extended warranty. Third-party warranty providers also give you the choice of using your own mechanic rather than going to the dealership.

Final take: The best new car warranties come from Hyundai, Genesis and Mitsubishi

The best new car warranties come from Hyundai, Genesis, Mitsubishi and Kia. These car brands provide longer bumper-to-bumper and powertrain protection than any other names in the automotive industry, at five years or 60,000 miles and 10 years or 100,000 miles. Jaguar is also one of the best brands with the same bumper-to-bumper coverage as the others but with a shorter powertrain warranty of five years or 60,000 miles.

Editorial note: The name “Homefront” refers to the alliance between USA TODAY and Home Solutions that publishes review, comparison, and informational articles designed to help USA TODAY readers make smarter purchasing and investment decisions about their home. Under the alliance, Homefront provides and publishes research and articles about home service and home improvement topics.

Homefront has an affiliate disclosure policy. The opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this article are those of the Homefront editorial staff alone (see About Homefront). Homefront adheres to strict editorial integrity standards. The information is believed to be accurate as of the publish date, but always check the provider’s website for the most current information.

Go Back to Top
More on this topic...
frustrated man looking at car engine on street
auto mechanic working on a car with wrench
gray car on road
White car rushing along a high-speed highway.