Buick Extended Warranty Review

Buick offers two extended warranty options: the Buick Extended Limited Warranty and the Buick Protection Plan. The Extended Limited Warranty lengthens the standard bumper-to-bumper coverage that comes with 2020 or newer Buick vehicles from 3 years/36,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 miles. The Protection Plan offers several term limits up to 5 years/60,000 miles.

There are a few differences to note with these Buick extended warranty programs. To give you a better understanding of Buick’s extended warranty options, we’ve compared them below.

Buick Extended Limited Warranty

The Buick Extended Limited Warranty extends a new Buick’s bumper-to-bumper warranty from the included 3 years/36,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 miles. It protects parts such as the infotainment system, high-tech features, electrical system, and powertrain.

The Buick Extended Limited Warranty cannot be canceled and must be purchased when you buy your new vehicle. While this may be limiting for some Buick drivers, the warranty does offer vehicle-specific protection and peace of mind.

Other benefits with a Buick Extended Limited Warranty include:

• No deductible
• Fully transferable
• Backed by General Motors
• Uses genuine Buick parts

Buick Protection Plans

Buick’s Platinum and Silver Protection Plans are alternatives for extended auto warranty coverage. Be aware that these vehicle service contracts are provided by AMT Warranty rather than General Motors. The coverage plans can be purchased at any time, as long as the vehicle has fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer.

Here’s how Buick’s Silver and Platinum Protection Plans compare:

Both plans offer comprehensive protection, but the Buick Platinum Plan covers far more accessories and parts. Buick Protection Plans do not cover every repair your Buick may need throughout its lifetime, as warranties are only meant to cover defective materials or workmanship.

Some exclusions include:

• Battery and battery cable/harness
• Lenses, sealed beams, and light bulbs
• Tires and wheels/rims
• Maintenance services
• Key fobs and tire pressure sensors
• Brake rotors and drums
• All exhaust components
• Trim items

Buick’s Protection Plans also include a few additional perks, such as:

• Up to $35 reimbursement for locksmith services if your keys are lost, broken, or locked in your vehicle
• Rental car reimbursement of up to $40 per day with a maximum benefit of $280 per occurrence
• Towing and roadside assistance of up to $150 per occurrence
• Trip interruption reimbursement of up to $200 per day with a maximum benefit of $800 per occurrence if a covered breakdown happens more than 100 miles from your home and the repair shop keeps your vehicle overnight

The coverage can be canceled at any time. If you decide to cancel within 60 days and did not file any claims, you’ll receive a full refund. If you cancel after the 60-day grace period or after filing a claim, you’ll receive a prorated refund. The Buick Protection Plans can also be transferred to any individual owner for a $75 fee.

Other Buick Vehicle Protection Plans

Buick also offers the following useful plans that could save you money on car repairs and maintenance, though they are not considered extended warranties:

• GAP Coverage: Covers the “gap” between an auto loan and the remaining value of your vehicle in a total-loss scenario
• Pre-Paid Maintenance: Follows your vehicle’s service schedule and avoids maintenance cost inflation
• Appearance Guard: Covers minor dents and minor upholstery and windshield damage, plus key or key fob replacement
• Tire and Wheel Protection: Offers one level of coverage for tire repair or replacement, a second level that adds wheel damage coverage and roadside assistance, and a third level that adds minor repairs for cosmetic wheel damage
• XS Wear^® Lease Protection: Covers cosmetic damages and some excess wear and tear for leased Buicks
• Advanced Lease Protection: Provides additional coverage for leased Buicks during the factory warranty as well as breakdown coverage after the factory warranty expires

Buick Vehicle Service Contract Cost

Drivers can use Buick’s Platinum Protection Plan online shopping tool to see how much they’d pay for this type of extended car warranty. Here are sample quotes we received for a 2015 Buick Enclave with 60,001 to 80,000 miles that’s no longer under the original manufacturer warranty:

For the quotes above, paying in full gets you a five percent discount, and paying in monthly installments requires a down payment of about $99.

To decide if you would benefit from Buick extended warranty coverage, we recommend looking into Buick reliability to see if you’d feel comfortable paying commonly reported repair costs. You may also want to consider how long you will own your Buick. Drivers who will likely sell their cars before the manufacturer’s warranty expires have little need for an additional coverage plan.

To assess Buick’s reliability, our research team turns to RepairPal, a cost-estimation service for car repairs. In RepairPal’s 2021 Reliability Ratings, Buick earned a 3.5 out of 5.0, placing its reliability above average. This rating is based on three factors: average annual repair cost, frequency of repairs, and the likelihood of a severe repair.

See how RepairPal assessed Buick’s reliability compared to the average across 32 car brands:

Buick has a lower than average annual repair cost and frequency of repairs, but a higher likelihood of a severe repair. RepairPal considers a severe repair to be one that costs at least three times the average annual repair cost for all models. Based on this data, it may not be worth it for Buick drivers to invest in extended auto warranties, especially for those who feel comfortable paying for repairs out of pocket.

However, mechanical breakdowns are not impossible, and extended warranty coverage gives you peace of mind on the road. If the manufacturer’s extended warranty isn’t the right fit, you may want to consider other reputable extended car warranty companies.

Buick Limited Warranty

A new Buick vehicle that you buy or lease comes with the following manufacturer warranties:

Buick’s powertrain warranty handles covered repairs for important components such as the engine and transmission/transaxle that are needed due to defective parts or labor. The plan also includes 24-hour roadside assistance and alternate transportation or reimbursement of certain transportation costs during covered repairs.

Buick’s factory warranty doesn’t cover normal maintenance, and it doesn’t apply to damage caused by accidents, the environment, insufficient maintenance, or misuse or alteration of the vehicle. The manufacturer requires covered repairs to be done at a Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet or GMC dealership unless a dealership or part isn’t reasonably available.

If you buy a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Buick, you’ll get a 6-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty with roadside assistance, which starts from the vehicle’s original mileage and in-service date, along with a 1-year, 12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty, which starts on your purchase date.

Third-party providers can offer several benefits not found in a manufacturer’s extended warranty contract, including:

• A higher number of repair facility options
• Additional coverage plans
• More affordable payment plans
• No strict opt-in date

Let’s take a look at the major differences between a Buick extended warranty and an extended auto warranty from Endurance, one of our top providers.

A Buick Extended Limited Warranty may be a smart investment for Buick drivers who want to drive off the lot with additional new car warranty protection. A Buick Protection Plan is a good fit for drivers looking for more traditional warranty protection that combines bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.

A third-party Buick extended warranty is a good option for drivers who want:

• Flexible options when choosing a repair shop
• More comprehensive coverage
• More payment plan options

We recommend Buick owners interested in learning more about the best extended car warranty companies read our comprehensive reviews on vetted providers such as Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield.

*Data accurate at time of publication.