When you purchase a new Chevrolet, Buick, GMC, or Cadillac, you’ll have the option to purchase a GM extended warranty to lengthen your bumper-to-bumper factory coverage. If you’ve already driven your new General Motors vehicle off the lot, you can still get a GM Protection Plan to protect your vehicle after your factory warranty expires.
This article reviews the extended coverage GM offers for each of its brands. Our review team has researched the best extended warranty companies in the industry, looking at plan options, costs, customer reviews, and more. See how GM contracts stack up against top third-party providers and learn if extended warranty coverage is right for you.
Jalopnik Gist:
- GM extended warranties provide protection from 2 years/24,000 miles up to 5 years/60,000 miles
- The cost of a GM extended warranty varies from $1,800 and $2,500 depending on your vehicle’s make, model, and mileage
- All contracts are transferable and can be canceled for a full refund within 60 days
Our review team has spent hundreds of hours researching car warranty companies to help consumers choose the best coverage for their vehicles. Writers and editors evaluate each brand based on industry data and real customers’ experiences, meeting high editorial standards to keep readers informed.
GM Extended Auto Warranty Coverage
A GM extended warranty covers your vehicle after mechanical breakdowns for up to 5 years/60,000 miles. GM’s extended warranty lengthens factory coverage for most GM-manufactured and installed parts.
GM extended warranties are available for all Chevy, Buick, GMC, and Cadillac vehicles still protected under their factory warranty.
GM Brand |
Bumper-To-Bumper Factory Warranty Term |
Extended Warranty Term |
---|---|---|
Chevrolet |
3 years/36,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Buick |
3 years/36,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
GMC |
3 years/36,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Cadillac |
4 years/50,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
GM Extended Warranty Plans
In addition to extended limited warranty protection, GM offers vehicle service contracts for each of its brands. These GM extended plans come in three levels, Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain, all of which offer additional component coverage for up to 5 years/60,000 miles.
Plans can be purchased before your factory warranty expires, which means the longest your vehicle can be covered is 8 years/100,000 miles.
GM Platinum Extended Warranty
The Platinum Protection plan is an exclusionary contract that covers over 1,000 components, with some exceptions. Some of these exclusions are:
- Batteries and battery cables
- Lenses, sealed beams, and lightbulbs
- Key fobs
- Brake rotors and drums
- Trim items
- Exhaust components
- Tires, wheels, and tire pressure sensors
- Maintenance services
GM Silver Extended Warranty
The Silver GM extended warranty covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, transfer case, turbocharger/supercharger, steering, airbags, air conditioning, seals and gaskets, and electrical components.
GM Powertrain Extended Warranty
The GM Powertrain protection plan covers the most essential parts of your vehicle, including the engine, transmission, drive axle, and key hybrid/electric vehicle components.
GM Roadside Assistance And Additional Extended Warranty Benefits
All GM vehicle service contracts come with benefits such as:
- Towing and roadside assistance: Up to $150 per occurrence
- Rental car reimbursement: Up to $40 per day for a maximum of $280 per breakdown
- Trip interruption coverage: Up to $200 per day for a maximum of $800 per occurrence if you break down far from your home
- Lockout services: Up to $35 per occurrence
What Is Not Covered By A GM Extended Warranty?
GM’s Extended warranty protection has a few exclusions, including damages caused by lack of maintenance, acts of nature, and accidents. The GM extended warranty does not cover wear-and-tear items like wiper blades, brake pads, and headlamps.
GM Extended Warranty Cancellation
All contracts are transferable and can be canceled for a full refund within 60 days. Cost details for select GM vehicle service contracts lasting 3 years/36,000 miles are outlined in the chart below.
GM Extended Warranty Cost
The cost of a GM extended warranty will vary for each model and may also vary by dealership. The final price may be subject to negotiation, but you can expect to pay anywhere between $1,800 and $2,500 for a GM extended warranty. Certain dealers may quote higher or lower prices.
You must purchase GM extended warranty at the same time you buy your vehicle, and your additional coverage cannot be canceled. All contracts are transferable and can be canceled for a full refund within 60 days.
GM Extended Warranty Prices
The price of a GM vehicle service contract varies depending on the make, model, and mileage of your vehicle.
The best way to learn what an extended warranty would cost for your GM vehicle is to contact a GMC, Buick, Chevrolet, or Cadillac dealer.
Is A GM Extended Warranty Worth It?
Extended warranties provide value to customers by protecting against the cost of sudden and unexpected repairs. When considering GM extended warranty coverage, think about the reliability of your vehicle and the protection already offered by your factory warranty.
Are GM Cars Reliable?
GM brands vary in reliability based on industry studies, so be sure to research your vehicle. Described below are some GM vehicles, RepairPal reliability ratings, and average annual repair costs, according to RepairPal. RepairPal reliability ratings are based on a large volume of customer reports about the frequency and severity of unexpected repairs.
RepairPal Reliability Rating |
Average Annual Repair Cost |
|
---|---|---|
Chevy Camaro |
3.5 out of 5.0 |
$585 |
Buick Regal |
3.5 out of 5.0 |
$563 |
GMC Acadia |
3.0 out of 5.0 |
$734 |
Cadillac Escalade |
3.0 out of 5.0 |
$1,007 |
GM Factory Warranty
If you don’t intend to own your car for very long before you trade it in, it may not be worth purchasing an extended warranty. While an extended warranty can increase resale value on the open market, it will not increase trade-in value at the dealership.
All GM vehicles are protected by a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty. Some have additional warranties for hybrid components and emissions parts.
GM Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty
Bumper-to-bumper warranties cover most vehicle parts with the exception of wear-and-tear items like brake pads and wiper blades. A GM Extended Limited Warranty is an extension of the bumper-to-bumper warranty.
GM Powertrain Warranty
A powertrain warranty covers the engine parts that make the car move like the engine, transfer case, and transaxle. For Chevy, Buick, and GMC brands, the powertrain warranty lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles. For Cadillacs, powertrain coverage extends to 6 years/70,000 miles.
Best Place To Buy A GM Extended Warranty
Third-party warranties are one alternative to factory coverage. While vehicle service contracts are not always as comprehensive as manufacturer’s coverage, they do offer more flexible options such as a choice of repair shop, longer coverage terms, more perks, and coverage for older vehicles.
The chart below compares GM extended warranty coverage against top third-party provider Endurance.
GM Extended Warranty |
GM Protection Plan |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
---|---|---|---|
Start Date |
When factory warranty expires |
After purchasing the vehicle |
Anytime |
Longest Term |
60,000 miles |
60,000 miles |
200,000+ miles |
Number of Plans |
1 |
2 |
6 |
Deductible |
$0 |
Varies |
$0, $50, $100, $200 |
Repair Facilities |
GM dealerships |
GM dealerships |
Repair shops certified |
Extra Benefits |
Roadside assistance |
|
1 year free of Elite Benefits, which includes:
|
How to Purchase |
Purchase from dealerships |
Purchase from dealerships |
GM Extended Warranties: Conclusion
It may be worth purchasing a GM extended warranty if you plan to keep your vehicle for a long period of time. Manufacturer warranty coverage is comprehensive and protection offered by GM is reliable.
The cost of an extended warranty may not exceed the cost of covered repairs, especially for more reliable GM models. However, extended warranty coverage can provide peace of mind to know you won’t be on the hook for a sudden, severe repair.
If your GM vehicle is not eligible for a GM extended warranty, you can still get your car covered through a third-party provider. Many top-rated warranty companies offer extended warranties for cars over 100,000 miles. Be sure to reach out to GM dealerships for auto warranty quotes to compare costs, and get free quotes from several leading third-party providers below.
Extended GM Warranty: FAQ
Below are common questions regarding GM’s extended warranties:
The GM extended warranty covers nearly every GM-installed vehicle component. There are some exceptions, such as glass, wiper blades, bumpers, upholstery, brake pads, and trim.
The price of a GM extended warranty depends on the particular GM make and model, as well as the dealership. You should expect to pay between $1,800 and $2,500 for a GM extended warranty.
You can buy a GM extended warranty at the time you purchase a new GM vehicle. For Chevrolet, Buick, and GMC models, an Extended Limited Warranty can lengthen your bumper-to-bumper factory coverage from 3 years/36,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 miles. For Cadillacs models, bumper-to-bumper coverage is extended from 4 years/50,000 miles to 6 years/70,000 miles.
The GM extended warranty is worth it for customers who want to protect themselves against the cost of unexpected, expensive repair bills. Extended vehicle protection can provide peace of mind on the road.
Though there are many pros of purchasing an extended car warranty, there are also some cons worth considering. Some warranty options include added benefits like roadside assistance and towing, but most don’t cover routine maintenance like oil changes or tire rotations. If you have a new car or certified pre-owned vehicle, a warranty might be more expensive than the annual cost of repairs.
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