GMC Extended Warranties Key Takeaways:
- GMC extended warranties, sold by General Motors, protect cars from two years or 24,000 miles up to five years or 60,000 miles
- GMC extended warranties are available in three coverage levels: Powertrain, Silver, and Platinum
- With deductible options ranging from $0 to $100, the average cost varies depending on the make, model, and year of your GMC vehicle
- You can’t buy the warranty extension after you buy the vehicle.
- You can’t cancel the extension once you buy it.
- It is not available for certified pre-owned models.
GMC, the all-truck and SUV division of General Motors, advertises itself as “Professional Grade.” At the same time, the brand touts luxury in its Denali trim models, and indeed, these vehicles do rival luxury brands for comfort, amenities, tech, and even pricing. But does the GMC extended warranty measure up to that standard?
We think it makes sense to consider buying extended warranty protection for a GMC to get peace of mind after the new vehicle warranty expires. This review will compare the GMC warranty to plans from some of the industry’s best extended warranty companies. Before you shop for a new or certified pre-owned (CPO) GMC vehicle, contact a few providers and compare free quotes.
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.
GMC Protection Plans
The GMC Extended Limited Warranty extends vehicle coverage to 5 years/60,000 miles. If you are looking for more coverage and flexible contract terms, the GMC Platinum Protection Plan offers four contract lengths and three various levels of coverage.
Unlike many warranties, the GMC extended warranty is a true extension of the new vehicle warranty, with no deductible to pay when you get covered repairs. It’s also available on other General Motors vehicles.
GMC Powertrain Extended Warranty
The GMC Powertrain Protection Program is an industry-standard powertrain extended warranty. It provides protection for the parts of your vehicle that create the power to move the car down the road. Component parts covered by this plan include:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Drive axle(s)
- Hybrid/Electric batteries and continuous variable transmission (CTR)
GMC Silver Protection Plan
This plan includes all of the covered parts in the Powertrain plan plus:
- Front and rear suspension
- Climate controls
- Electrical systems
- Steering
- Brakes
GMC Platinum Protection Plan
Th GMC Platinum Protection Plan is commonly known as a bumper-to-bumper warranty. This is a vehicle service contract, which some refer to as an extended warranty.
The GMC Platinum Protection Plan covers more than 1,000 components and has four contract lengths:
- 2 years/24,000 miles
- 3 years/36,000 miles
- 4 years/48,000 miles
- 5 years/60,000 miles
The GMC Platinum plan covers most vehicle systems, including:
- Adaptive cruise control
- Airbags and safety restraint system
- Air conditioning/climate control
- Blind-spot detection and reverse warning systems
- Drive axle (front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive)
- Electrical, including OnStar and audio systems
- Engine
- Heated seats (if equipped)
- Ride control suspension (if equipped)
- Seals and gaskets
- Steering
- Transmission
What Does The GMC Platinum Protection Plan Not Cover?
While the GMC Platinum Protection Plan is comprehensive, there are some things it doesn’t cover, which is common in the industry. Some exclusions are:
- Battery and battery cable/harness
- Brake rotors, drums, and pads
- Certain emission control components
- Exhaust components (unless listed as a specific covered part)
- Headlights
- Key fobs
- Tire pressure sensors
- Trim
- Wheels
The Platinum Protection Plan states coverage for brakes, but this relates mostly to the braking system and anti-lock components. It does not include rotors and pads, which are considered wear items. You can ask your GMC dealer for details on this plan.
GMC Extended Warranties: Additional Perks
GMC extended warranties come with additiona perks and benefits that are standard for automakers and third-party providers. These benefits include:
- 24/7 Roadside assistance: provides, towing assistance up to $100 and flat tire roadside assistance
- Rental car coverage: up to $40 per day for up to 10 days
- Trip interruption: provides up to $200 per day for travel expenses if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from your home with a maxim reimbursement of $1,000
GMC Pre-Paid Maintenance
GMC offers owners the option to pre-pay for routing maintenance like as defined in the owners manual. There are two levels of coverage – Pre-Paid Maintenance and Pre-Paid Maintenance Plus. Both plans come with multiple contract terms:
- 3 years/6 covered service3s
- 5 years/10 covered services
- 6 years/12 covered services
The Pre-Paid Maintenance plan covers oil and oil filter replacements, tire rotations, and multi-point vehicle inspections
The Pre-Paid Maintenance Plus plan adds additional coverage to the basic plan including the replacement of cabin air filters, engine and air filters, brake fluid, windshield wiper blades, and more.
GMC Extended Warranty Cost
Because you must purchase this warranty at the same time you buy the GMC vehicle, it’s a good idea to ask the dealer for pricing before you get into final negotiations on the purchase. You can purchase it when you buy the GMC vehicle or at any time up to 80,000 miles. (You’ll pay a bit more if you purchase it later.)
Choose between a $0 or $100 deductible. A third choice is a $100 disappearing deductible, which means you do not pay it for repairs done by the selling dealer. You can cancel it at any time. If you cancel within 60 days of purchasing and have filed no claims, you’ll get a full refund. After that, refunds will be prorated minus any claims paid. It’s transferable if you sell the vehicle.
GMC Extended Warranty Price
GMC extended warranty costs depend on the model and whether it has two-wheel drive or all-wheel/four-wheel drive. You can price the GMC Platinum Protection Plan right on the GMC website. The price ranges below reflect costs from a 2-year/24,000-mile plan to a 5-year/60,000-mile plan. You can also choose 3-year/36,000-mile and 4-year/48,000-mile terms.
- 2020 GMC Terrain AWD: $1,845 to $3,427
- 2020 GMC Sierra 4WD: $1,846 to $3,427
- 2020 GMC Acadia AWD: $2,019 to $3,850
- 2020 GMC Yukon 4WD: $2,019 to $3,850
Those prices would be five percent higher if you choose to pay with an installment plan.
Is A GMC Extended Warranty Worth It?
When considering whether to buy a GMC extended warranty, it’s helpful to think about what coverage you already have and what to expect from the vehicle’s overall quality and repair costs.
It’s worth looking at some reasons why you might need added coverage for a GMC vehicle. A widely followed industry measurement for longevity is J.D. Power’s U.S. Vehicle Dependability StudySM. The study indicates the number of problems per 100 vehicles experienced after three years of ownership.
This is one test where a lower score is better. As reference points, the industry leader in 2021 was Lexus at 81. GMC came in with 143, near the bottom of the list.
GMC Repair Costs
Repairs on new vehicles can be expensive, regardless of the brand. You can research potential repair costs for any vehicle at RepairPal. We pulled the following samples for four-year-old GMC vehicles to help determine whether a GMC extended warranty is worth it:
Vehicle |
Repair |
Estimated Cost |
---|---|---|
2017 GMC Acadia |
Replace starter |
$491 to $556 |
2017 GMC Terrain |
Replace water pump |
$690 to $899 |
2017 GMC Yukon |
Replace cylinder head gasket |
$923 to $1,802 |
2017 GMC Sierra |
Replace radiator |
$1,074 to $1,506 |
2017 GMC Canyon |
Replace transmission |
$4,079 to $4,398 |
If you don’t have the extra cash to cover these repairs, a GMC extended warranty could offset the cost and make the payment schedule more manageable.
GMC Factory Warranty
While not one of the longest factory warranties, GMC’s warranty does have some strong points. We’ve compared it to the Chevrolet and Cadillac warranties because GMC vehicles share much in common with both brands. The 3-year/36,000-mile corrosion protection is a pleasant surprise in the GMC warranty. That’s in addition to the 6-year/100,000-mile rust-through warranty. Most brands offer only rust-through warranty coverage (an actual hole through a sheet metal body panel) but not coverage for surface corrosion (which can lead to rust-through).
GMC also includes the vehicle’s first maintenance visit for free–it’s basically an oil change.
2020 GMC |
2020 Chevrolet |
2020 Cadillac |
|
---|---|---|---|
New Vehicle Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
3 years/36,000 miles |
4 years/50,000 miles |
Powertrain Warranty |
5 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Powertrain Warranty (Diesel) |
5 years/100,000 miles |
5 years/100,000 miles |
N/A |
Roadside Assistance |
5 years/60,000 miles |
5 years/60,000 miles |
6 years/70,000 miles |
Extended GMC Warranty: Conclusion
The GMC extended warranty plans from the manufacturer are competitive, but it’s smart to consider all of your options.
Recommended Providers
With third-party providers, you’ll often find more plan choices than with GMC, which offers just a couple levels of coverage. You’ll also find more affordable basic plans, as well as high-end plans with much longer coverage terms than GMC offers.
Endurance: Best Overall
Here’s a quick comparison between GMC and top-rated third-party provider Endurance:
GMC Platinum Protection Plan |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
---|---|---|
Start Date |
Anytime up to 80,000 miles |
Anytime |
Longest Term |
60,000 miles |
200,000+ miles |
Number of Plans |
2 |
6 |
Deductible |
$0, $100, $100 disappearing |
$0, $50, $100, $200 |
Repair Facilities |
GMC dealers, other GM brand dealers, and independent repair shops (in emergency situations) |
Repair shops certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE®) |
Extra Benefits |
|
1 year free of Elite Benefits, which includes:
|
View Pricing for our Most Affordable Provider – Carshield | Save up to $360 per year
