GM Extended Warranty Coverage

Disclosure: This content was produced by an independent editorial party for the purposes of educating our customers, and is not influenced by the other business operations of CARCHEX.

An extended car warranty is protection from the vehicle manufacturer against mechanical breakdowns. This term is sometimes incorrectly used to describe coverage from third-party providers, which offer similar protection plans called vehicle service contracts. CARCHEX is a vehicle service contract provider.

Buying extended warranty coverage for your General Motors vehicle can protect your wallet against unexpected repair costs. But before you purchase GM’s factory coverage, be sure to learn about its limitations and how a third-party vehicle service contract might benefit you.

In this article, we’ll show you what GM’s extended warranty plans cover so you can make the right decision.

GM offers three main Protection Plans if you want extended car warranty coverage: Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain. These plans can cover up to 8 years/100,000 miles from the in-service date. They differ in what’s covered under each.

GM Extended Warranty Plans

Below, you can compare what each plan covers side by side.

GM Extended Warranty Covered Components

Below is a more detailed look at the types of components that can be covered under a GM Platinum Protection Plan.

Extra Benefits of a GM Extended Warranty

All of GM’s levels of coverage offer the following benefits, across the Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC brands. Check your specific warranty for cost limitations and details.

• Rental car reimbursement
• Towing/roadside assistance
• Trip interruption

Whether you have comprehensive coverage or a basic powertrain warranty, there are exclusions. Here are a few things to keep in mind when considering a GM Protection Plan or Extended Limited Warranty from a GM dealer, regardless of the level of plan you choose:

• Parts not original to the car and parts that were not installed by an authorized GM technician are not covered under the GM Protection Plan.
• Repairs must be done by a certified service technician at an authorized GM dealership in order for the costs to be covered.
• Having parts (including tires) repaired or replaced anywhere other than a GM dealership could void your warranty.
• Regular maintenance services and parts aren’t covered. If the breakdown occurs because you haven’t properly maintained your car, the repairs aren’t covered.
• Repairs or replacements that are the result of a collision aren’t included in your warranty.
• Coverage exclusions are extensive and detailed, so read the warranty agreement carefully and check out the list below for parts that aren’t included and cases where your vehicle protection plan either wouldn’t kick in or would be rendered null and void.

The cost of your GM extended auto warranty will be customized to:

• Your location 
• Your vehicle (year, model, mileage) 
• The length of coverage 
• When you buy the plan

You can usually find the best price if you purchase a plan within a year of buying the vehicle. 

If you’re looking for the best price from a dealer, we recommend comparing quotes from a couple of different dealerships. Plan markups can differ between locations, and the closest dealer to you might not have the best price.

Is your warranty about to expire? Ask yourself a few questions to help you decide what to do next:

• Do I want to keep my car? If you’re planning on selling in the near future and your warranty covers you for a good portion of that time, you could take your chances. On the other hand, adding a vehicle service contract to your car can increase the resale value.
• How likely am I to have expensive repairs with this car? Certain repairs tend to only need to be done once during the average lifetime of a car. But if you know you haven’t replaced your water pump yet and you’re pushing 90,000 miles, for example, it might be good to stock up on coverage.
• What issues have others had with this car? Do your research to get a better understanding of what might be on the horizon for your GM car. For example, here’s what owners pay on average each year for maintenance and repairs according to RepairPal:
  • Cadillac: $783 per year
  • Buick: $608 per year
  • GMC: $744 per year
  • Chevrolet: $649 per year
• If my car broke down, would I be able to afford the repair? If you’re worried about car repair bills, having a vehicle service contract in place can provide peace of mind.

A third-party service contract can cover many systems and repairs on your GM vehicle. Here are some benefits of choosing a third-party provider:

• You can compare prices of many more plans to find a coverage option that works with your budget
• Third-party plans can work with thousands of licensed repair shops
• You can purchase plan coverage before or after your factory warranty has expired

What to Look for in a Vehicle Service Contract

• Look for flexible coverage and term length.
• Look for reliability and a reputation for quality. Check out the Better Business Bureau to see if the company is accredited.
• Read coverage details and exclusions extensively.
• Make sure you can choose a mechanic you trust for your GM repairs.
• Find a company that pays claims directly to the repair shop (so you don’t have to foot the bill and then wait around for reimbursement).

Outside of what a manufacturer can offer, CARCHEX offers five different levels of coverage*— Titanium, Platinum, Powertrain Plus, Powertrain, and Extra Care—that can be tailored to fit your specific car and driving habits. Plans come with a wide range of time and mileage options.

• Titanium—High-level coverage for many systems like the engine, transmission, drive axle, high-tech, air conditioning, electrical, steering, suspension, and brakes
• Platinum—Covers everything in the powertrain plus plan as well as the brakes, high-tech electronics, suspension, and more
• Powertrain Plus—Covers nine main systems including the air conditioning, cooling system, fuel system, and electrical
• Powertrain—Covers the engine, transmission, drive axle, turbocharger, transfer unit, and cooling system
• Extra Care—Covers components outside the powertrain system like the steering, suspension, brakes, fuel system, audio, and air conditioning

*Any plans offered by CARCHEX are not extended warranties, but are often referred to by consumers as such. CARCHEX vehicle service contracts (also called “protection plans”) operate similarly to extended warranties and provide repair coverage for mechanical breakdowns after factory warranties expire.

For over 20 years, CARCHEX has given drivers peace of mind and a superior customer experience. That’s why CARCHEX has an A+ rating with accreditation from the Better Business Bureau. Finding a vehicle service contract quote online is free, fast, and easy.

Sources:

Buick:
https://www.buick.com/content/dam/buick/na/us/en/index/owners/protection/protection-plan/02-pdfs/2023/BUVSC_230524_SAMPLE.pdf

GM:
https://www.gmfinancial.com/en-us/lease-or-buy/extended-protection.html 

Chevrolet:
https://www.chevrolet.com/protection-plans/chevrolet-platinum-protection 

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/cadillac

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/buick

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/gmc

RepairPal:
https://repairpal.com/chevrolet