Get a free, no obligation personal loan quote with rates as low as 9.99%
Get Started You can apply with no impact to your credit score

When buying a new car, a manufacturer’s warranty is always a welcomed bonus. But, when it comes to purchasing a used vehicle, the manufacturer’s warranty will typically be expired. The good news is that it’s pretty easy to extend a manufacturer’s warranty with an extended warranty. If you’re thinking about purchasing a used vehicle, this is everything you need to know about getting a warranty for a used car.

Used Car Manufacturer’s Warranty vs. Extended Warranty

Your used car can be covered by two types of warranties, manufacturer’s warranty and extended warranty. 

Used Car Manufacturer’s Warranty 

A manufacturer warranty comes into effect when you purchase a brand new vehicle from a dealership. It is a standard warranty that comes with almost all cars and typically covers the repair costs for the vehicle’s mechanical or electrical issues. 

A manufacturer’s car warranty usually expires after a set mileage limit (typically 60,000 to 100,000 km) or a set time period (usually three to five years), whichever comes first. 

The warranty is transferable between owners and provides the same coverage as the original owner. However, you’ll only receive part of the warranty as it does not renew with each owner. For example, if you purchase a 2-year old car that has 20,000 km on it, you’ll have between 1 to 3 years or 40,000 to 80,000 km of coverage. 

Used Car Extended Warranty

An extended warranty takes effect after a manufacturer’s warranty expires. It is usually transferable between owners but must be included in the terms and conditions of your contract. 

The key difference between a manufacturer warranty and an extended warranty is that an extended warranty is optional. Moreover, the type of coverage you get depends on the type of coverage plan you choose (or what the previous owner chose). For example, you may have bumper-to-bumper coverage or something a little less comprehensive.  

Extended warranty plans typically last between 3-5 years after your manufacturer warranty has ended. Do note that extended and manufacturer warranties do not cover normal wear and tear. 

Lookout Buying A New Car? Do You Need A Warranty?

Loans Canada Lookout

LOOKING OUT FOR YOUR BEST INTEREST

Lookout Buying A New Car? Do You Need A Warranty?
Buying A New Car? Do You Need A Warranty?
READ ARTICLE

Are Used Cars Covered Under The Manufacturer Warranty?

Used cars might be covered under a manufacturer’s warranty. They are generally covered if the used car is less than three years old and has less than 60,000 km on the odometer. 

There are usually three key components of a manufacturer warranty:

New Vehicle Warranty

This kind of warranty covers almost the entire vehicle for mechanical and electrical problems, minus wear and tear. Tires, hoses, brakes, and belts are not included under this warranty. New vehicle warranties are usually in effect for about three years or 60,000 km.

Powertrain Warranty

This kind of warranty covers parts of a vehicle that are related to a vehicle’s movement, such as the engine and transmission. Powertrain warranties are usually in effect longer than new vehicle warranties—about five years and 100,000 km.

Emissions Warranty

This kind of warranty covers parts of a vehicle that are directly related to its emissions, including the powertrain control module and catalytic converter.

Find out how to buy car insurance for your used car.

Types Of Extended Warranties

All extended warranties are not created equal, they can differ greatly depending on the provider. Below are the types of coverage you can expect for most extended warranties.

  • Repairs: Vehicle repairs coverage covers the labour and parts required to make repairs to a vehicle. Some vehicle repair extended warranties do not cover fluids or certain parts. Make sure to read the fine print to see exactly what is covered by this kind of warranty.
  • Roadside Assistance: This kind of extended warranty covers the cost of a tow truck to bring your vehicle to a repair shop. It may also cover battery boosts and fuel, oil delivery and other roadside assistance services.
  • Rental Car Coverage: Rental car coverage gives you access to a rental car if you need to take your vehicle in for repairs and it needs to stay overnight. To qualify for this coverage, the repair must be covered by the warranty. You can usually only get rental car coverage for a maximum of five days.
  • Tire And Rim Warranty: This kind of warranty covers tire punctures, blowouts, and rim damage resulting from tire damage.

Learn about the winter tire laws in Canada.

Dealership Extended Warranty vs. Third-Party Car Warranty Providers

You can get an extended car warranty through a dealership or a third-party provider.

Dealership Extended Warranty

When you purchase an extended warranty from a dealership, it’s typically extremely convenient as you can add it to your contract when purchasing the vehicle. Moreover, you can roll your warranty costs into your car payment plan if you’re financing it. While dealership extended warranties are easily accessible, they do have some drawbacks:  

  • Limited Repair Location Options – You usually have to go to the dealership for any repairs under your warranty, which limits where you can get your repairs done. 
  • Can’t Compare Prices – Dealerships usually have a few partners they work with to offer extended warranties. Meaning, you won’t get the opportunity to compare prices from multiple extended warranty providers. 

Third-Party Car Warranty

Rather than purchasing a warranty for a dealership, you can purchase your extended warranty for your used car from a third-party provider such as Ensurall, Autopair and Carshield. This can be a better option than a dealership as you’ll be able to compare your options and choose one that is most suitable for your needs.  Moreover, you’ll be able to: 

  • Get A Lower Price – These third-party extended warranty providers are usually cheaper than dealerships because you’re able to compare prices from multiple providers. 
  • More Repair Locations – There is usually a long list of repair facilities where your warranty provider will allow you to get repairs done.
  • Added Benefits Some third-party providers offer additional benefits such as fuel delivery, towing, and roadside assistance.
  • Transferable – Most third-party car warranties are transferable between owners.

Check out these credit cards for free roadside assistance.

What To Look For When Getting A Used Car Warranty

There are four important factors to look at when you’re getting a used car warranty:

Price

Price is extremely important when looking for a used car warranty. You want to make sure that you’re purchasing a warranty that you can afford and one that is about as expensive as similar warranties from other providers. You should also look at how often you will have to pay for it and how long you’ll have to wait before you can use your warranty. 

Learn how to budget for a car.

Coverage

You definitely need to know what your warranty covers and what it doesn’t cover. You should pick a warranty based on what kind of coverage you think you will need and based on getting the best coverage for your price range. 

Service

You should look to see how difficult it is to get a claim processed and what is needed to get repairs made to your vehicle. An important question to ask your warranty provider is whether you need to pay for repairs out of pocket and then get reimbursed or if they will pay for repairs directly. You should also see if you have to take your vehicle to a certain mechanic in the provider’s network or if you can take your vehicle to any mechanic.

Find out how your claims can affect your car insurance.

Reputation

You should look at the warranty provider’s reputation when getting a used car warranty. There are many sites online where customers leave reviews about their warranty providers, so start there. You should see what other customers have to say about the warranty, including if they had any issues making a claim and if their claims were processed promptly. 

How To Make A Car Warranty Claim

To make a warranty claim, you have to get your vehicle’s issues diagnosed by a repair facility that is authorized by your warranty provider. Contact your warranty provider to find out about authorized repair facilities in your area. Although you will likely need to visit the dealership that sells your vehicle. 

When you take your car to the authorized repair facility, your vehicle’s issues will be diagnosed and registered with a claims adjuster. Someone at the repair facility will then tell you if your vehicle’s issues are covered under your warranty and if you have to pay anything for repairs.

How To Keep A Car Warranty Valid

It’s also important to understand that most warranties come with set guidelines that you need to follow in order to keep your warranty valid. Typically, both manufacturers warranties and extended warranties will come with stipulations that you need to take your vehicle to an authorized garage or repair shop. Any repairs completed at a non-authorized garage will likely not be covered. 

Keeping Up With Maintenance

Keeping up with the required maintenance is also another common guideline set by warranty providers. Generally speaking, you will need to make sure you regularly perform the following:

  • Oil changes
  • Transmission flushes
  • Cooling system flushes
  • Timing belt replacement
  • Spark plug replacement

Depending on the vehicle type and warranty provider, this list may include other more specialized maintenance. 

Used Car Warranty FAQs

Can I get a car warranty if my car has a lot of miles?

It really depends on the warranty provider, but yes, you can get a car warranty if your car has a lot of miles. Some providers offer coverage for cars that have up to 150,000 miles. Generally, you can get a warranty for a car that is 20 years old or newer.

Are there used car warranties that cover wear and tear?

No. General wear and tear is never covered by a used car warranty.

Can a car warranty be transferred from one owner to another?

Car warranties are attached to a vehicle, not to an owner. Therefore, they can be transferred from one owner to another. A warranty’s validity usually doesn’t depend on whose ownership information the warranty provider has, although it is recommended that the new owner contact the warranty provider to change the vehicle’s owner information.
Matthew Taylor avatar on Loans Canada
Matthew Taylor

Matthew joined the Loans Canada writing team in 2021 while was finishing up a Bachelor's degree at the University of Saskatchewan. It was there that he discovered his love of writing. His work has appeared in several publications, including the Canadian Student Review and NewEngineer.com. In his spare time, Matthew enjoys reading, geocaching, and spending time with his family and pets.

More From This Author

Special Offers

More From Our Experts

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Camper-financing.png
Camper & Tent Trailer Financing

By Barry Choi
Published on November 29, 2024

If you’re in love with camping and the great outdoors, you could take things to the next level by purchasing a camper or tent trailer. These pull-behi...

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/dirt-bike-financing-1.png
Dirt Bike Financing Canada

By Jun Ho

Wondering how to finance a dirt bike if you don’t have the cash readily available. Here's everything you need to know about dirt bike financing in Can...

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/RV-financing.png
RV And Mobile Home Financing

By Lisa Rennie

Shopping for the perfect RV to hit the road this year? We have all the information you need about financing for RV and mobile home purchases.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/ATV-financing.png
How To Finance An ATV In Canada

By Bryan Daly

Whether you’re looking for something sporty, comfortable, tough or spacious, rest assured that there are plenty of ATVs available for purchase or fina...

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Questions-to-Ask-Car-Dealer.png
Questions To Ask Your Dealer When Buying A Car

By Steven Brennan

Asking the right questions can help you determine if you’re comfortable purchasing a specific vehicle, whether from a dealership or a private seller.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/distracted-driving-laws-canada.png
Distracted Driving Laws In Canada

By Steven Brennan

To prevent accidents or costly fines, it's important to understand how your province polices and treats distracted driving.

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Credit-Score-Car-Loan.png
What Credit Score Do You Need For A Car Loan?

By Steven Brennan

When it comes to accessing the best financing for a new car, do you know what credit score is needed for a car?

https://loanscanada.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/car-repossession-loopholes.png
Can You Get Your Car Back After Repossession?

By Jun Ho

Are you afraid your car may be repossessed? Check out these car repossession loopholes you can use in Ontario to help avoid the repossession.

Recognized As One Of Canada's Top Growing Companies

Why choose Loans Canada?

Apply Once &
Get Multiple Offers
Save Time
And Money
Get Your Free
Credit Score
Free
Service
Expert Tips
And Advice
Exclusive
Offers

Build Credit For Just $10/Month

With KOHO's prepaid card you can build a better credit score for just $10/month.

Koho Prepaid Credit Card