GM Extended Warranty Overview
The GM extended warranty covers the cost of most unexpected car repairs for your Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, or Cadillac for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- The General Motors extended warranty comes with three levels of vehicle protection plans: Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain.
- Customers report spending between $1,500 and $2,500 on GM extended warranty plans.
- Choosing a third-party extended warranty can cover your car for longer and be cheaper than a GM dealership warranty.
Those with new Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac models receive only a few years of factory warranty coverage. For this reason, it may be worthwhile for owners to purchase a General Motors (GM) extended warranty to keep their car safe for years to come.
Our team has explored the ins and outs of the GM vehicle service contract (VSC)* and will explain its pros and cons below. We’ve also researched the best extended car warranties from third-party providers like Endurance and CarShield, so we’ll compare these plans to General Motors’ options as well.
GM Extended Warranty Coverage
GM offers three different extended warranty plans: Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain. While they protect different car components, each of these coverage options can last for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles – whichever comes first. All new GM extended warranty plans are administered by Safe-Guard Products International.
| Platinum Plan | Silver Plan | Powertrain Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Transmission | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Drive axle | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hybrid and electric parts | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Front and rear suspension | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Electrical parts | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Steering parts | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Climate control system | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Brakes | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Audio system | ✓ | ||
| Navigation system | ✓ | ||
| High-tech parts | ✓ |
General Motors notes that there could be slight differences in coverage depending on the car brand and your location. For instance, a Cadillac protection plan could have slight changes from a comparable warranty for a GMC model. Similarly, owners in Florida and California could see a few differences between their GM extended warranties.
GM Platinum Plan
The Platinum plan provides protection for over 1,500 unique components, making it the most comprehensive option from General Motors. Because of this, it’s also the most expensive choice overall. You’ll receive coverage for everything from basic powertrain components to high-tech parts that would be extremely expensive to replace out of pocket.
GM Silver Plan
GM’s Silver coverage is a middle-ground choice that protects all major car components but leaves out some specialized parts. You’ll lose coverage for nearly all high-tech parts but get protection for important powertrain, braking, steering, and electrical components.
GM Powertrain Plan
Those seeking an affordable but basic powertrain warranty may want to consider the GM Powertrain plan. Your car’s most important pieces such as the engine, transmission, and drive axle will receive coverage at a relatively reasonable price.
For further context of GM extended warranty options, the graphic below shows the major differences between the two most popular coverage choices in the extended warranty industry: the bumper-to-bumper contract and the powertrain plan.
GM Extended Warranty Added Benefits
Along with protection for valuable car parts, each GM extended warranty includes the following perks:
- 24/7 roadside assistance and towing
- Rental car reimbursement for up to 10 days ($40 per day maximum)
- Trip interruption benefits for up to five days ($200 per day maximum)
- 30-day money-back guarantee
You can also get a full refund for your GM extended warranty if you cancel within 30 days of getting the coverage. After that, you can still get a prorated refund. With a $50 fee, you can also transfer your GM extended warranty within 30 days of selling your car to a private party.
While these benefits are helpful, they’re pretty standard for the industry. Additionally, third-party warranty companies often provide more perks than those offered by GM itself.
GM Extended Warranty Exclusions
The GM extended limited warranty pays for damages caused by defective parts or workmanship errors, and genuine GM parts are used for car repairs. However, you have to take your vehicle to a GM-affiliated dealership for repairs and must pay a deductible before work is performed.
Below are some of the main coverage exclusions from the GM extended warranty:
- Cracks or chips in exterior paint or glass
- Damage to the finish of a truck bed liner
- Issues related to your car’s tires
- Your vehicle’s bumpers, headlights, and upholstery
- Wear-and-tear items like brake pads and wiper blades
- Routine maintenance services like oil changes and tire rotations
- Damage caused by severe weather, car accidents, or instances of theft or vandalism
- Issues stemming from reckless driving or lack of regular maintenance
Also note that the automaker-backed GM extended warranty must be bought before your new vehicle limited warranty expires. After that point, you’ll need to consider independent warranty providers like Endurance or CarShield.
GM Extended Warranty Cost
For most drivers, GM extended warranty coverage will cost somewhere between $1,500 and $2,500. The Platinum protection plan, which is the closest to bumper-to-bumper coverage, will cost the most due to its extensive offerings. You’ll also pay more if you opt for a longer coverage term or a lower deductible.
While the cost of a GM extended warranty can be rolled into your monthly new car payments, we’d recommend not doing so. That’s because you’ll end up paying interest on both the vehicle and on its extended coverage, so you’ll be charged more overall.
GM Extended Warranty Price Estimates
To give you a clearer idea of how much GM protection plans cost, we gathered free quotes from a GM-authorized warranty provider. The following coverage options all came with a $100 deductible:
| Car Model | Protection Plan | Term | Total Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Chevrolet Camaro | Platinum | 5 years/ 60,000 miles | $2,107 |
| 2020 Chevrolet Suburban | Powertrain | 5 years/ 75,000 miles | $1,901 |
| 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | Silver | 5 years/ 75,000 miles | $1,727 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Equinox | Platinum | 5 years/ 60,000 miles | $1,565 |
Is A GM Extended Warranty Worth It?
In the J.D. Power 2023 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, all four GM brands ranked better than the industry average. While the typical car brand has 186 problems per 100 vehicles, here’s how GM’s brands ranked:
- Buick: 159 problems per 100 vehicles
- Chevrolet: 162 problems per 100 vehicles
- Cadillac: 173 problems per 100 vehicles
- GMC: 175 problems per 100 vehicles
GM Brand Reliability
RepairPal ranks and rates the 32 main car brands based on their repair costs and reliability. Compared to J.D. Power, the site doesn’t favor GM’s models. The table below shows how each brand fared on the site along with their average annual repair costs. Keep in mind that the average annual repair cost across all automakers is $652.
| GM Brand | RepairPal Rating | Brand Reliability Ranking | Annual Repair Cost Average |
| Buick | 3.5 out of 5.0 stars | 13th place | $608 |
| Chevrolet | 3.5 out of 5.0 stars | 20th place | $649 |
| Cadillac | 3.0 out of 5.0 stars | 26th place | $783 |
| GMC | 3.0 out of 5.0 stars | 22nd place | $744 |
What kind of repairs can you expect on older vehicles? Director of Marketing at Endurance, Jessica Campbell, told our team that:
“Transmissions are the most common repair claim, followed by water pumps. Repair costs can vary widely depending on several factors, including vehicle type, model, age, and the complexity of the individual repair.”
GM Extended Warranty Transfer
When it comes time to sell your car, the GM extended warranty is fully transferable after you pay a $50 fee. GM aligns with most automakers in this regard, by tying warranties to the vehicle identification number (VIN) rather than to the car’s owner.
Our Manufacturer Extended Warranty Survey
In 2023, our team surveyed 1,000 people across the U.S. who had purchased a manufacturer extended warranty. Of these respondents, 142 had Chevrolet or GMC extended warranties. The majority of people with Chevy or GMC warranties were satisfied with their coverage. Here are a few things respondents said:
- “I was very pleased with it. I had to have the entire engine replaced and the warranty covered it completely.”
- “I was very satisfied, especially when the transmission failed.”
- “We were pretty satisfied. It covered a part of the AC that broke pretty soon after we bought it, which saved us about $1,000.”
- “I’m extremely happy with the extended warranty I purchased. The coverage has been so amazing and I know they have my back if I have any issues with my truck.”
That said, a few people expressed dissatisfaction with different aspects of the GM extended warranty:
- “It is OK, there are still some surprises when repairs are needed.”
- “I really was disappointed. There were too many loopholes […] that they used to void it, like excessive documentation.”
These bring up common issues with extended warranties – manufacturer-backed or not. No warranty covers everything, so you need to read the fine print before the 30-day money-back period has ended.
Best Places To Buy GM Extended Warranties
With third-party extended protection, coverage for your GM vehicle can last far beyond 100,000 miles. Most of these leading vehicle service contracts (VSCs) also include roadside assistance options and let you go to any repair shop you want.
Another benefit of third-party coverage is that you can get a GM extended warranty even after the car is ineligible for vehicle protection plans from the automaker. This gives you flexibility and extra time to consider whether you actually want an extended warranty.
GM Coverage From Endurance
Our team found that Endurance has a strong combination of warranty options and overall value. The company is a direct provider of its warranty plans, meaning that all warranty services and claims will be handled directly by Endurance.
Endurance Coverage Plans
Customers who choose Endurance can pick from six different coverage plans:
- Supreme: Endurance’s exclusionary, bumper-to-bumper warranty.
- Superior: High-tier plan that provides coverage for hundreds of listed parts.
- Premier: Coverage for high-mileage vehicles with a fairly extensive inclusion list that focuses on the powertrain.
- Secure Plus: Mid-level warranty with a short waiting period of only 30 days or 1,000 miles.
- Secure: Endurance’s most basic auto warranty that only covers parts of the powertrain.
- EnduranceAdvantage™: Covers mechanical breakdowns as well as maintenance needs like oil changes, engine diagnostics, and brake pad replacements.
Coverage can extend up to 200,000 miles, which is twice as long as the GM extended warranty. Endurance pays all car repair costs directly to the repair facility, so you won’t have to front the money for costly covered repairs. While some companies require you to pay upfront and wait to be reimbursed, that isn’t the case here.
Read more: Endurance warranty review
GM Coverage From Carchex
Carchex is a solid GM extended warranty choice for those with used cars. The company is a warranty broker that works with administrators to find you the best coverage plan and price. Unlike GM itself, Carchex lets car owners have repairs done at nearly any repair facility.
Carchex Warranty Plans
Here’s how the five Carchex warranty plans look:
- Titanium: Covers everything except for a small number of excluded items.
- Platinum: Takes care of all major systems but leaves out the most sophisticated parts.
- Powertrain Plus: A good plan for high-mileage vehicles that need more than a powertrain warranty.
- Powertrain: A basic plan that takes care of only the most critical powertrain parts.
- Extra Care: Covers nearly all car components apart from those in the powertrain.
A Carchex VSC tops out at 250,000 miles, which is significantly higher than the automaker’s GM extended warranty. The company has Better Business Bureau (BBB) accreditation with an A+ rating and is endorsed by industry leaders like Carfax, Kelley Blue Book, and Edmunds.com.
Read more: Carchax review
*The BBB is a trusted organization that studies and rates the business practices, customer experiences, and licensing information of many different companies.
GM Coverage From CarShield
We’d also recommend considering a GM extended warranty from CarShield. This warranty company is very popular, having garnered over 41,000 reviews on Trustpilot alone. CarShield is known for its month-to-month payment plans which help customers keep warranty costs down.
CarShield Warranty Plans
Here are CarShield’s seven different coverage tiers:
- Diamond: Continues factory-level coverage beyond the manufacturer’s warranty.
- Platinum: Inclusionary coverage for cars with higher mileage.
- Gold: Enhanced powertrain coverage that adds the water pump, starter, and more parts.
- Silver: Base-level coverage for crucial powertrain components.
- Aluminum: Specifically meant for vehicles with advanced tech parts.
- Electric Vehicle Coverage: Specially designed for electric or hybrid vehicles.
- Motorcycle & ATV: Coverage tailored for motorcycles and all-terrain vehicles.
We like that CarShield has special coverage options for high-tech vehicles with pricey equipment that wouldn’t be covered by a standard warranty. Alongside that, CarShield has a plan for motorcycles and ATVs, which sets the company apart from its competitors.
Read more: CarShield review
GM Extended Warranty: Bottom Line
GM extended warranty plans offer strong coverage and peace of mind, but they also come with a fairly high price tag. On top of this, they’re actually administered by a third-party warranty provider. For these reasons, it may be worthwhile to simply pick an option from Endurance, Carchex, or CarShield instead.
GM Extended Warranties: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about the GM extended warranty:
How much does GM charge for an extended warranty?
The GM extended warranty can cost between $1,500 and $2,500 depending on the vehicle type, chosen deductible, and coverage term length.
Can I buy an extended warranty after purchase?
GM extended warranties can be purchased before your car’s factory warranty expires. On the other hand, extended coverage from independent providers can be bought at almost any point in your car’s life.
What is a GM protection plan?
A GM protection plan is a vehicle service contract that covers the repair or replacement of certain parts for up to 8 years or 100,000 miles. These contracts also come with added benefits like rental car coverage, towing services, and vehicle lockout services.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
*VSCs are technically not extended warranties, but serve the same function. VSCs are often created by separated companies (though offered and sold through dealerships) – and have their own regulations. However, VSCs can be considered as extended warranties when offered by auto manufacturers.
