Everything You Need to Know About
Bumper to Bumper Warranty Coverage and More

There is a huge chance that you’ve come across the words “bumper-to-bumper warranty” when buying a new or second-hand car. Insurance coverage is usually a decisive factor when it comes to purchasing as buyers tend to choose a car that covered by this warranty.

Interested to learn more? Well, read on!

What is Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty?

A bumper-to-bumper warranty is a type of car warranty insurance that covers everything in your car. Literally speaking, everything that is between your car’s front and back bumpers, hence, the term “bumper-to-bumper.” So if your engine stalls, or perhaps there’s a leak, you can quickly take your car in for repairs without spending anything.

However, automobile manufacturers also provide a manufacturer’s warranty for new cars that covers the first 3 years or 36,000 miles. So a car’s bumper-to-bumper warranty may fall under the manufacturer’s warranty or a service contract.

What is Covered?

bubble wrapped car

Entire Fuel System

Bumper-to-bumper warranties cover the car’s entire fuel system. Specifically speaking:

  • the fuel injectors
  • fuel system
  • Tank
  • Pump
  • spark plugs and more

What’s even better is that if you have an old vehicle that’s powered by a carburetor instead of a fuel injection engine, even your carburetor will be covered too.

Electrical Parts and Components

All your vehicle’s electronic parts are covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty, including:

  • power mirrors
  • power steering
  • Windows
  • Sensors
  • central locking system
  • air conditioning and heating system
  • infotainment system.

All parts that are powered by your battery are covered by this warranty.

Safety

Your vehicle’s safety instruments and equipment are also covered. Every equipment that is responsible for preventing damage to the car and driver are covered by a bumper-to-bumper warranty.

  • Airbags
  • roll bars
  • roll cages
  • Hooks
  • seat belts.

Add-ons

Customizing your vehicle won’t void your bumper-to-bumper warranty because all modifications are still covered. You might have installed a sunroof, a new navigation GPS, parking camera, sensors, and LCDs a few months or years after buying your car but as long as you have a bumper-to-bumper warranty, all these are covered.

What is Excluded

Wheel balancing in auto shop

However, bumper-to-bumper warranties might give you the impression that it encompasses everything, but there are still things that aren’t covered. One good example is the tires, your brakes or the whole brake system.

Another thing NOT covered by the warranty is any damage to the exterior. So any damage to your side panels, the glass, and even the interior trim, you can your insurance and not your auto-maker.

Also, some warranties are limited or become void if you put modifications in your vehicle, so you might want to be more careful when wanting to make customizations. Why? Because some of the usual customizations are not essential to the function of a vehicle. Instead, they’re regarded as extras.

Also don’t expect a replacement seatbelt if they’re simply discolored or frayed, but is still able to hold well.

Wear items such as headlights, turn signals, brake lights, and clutch are also excluded from bumper-to-bumper warranties. There are also other insurers which don’t cover oil and fluid changes, wearable suspension and some car hoses. Parts of the car that are exposed to the wear and tear of the daily drive are not covered by the warranty.

Powertrain Warranty

inside car engineA powertrain warranty covers the transmission, engine, and general drivetrain of a vehicle. Simply put, it’s called “powertrain” because it covers the parts that “power” or make a car run.

Extended Warranty

Every insurance, including bumper-to-bumper warranties, has an expiration. But just like any other warranty, this  can also be extended through an extended warranty. It speaks for its name as this can be used to extend the duration of a warranty.