We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – buying or leasing a new car is one of the more exciting moments of the year for drivers across the country. The anticipation and thought of driving off in that new ride you’ve always had your eyes on is an intoxicating feeling, and finally gripping that steering wheel as you peel off for the first time is a moment that just stays with you.
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Fast-forward a year and 10,000 miles later, and your service light flashes on your dash for the first time. No problem, you think, as you check for the nearest dealership to you to get it checked out.
As you go to make an appointment though, you realize one glaring issue. Regular maintenance isn’t covered by the automaker.
That means you’ll have to come out of pocket for routine maintenance like oil changes, tune-ups, regular inspections and labor for any minimal adjustments to keep your ride running smoothly.
While every new car comes with various levels comprehensive, powertrain and corrosion warranty, as well as roadside assistance, not all automakers offer free regular maintenance. But, before we get into which automakers offer what, let’s dive into what exactly these warranties are and what exactly they cover.
Comprehensive Warranty
AKA “Bumper to Bumper Warranty”, Comprehensive warranty covers minor vehicle ailments such as the electrical components of the vehicle, climate control, fuel systems and more. Typically, bumper to bumper warranties can range anywhere from 3 years/36,000 to 6/years 72,000 with Volkswagen offering the most generous coverage after blowback from their emissions scandal in 2015.
Most automakers will cover one of three packages (with the exception of VW):
- 3 years or 36,000 miles
- 4 years or 50,000 miles
- 5 years or 60,000 miles
- 6 years 0r 72,000 miles (VW)
Powertrain Warranty
When it comes to Powertrain warranty, we’re talking about all of the major components of a vehicle that could run into problems throughout the duration of your lease. This includes anything engine or transmission related. Essentially, this is your mechanical warranty to make sure your car stays on the road running smoothly.
Most automakers start coverage at the 5 year/50,000 mile mark but go all the way up to 10 years/100,000 miles in some cases. Tesla owners will be happy to hear that their Powertrain warranty extends to 8 years with unlimited miles – just keep an eye on those allocated lease miles if you’re leasing a Model 3!
The Hyundai brand, which includes both KIA and Genesis, are the most generous with their Powertrain warranty, covering buyers till the 10 years or 100,000-mile mark, but keep in mind the warranty only applies to the original owner. This is a great perk for those planning to keep their Hyundai branded car well beyond their lease return date.
For everyone else, 50K should be more than enough for most lessees, since most will be returning their cars with 30K to 40K miles. That’s three years of worry-free driving if you’re keeping score at home.
Corrosion Warranty
Finally, we have corrosion warranty, which covers your vehicle from naturally occurring forms of corrosion such as rust. However, it’s extremely unlikely that any major form of corrosion is forming during the duration of one’s lease. Unless you really hate and neglect your car. Then all bets are off.
Most automakers offer 4 years/50K miles to 12 years/unlimited miles worth of coverage, which again, will come in handy in the event you are keeping your vehicle well past your lease return date.
Roadside Assistance
In the event of a flat tire or a breakdown, no one likes to be left stranded on the side of the highway. That’s why every automaker offers some sort of complimentary Roadside Assistance with every new vehicle. No need for AAA just yet. Most automakers offer roadside assistance from anywhere from two (looking at you, Toyota) to six years (well done, Cadillac) but the majority of coverage will come in the four to five-year range. It’s a nice touch offered by automakers to make sure you’re well taken care of, even years after your purchase.
If you want even more coverage for road hazards such as tire blowouts and flats, we recommend springing for optional rim and tire insurance, which will cover the cost of the new tire and labor. If flat tires seem to follow you like the plague, it more than pays for itself over the course of your lease.
Free Scheduled Maintenance
Here’s where you’ll really begin to enjoy the luxury brand experience. While most standard brands like Nissan, Hyundai, and Honda offer generally great warranties on their vehicles, they all lack the free regular maintenance that many luxury brands provide.
For example, BMW (and MINI) offer customers 3 years/36,000 miles worth of regular maintenance for things like oil changes, tune-ups and general inspections to make sure your ride is running at peak performance. On top of that, many dealerships offer complimentary loaner vehicles so you can drop your car off and continue on about your day. Now that’s service.
Brand | Comprehensive Coverage (year/miles) | Powertrain Coverage (year/miles) | Corrosion Coverage (year/miles) | Roadside Assistance (year/miles) | Free Scheduled Maintenance (year/miles) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acura | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 5/Unlimited | 4/50,000 | none |
Alfa Romeo | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 5/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | 1/10,000 (select models) |
Audi | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | 1/10,000 |
BMW | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
Buick | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 6/100,000 | 6/70,000 | 2/24,000 |
Cadillac | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 6/Unlimited | 6/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
Chevrolet | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/60,000 | one scheduled visit |
Chrysler | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/100,000 | none |
Dodge | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/100,000 | none |
Fiat | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 5/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | none |
Ford | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 5/60,000 | none |
Genesis | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 7/Unlimited | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
GMC | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 6/100,000 | 5/60,000 | two scheduled visits or 2/ 24,000 |
Honda | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 | none |
Hyundai | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 7/Unlimited | 5/Unlimited | none |
Infiniti | 4/60,000 | 6/70,000 | 7/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | none |
Jaguar | 5/60,000 | 5/60,000 | 6/Unlimited | 5/60,000 | 5/60,000 |
Jeep | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/60,000 | 2 years/ 4 oil changes on select 2019 models |
KIA | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/60,000 | none |
Land Rover | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 6/Unlimited | 4/50,000 | none |
Lexus | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 6/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | 1/10,000 |
Lincoln | 4/50,000 | 6/70,000 | 5/Unlimited | Unlimited | |
Mazda | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 | none |
Mercedes-Benz | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | none |
MINI | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | 3/36,000 |
Mitsubishi | 5/60,000 | 10/100,000 | 7/100,000 | 5/Unlimited | none |
Nissan | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 | none |
Porsche | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/50,000 | one free visit |
Ram | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/100,000 | 5/100,000 | two oil changes per year |
Subaru | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 3/36,000 | three free visits every 7,500 miles |
Toyota | 3/36,000 | 5/60,000 | 5/Unlimited | 2/ Unlimited | 2/25,000 |
Volkswagen | 6/72,000 | 6/72,000 | 7/100,000 | 3/36,000 | none |
Volvo | 4/50,000 | 4/50,000 | 12/Unlimited | 4/Unlimited | three free visits every 10,000 miles |
Conclusion
When choosing your next vehicle to lease, make sure you’re aware of all the different protection plans offered before signing on that dotted line. While in most cases you’ll be adequately covered throughout the duration of your lease no matter the car you choose, sometimes when deciding between two potential brands, warranty coverage could play a part in your decision. Included regularly scheduled maintenance is also icing on the cake when it comes to making sure you’re covered from boot to bonnet.
If you’re still hung up about which warranties cover what, contact the automotive experts at Capital Motor Cars. Our team of knowledgeable sales staff will walk you through every step of the leasing process to make sure all of your questions are answered. Happy Driving!