Before your Silverado breaks down on the side of the road, you might want to consider having an extended warranty. Is Chevrolet’s extended warranty the best option? It’s backed by the factory, which is good, but there are other limitations.
We’ll go over all of the details on the Chevrolet Extended Limited Warranty and Platinum Protection Plan here. Then we’ll compare these plans to third-party options to see if one type has any advantages over the other. There are many third-party providers out there, so we’ve researched a number of them to determine the best extended warranty companies, based on things like customer service and industry reputation.
You can find our top recommendations for Chevy extended warranties above. Compare plans by getting free quotes from different providers. Otherwise, keep reading for our guide to Chevy dealers’ extended plans.
Chevy Extended Limited Warranty
Here’s a summary of this Chevrolet extended warranty:
| Chevrolet Extended Warranty | Coverage Terms |
|---|---|
| Extended Limited Warranty | 5 years/60,000 miles |
| Platinum Protection Plan | 2 years/24,000 miles to 5 years/60,000 miles |
- It expands factory bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage to 5 years/60,000 miles.
- Repairs do not require a deductible.
- Repairs have to be done at the dealership.
- The warranty doesn’t cover maintenance or wear items.
Everything that’s covered by the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty is covered by the Chevy Extended Limited Warranty. As an exclusionary warranty, it lists parts that aren’t covered to define the contract.
Also, the plan is backed by GM, Chevy’s parent company and manufacturer. That means it’s a true manufacturer’s warranty and you get OEM replacement parts (though they can be refurbished or remanufactured).
One thing to know is you have to purchase the plan when you buy your car.
On the one hand, it’s nice that the warranty coverage stays exactly the same for the entire five years. On the other hand, you might not be ready to commit to an extended warranty right when you purchase the car. Unfortunately, you don’t really have any time to decide. Prices are based on your car and can be found by talking to a dealer, but we estimate the extended coverage might add between $1,000 and $2,000 to your loan.
Note that you can’t get the Chevy Extended Limited Warranty in California, Florida, Maine or Minnesota. You can cancel the contract and get a prorated refund, but you may have to pay a cancellation fee.
Chevy Platinum Protection Plan
Chevy offers another way to help out with repairs – the Platinum Protection Plan. This is a vehicle service plan that is sold by Chevy but is actually backed by AMT Warranty. It’s available for vehicles that have up to 80,000 miles.
This extended protection plan includes thousands of parts on most major systems, but it covers a little less than the bumper-to-bumper extended warranty. Here are a few examples of what’s covered:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Drive axle
- Factory-installed turbocharger/supercharger
- Transfer case
- A/C system
- Brakes (not pads, rotors or drums)
- Steering (including rear-wheel steering)
- Electrical (including OnStar, MyLink)
- Safety systems
The contract has stated coverage, meaning it lists every part that’s covered. If a part isn’t on the list, it’s not covered. The Chevy Platinum Protection Plan has a 60-day money-back guarantee, which is nice. Be sure to sit down and read the contract in its entirety, so you know exactly what’s covered.
Drivers can pick between four different term lengths for current plans:
- 2 years/24,000 miles
- 3 years/36,000 miles
- 4 years/48,000 miles
- 5 years/60,000 miles
Chevy Platinum Protection Plan Cost
What does Chevrolet’s extended warranty cost? Prices start at about $1,567 for the shortest term of 2 years/24,000 miles. We also pulled quotes for a 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 to see what was available. Here are the prices we found for that model year:
| Plan | Cost |
|---|---|
| 2 Years/24,000 Miles | $1,566.55 |
| 3 Years/36,000 Miles | $2,188.80 |
| 4 Years/48,000 Miles | $2,607.75 |
| 5 Years/60,000 Miles | $2,803.45 |
The maximum mileage covered is 140,000 miles if a vehicle with 80,000 miles had a 60,000-mile plan. There are a few perks that come with the Platinum Protection Plan as well:
- Rental car coverage ($40/day for one week max per occurrence)
- Towing/road service reimbursement up to $150 per occurrence
- Lost key or lockout service reimbursement up to $35
- Trip interruption ($200/day for four days per occurrence)
Is a Chevy Extended Warranty Worth It?
Getting the Extended Limited Warranty could be a good idea if you want to keep the same factory coverage for another two years. Beyond that, the Platinum Protection Plan is available, but it doesn’t cover as much as the factory warranty. However, there are some third-party options that do offer exclusionary bumper-to-bumper coverage.
Get More Options with Third-Party Providers
If you’re looking for an extended warranty for a Chevy Silverado or other model, take some time to look at third-party options. Since many Chevy models are reliable, you might think about getting coverage that lasts much further into the future than the factory warranty or protection plan. Many companies offer similar – or better – coverage compared to the Platinum Protection Plan.
Chevy’s Extended Limited Warranty requires you to go to the dealer for repairs, and the Platinum Protection Plan only lets you go to another repair shop if you can’t get to a dealer. In contrast, third-party warranties allow you to pick any ASE certified repair facility – and many cover dealership repairs as well.
Also, third-party extended warranty plans offer customers many choices when it comes to levels of coverage. For example, here are the vehicle service contract plans that CarShield offers:
- Diamond: Bumper-to-bumper exclusionary coverage similar to a new car warranty
- Platinum: Highest level of stated coverage, good for cars with a few miles
- Gold: Covers most systems in the vehicle, especially ones that are expensive to repair
- Silver: Basic powertrain warranty
- Aluminum: Specialty coverage for high-tech parts
- Motorcycle and ATV: Non-standard vehicles can be covered under this plan
In our CarShield review, we found that the company is a very popular provider overall – it has over 8,000 reviews and four stars on Trustpilot.
CARCHEX is another top provider with a history of great customer service. One thing we like about CARCHEX is that coverage can extend up until the car has 250,000 miles for some vehicles, which is a lot longer than what the Platinum Protection Plan offers.
(CARCHEX Vs. CarShield: Which Provider is Better?)
All of our recommendations for warranty providers offer a range of perks like roadside assistance and rental car coverage. To find the best option for your Chevy, call around and get a few different quotes – our top picks are below.
Advantages of an Extended Warranty
When you buy an extended warranty, you pay a certain price for the plan. Often, the plan pays for itself in covering repair costs. But there’s also another benefit that goes beyond the financial analysis – the peace of mind that can come from an extended warranty.
When you have coverage for repairs, you just have less on your plate to deal with. That can lessen some of the stress that comes with owning a car, especially if your savings account doesn’t have enough to cover a $2,000 or $3,000 repair.
Looking at Chevy in particular, the company’s factory warranty expires pretty quickly compared to other brands. Some manufacturers don’t offer long warranties because their cars are known to last for years without repairs. However, that’s not quite the case with Chevrolet.
In terms of reliability, RepairPal gives Chevrolet vehicles 3.5 out of 5.0 stars. Drivers usually spend about $649 per year on repairs, which is an average amount compared to other brands. However, single repairs can be much higher or lower than the average. Here are a few repair costs Chevy drivers can encounter, provided by RepairPal data:
| Repair | Cost |
|---|---|
| Chevy Silverado 1500 Control Arm Replacement | $707 to $741 |
| Chevy Silverado 1500 Seat Heater Replacement | $341 to $372 |
| Chevy Equinox Fuel Injector Replacement | $1,432 to $1,714 |
| Chevy Equinox AC Compressor Replacement | $601 to $929 |
The good news is that Chevy came in fourth place on J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ and the top 10 in the 2020 study. The Chevy Sonic, Cruze and Impala all performed well for the brand.
Is Your Chevy Factory Warranty Still Active?
Let’s go over what coverage your Chevy has right out of the gate:
| Warranty | Coverage |
|---|---|
| Bumper-to-Bumper Limited Warranty | The factory warranty pays for repairs due to defective parts on the entire car minus a short list of exclusions for 3 years/36,000 miles. |
| Powertrain Warranty | This covers the engine, transmission and drivetrain from defective workmanship for 5 years/60,000 miles. |
| Corrosion Warranty | Cosmetic damage from corrosion is covered for 3 years/36,000 miles. |
| Rust-Through Warranty | Chevy will repair sheet metal that has been corroded through for 6 years/100,000 miles. |
| Electric Hybrid Warranty | Certain parts on electric and hybrid vehicles are covered for 8 years/100,000 miles. |
| Additional Coverages | Extra perks from Chevy include 24/7 roadside assistance for 5 years/60,000 miles and one free first maintenance visit. |
Be aware that the factory warranty doesn’t cover damage from misuse or neglect. It doesn’t cover routine maintenance, either (except for the first visit). If you are unsure if your Chevy is still under warranty, you can do a Chevy warranty check through the online customer portal.
FAQ: Chevrolet Extended Warranties
What does a GM extended warranty cover?
All GM extended warranties – whether for a Chevy, Buick, GMC or Cadillac – extend the exact coverages from the bumper-to-bumper warranty for another 2 years/24,000 miles. Chevy, GMC and 2020 Buick models are covered for a maximum of 5 years/60,000 miles, while Cadillac models are covered for a maximum of 6 years/72,000 miles with the extended warranty.
How much should I pay for an extended warranty?
In general, extended warranties can cost between $1,000 and $3,000 on average. That’s a large spread, and the price depends on the coverage you select and the car you drive. You’ll also find payment plans ranging from 12 months to 48 months or more, and that impacts how much you’d pay per month.
What’s the best place to buy a GM extended warranty?
You can get a GM extended warranty online, over the phone or at a dealer. We’d recommend shopping online so that you have time to read the contract in full before you make a buying decision.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
