Your Used Car May Have More Warranties Than You Realize

Some used cars inherit warranty coverage from the original owners.

Jim Koscs | 

Jun 6, 2024 | 5 min read

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Some used-car buyers may be pleasantly surprised to learn that their vehicle inherits portions of warranty coverage from one or more sources.

This can come from time or miles remaining on the original new-vehicle warranty, a carmaker's certified pre-owned (CPO) warranty, or an extended warranty that the previous owner purchased. In some cases, replacement parts installed in a vehicle may be covered by a separate warranty that transfers to the new owner.

Some valuable transferable coverage, however, comes from applicable federal or state emissions-control system warranties. These can extend up to eight years or 80,000 miles for some important or expensive components, including catalytic converters, which help to remove pollutants from a vehicle's exhaust gas.

Significantly, emissions warranties transfer to subsequent owners until their coverage limits are reached.

Finding Free Warranty Coverage May Require Looking Through the Manual

The first place to look for "free" used-vehicle warranty coverage is in the new-vehicle warranty booklet. If it's missing, you can often download it from the manufacturer's website.

New-vehicle warranties today generally range from three to five years or 36,000 to 60,000 miles, whichever comes first. When you buy a used vehicle that's still within those ranges, you automatically get any remaining portion at no extra charge. That's called transferability.

Some used cars may include a large portion of "bonus" emissions system warranty coverage. About 13 states that follow California's emissions regulations, which are stricter than the federal versions, have special warranties.

It May Be up to You to Transfer a Warranty

When buying a used vehicle, you should ask to see its factory warranty booklet as well as any documentation regarding other warranties that might have been purchased. The information concerning transferability is critical, as this can vary by state. Call the manufacturer's customer-assistance phone number if you're unsure.

Transferability of some types of warranty coverage can also vary by brand. As one example, the generous 10-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage that comes with new Hyundai, Kia, and Mitsubishi vehicles applies only to the original owner. Subsequent owners do get the remainder of those vehicles' five-year or 60,000-mile new-vehicle warranty, which covers the powertrain for that period.

If you buy a used vehicle through a manufacturer's CPO program, you will generally get any remaining portion of the new-vehicle warranty, plus additional warranty coverage that varies by brand. CPO vehicle buyers can also buy additional warranty coverage beyond that.

Many brands, including Toyota, will automatically transfer this coverage to subsequent owners when you sell. Some might require the seller to file a form and pay a fee to make this transfer. BMW, for example, charges the owner $200 to make the transfer, and Stellantis brands — including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat — charge $150.

Emissions Warranties Vary by State

All new vehicles come with government-mandated warranties that cover key emissions-control systems, but certain differences in this coverage might surprise used-car buyers, sometimes in good ways.

The applicable federal emissions warranty for new vehicles in most states covers the first 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. In most cases, however, manufacturers' own vehicle and powertrain warranties already exceed those limits.

Significantly, the federal emissions regulations also mandate eight-year or 80,000-mile warranty coverage for three key components: catalytic converter, engine control module, and on-board diagnostics device. This coverage also transfers to subsequent owners. If a seller tells you a used vehicle has a catalytic converter warranty, that's likely what they're referring to.

As of September 2023, new-car buyers in California and the 13 other so-called "California emissions" states provide additional emissions warranty coverage. The states include Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington.

The core emissions warranty in those states spans three years or 50,000 miles, and remaining coverage transfers to subsequent owners, but only if the vehicle stays registered in one of those states. California-emissions cars in those states also get seven-year or 70,000-mile warranty coverage for an extensive list of emissions-related parts, including elements of the fuel injection, ignition, and exhaust systems.

To determine if you have a California-emissions vehicle, open its hood and look for the manufacturer's emissions-control certification sticker. If it says "California SULEV" on it and the vehicle has not already exceeded the warranty time or mile limits, you get the remaining coverage. If you register a California-emissions vehicle outside of one of those states, however, the coverage is dropped.

Hybrid Cars Have Special Battery and Related Component Warranties

Certain hybrid vehicle components come with even more coverage.

Hyundai's warranty covers the major hybrid parts, including the battery, for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Toyota's hybrid and electric vehicle warranty covers the battery for 10 years or 150,000 miles and other components for eight years or 100,000 miles. As with emissions warranties, any remaining time or miles from hybrid and EV warranties transfer to used-car buyers.

Replacement Parts May Have Their Own Transferable Warranties

If you're buying a used car with expired factory warranties, a seller may offer receipts for service work done during their ownership. But be skeptical if they claim the work is covered under warranty, as such warranties may not transfer to subsequent owners.

Genuine factory replacement parts for General Motors brands — including Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, and GMC — and those from Ford and Stellantis brands offer up to 24 months and unlimited miles of coverage, but only for the owners who had the repairs done.

This warranty is not transferable to future owners. If a seller touts a replacement alternator in one of those brands' cars, for example, you do not get the warranty. Mercedes-Benz, however, covers parts and labor for 24 months and unlimited miles for repairs and parts from its authorized dealers, and this warranty is transferable to subsequent owners.

Replacement tires are usually covered by their own manufacturers' warranties, which typically do not transfer to subsequent owners.