With a factory warranty from Chevrolet, you can rest easy knowing that your new car is guaranteed to be free from factory defects, and that any that slip through will be corrected at no cost to you. However, car warranties are for limited time frames, and when your factory warranty expires, you will need to buy an extended warranty to ensure continued protection for your vehicle. Fortunately, there are many different extended Chevy protection plans that you can select.
However, when you purchase the extended warranty, you need to know exactly which components it covers. For example, when you get a Chevy drivetrain warranty, you need to know that it offers different coverage than a powertrain warranty. Otherwise, you might be surprised by unexpected and expensive repair bills for uncovered items in the future. When you are better informed, you can make the right decisions about the maintenance and repair coverage you might require.
What Is a Drivetrain Warranty?
People often use the terms drivetrain and powertrain interchangeably, but there is a difference. While a powertrain is a set of components that power your car, a drivetrain consists of multiple parts that interact with the engine and enable the vehicle to thrust into motion. The warranty that covers the drivetrain parts is known as a drivetrain warranty.
What Is Included in a Drivetrain Warranty?
A drivetrain warranty provides maintenance and repair coverage for the following drivetrain parts:
- The engine: Be sure to read the fine print of your drivetrain warranty to see if the engine itself is covered or not. Some do, but others exclude the engine itself, or cover it under a different warranty.
- The transmission: The transmission or gearbox is a device between the engine and the wheels. When the engine generates power, the transmission transfers it to the wheels in a controlled manner through a gear system to enable the car to move.
- The driveshaft: The driveshaft, which is also known as a propeller shaft or prop shaft, is a long, rotating shaft located in the center of the car that transfers torque from the transmission to the differential. The differential then transfers this torque to the wheels, and that causes the car to move.
- The differential: The differential consists of a gear system that transmits power to the different drive wheels and allows them to rotate at different speeds on the same axle as you go around corners.
- The constant-velocity (CV) joints: CV joints in the axles allow the axles to move up and down with the suspension, as well as to turn left and right on the front of the car.
- The axles: The axles transfer power from the engine to the wheels, which moves the car down the road.
What Is Not Included in a Drivetrain Warranty?
A drivetrain warranty only covers those vehicle parts that transfer power from the engine to the vehicle’s wheels. Some drivetrain warranties may include the engine or wheels, while others will not. You should check the covered component list before you buy the drivetrain warranty.
Some other parts that a drivetrain warranty does not cover are:
- Suspension parts
- Fuel system parts
- Bushings and bearings
- Brakes and shocks
Chevrolet’s standard factory powertrain warranty provides coverage for the replacement of defective components in the engine as well as in the transmission and drivetrain systems.
What Is An Extended Drivetrain Warranty?
A regular drivetrain warranty is for a specified period and will expire eventually. If you want to ensure that your vehicle continues to get drivetrain coverage, you will need to buy an extended drivetrain warranty. It is available from many reputed third-party providers, and it generally covers the same drivetrain components as the factory drivetrain warranty.
If you want an extended drivetrain warranty, you must make sure that your vehicle is in good condition before you buy it. The extended drivetrain warranty does not cover any pre-existing issues your vehicle might have.
For How Long Is a Drivetrain Warranty?
If you purchase a new Chevrolet vehicle, the Chevy drivetrain warranty is part of its powertrain coverage. The coverage you get for the transferrable powertrain limited warranty with no deductible is generally for five years or 100,000 miles, depending on which comes first. You can get drivetrain coverage for five to seven years if you purchase an extended drivetrain warranty. It will help to shop around and check what the different third-party providers can offer. The length and coverage of the extended Chevy drivetrain warranty can vary by provider.
Do You Need an Extended Drivetrain Warranty?
You might want to consider getting an extended drivetrain warranty for the following reasons:
It Can Save Money
Drivetrain repairs and replacements can be expensive. By getting an extended drivetrain warranty from a reputed third-party provider, you can save money if and when problems arise with the drivetrain in the future. In addition, depending on what the third-party provider offers, you may be able to get a flexible and comprehensive plan that meets your coverage requirements.
It Doesn’t Limit You To Specific Service Centers
Another important benefit of getting an extended drivetrain warranty from a third-party provider is that you can take your vehicle for maintenance or repair to the automobile repair workshop of your choice, or the one closest to you in an emergency. In the case of factory warranties from car dealerships, the manufacturer requires you to use the dealership’s service workshops exclusively.
It Can Boost Your Vehicle’s Value
If you decide you want to trade in or sell your current vehicle, it is in your interest to have an extended Chevy drivetrain warranty. Since the warranty is transferrable, it will add value to your car. Buyers will be more interested in purchasing the vehicle if it comes with an existing drivetrain warranty.
A regular or extended drivetrain warranty is an essential part of car ownership. It will provide coverage for one of the most important parts of your car systems, and knowing that you won’t have to deal with the expenses in case of a breakdown can give you peace of mind and enable you to continue having a good driving experience.
At FIXD, our mission is to make car ownership as simple, easy, and affordable as possible. Our research team utilizes the latest automotive data and insights to create tools and resources that help drivers get peace of mind and save money over the life of their car.
