Learning about your warranty options as a VW driver is important for making sure you have the right kind of coverage for your needs. When you purchase or lease a new Volkswagen or buy a pre-owned Volkswagen that’s still under warranty, it’s important to understand what your coverage is and how you can upgrade your package to protect your investment. Use this guide to help you learn about what a VW warranty is, what it includes, what it excludes, and what your options are for extending your warranty package.
What Is a VW Warranty?
When you purchase a new VW, it comes standard with a new vehicle limited warranty package. This package covers certain repairs or replacements for your vehicle within the first four years or 50,000 miles of ownership. Having this coverage ensures that your vehicle functions as the manufacturer intended throughout your first years of ownership. At standard, the new vehicle limited warranty on a VW includes bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage, and it covers the cost of repairing or replacing certain parts on your VW if they break down due to a manufacturer defect.
What’s Included in a VW Factory Warranty?
There are many benefits included in a VW warranty. Here’s what the factory warranty for these vehicles includes:
- Bumper-to-bumper coverage: Your bumper-to-bumper coverage includes most components of your vehicle, such as your fuel system, steering, braking, electrical components, and safety equipment.
- Powertrain coverage: Powertrain coverage takes care of the essential parts that make your car run. It includes your engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
- Battery coverage: If your battery stops working because of a factory defect, the warranty covers its replacement within the first three years or 36,000 miles of your ownership.
- Parts and accessories coverage: This general category covers other car parts not addressed in another category of the warranty or those excluded from coverage.
- Federal emissions coverage: Federal laws require new vehicles to meet certain emissions standards. The manufacturer covers the cost of repairing or replacing parts of your vehicle’s emission system to ensure its compliance with these laws.
What’s Excluded from a VW Factory Warranty?
The factory warranty of your VW isn’t all-inclusive. Here’s what this level of coverage excludes:
- Damage caused by accidents, vandalism, or theft: Your VW warranty doesn’t cover any expenses you incur through accidents, vandalism, or theft. Often, your insurance policy determines what coverage you’re entitled to in these cases.
- General wear and tear: Parts may wear down over time, meaning you may need to pay to have them replaced or repaired. Your warranty won’t cover these costs unless they’re caused by a factory defect.
- Environmental damages: If your car sustains damage from a natural disaster or another environment-related event, your warranty doesn’t cover the repair costs.
- Routine maintenance: A vehicle’s warranty doesn’t cover the cost of routine maintenance services like tire rotations or oil changes.
- Damages caused by misuse or neglect: As a car owner, you’re responsible for its care and upkeep. The warranty doesn’t cover damage your car may incur through neglect or misuse.
What Roadside Assistance does a VW Warranty Offer?
When you purchase a new VW, you get access to 24-hour roadside assistance. This coverage lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first. Some services you can get with roadside assistance include:
- Battery jump start
- Flat tire services
- Emergency fuel delivery service
- Lock-out assistance
- Extrication and winch services
- Emergency towing
- Trip interruption coverage with an allowance of up to $100 per day for food and lodging if your car needs overnight services
If you upgrade to the extended warranty, you gain additional roadside assistance services like:
- Rental car reimbursement of up to $35 per day for up to 10 days if needed
- Trip interruption coverage of up to $200 per day for up to five days
Are Used VWs Covered Under Warranty?
Most certified pre-owned VWs come with a two-year or 24,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty when you purchase from a dealership. This warranty covers the vehicle’s most essential functions and may also include two years of 24-hour roadside assistance services. If you purchase your VW from another owner instead of the dealership, your coverage may depend on whether the vehicle is still under the original manufacturer’s warranty. You can look up the VW’s vehicle identification number to learn its warranty status.
What Is a VW Extended Warranty?
Some drivers may opt to purchase an extended warranty that covers more services and can extend the length of their package. The manufacturer offers three tiers of warranty through its Volkswagen Drive Easy program. These options kick in once your factory warranty expires, and they last for up to 10 years or 120,000 miles. Buyers have the option of choosing between a $0, $100, or $250 deductible plan. Here’s what you can get at each tier of coverage:
- Powertrain: This is the lowest tier option for extended coverage. It covers the essential parts of your car’s powertrain system, including its engine, transmission, and drive axle.
- Gold: Gold coverage includes everything the powertrain option has and more. It adds coverage for your climate control system, suspension system, electrical components, and fuel parts.
- Platinum: If you choose platinum coverage, you get the maximum warranty available. This is an exclusionary contract, meaning it covers everything not explicitly excluded in the package description.
All of these plans include 24-hour roadside assistance. Be aware that if you want to get an extended warranty, you likely need to select your package near the time you purchase your VW.
Is the Extended Warranty Worth It?
Whether getting an extended warranty is worth it for you depends on what you want to get out of it. While purchasing an extended warranty may cost more than paying out of pocket for repairs over time, it can bring you peace of mind. You can also look for opportunities to save money on your extended warranty, such as by purchasing coverage through a third-party provider.
Knowing what you’re getting from your factory warranty when you purchase a new or pre-owned VW can help you make the most of the services available to you. Additionally, learning about your options for adding an extended warranty to your vehicle allows you to choose the level of coverage that best suits your needs.
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.
