What Is a Lifetime Powertrain Warranty?

As any car owner can attest to, it’s never fun when a major component of your vehicle breaks down. One day you start to notice a little problem with your vehicle but think nothing of it. Then not long after, your car isn’t working right at all. Suddenly you’re stuck on the side of the road waiting for a tow truck, knowing that some major car expenses are coming up in your immediate future.

While proper vehicle maintenance can help reduce the likelihood of something breaking down, it’s impossible to prevent problems entirely. This is especially true on older vehicles that have experienced more wear and tear. Therefore, the best thing you can do is protect yourself with a powertrain warranty.

A powertrain warranty provides protection to your vehicle’s engine and drivetrain (which includes the transmission). If something breaks down within this system, the repair costs are covered. Some powertrain warranties have a time or mile limit. For example, the warranty may last for 10 years or 10,000 miles, whichever comes first.

With a lifetime powertrain warranty, however, you’re protected as long as you own the vehicle. Having a vehicle with a lifetime powertrain warranty can therefore give you some peace of mind when driving an older vehicle, knowing that if your car ends up needing some major repairs within the powertrain, you won’t have to pay for them unexpectedly.

A car’s powertrain system consists of several components. Most powertrain warranties will typically cover the following areas:

The engine is one of two major parts of the powertrain. A powertrain warranty typically covers all aspects of the car’s engine, including the crankshaft, pistons, gears, timing belts, exhaust valves, and oil pump. Engine repair is one of the more expensive repairs that car owners typically have to deal with, so look to get this covered by a powertrain warranty whenever you can.

The other major component is the car’s transmission. The transmission enables your car to operate in different gears, making it efficient at different speeds. When reading over your powertrain warranty, see which parts of the transmission it covers. Some will cover all aspects of the transmission, while some may not cover elements such as electrical items. Knowing exactly what your powertrain warranty covers can help you avoid unexpected surprises when it comes time to pay the repair bill.

Front- and rear-wheel-drive systems include things such as the axle shafts and the axle housing. Most powertrain warranties cover this entire system, including all the internal parts. However, it’s again important to read the fine print of your particular powertrain warranty to ensure that these things are covered. While some repairs to the front- and rear-wheel-drive systems are not that expensive, others can be quite costly, so the best bet is complete coverage.

There are many different small parts that make up the powertrain system. If something goes wrong with one of them, it may result in a leak or some performance issues. These repairs are not typically too expensive, but you’ll still want to have them covered.

Depending on your specific powertrain warranty, some things may not be covered. The warranty may also be void under some circumstances. For example, some powertrain warranties don’t cover the vehicle if you’ve been in an accident or collision. In addition, some warranties stipulate that you must take proper care of the system. Improper or sufficient maintenance, as outlined by the contract, may result in a loss of coverage by the warranty.

Finally, the warranty may not come into effect if you make any alterations to the vehicle that are not advised by the manufacturer. For example, if you were to make changes to your vehicle’s engine or transmission system, that may void the warranty. It’s therefore important to read your powertrain warranty before making any upgrades in this area.

The major benefit of a lifetime powertrain warranty is clear. If an element of your powertrain, which houses major components of your vehicle, breaks down, you won’t have to worry about paying high repair costs just to get your vehicle back on the road. Having your car break down is inconvenient enough without having to worry about how you’ll pay for it.

Having a lifetime powertrain warranty can also help when it comes time to sell your car. If you have a lifetime warranty, this means it continues even after you sell it. You can then use the fact that your vehicle has this warranty to get more money for your vehicle. Potential buyers will like the fact that they are protected against major repairs when buying a used car and are therefore more likely to pay a little extra.

The next time you’re shopping for a vehicle, look for one that offers a lifetime powertrain warranty. This will protect you for as long as you own the vehicle and can help to save you thousands of dollars down the road.

To find a new vehicle with a lifetime powertrain warranty, please visit Exclusive Motorcars in Maryland. We are the only provider of lifetime powertrain warranties in the Baltimore metro area. We also offer a seven-day exchange program, so if you’re not completely satisfied with your vehicle, you can bring it back and we’ll help you find a new one.

Our goal is to ensure that you’re happy with your purchase from the first day you buy it until your last day of ownership. We do this through our combination of expert sales staff, trained service technicians, wide selection of vehicles, and our lifetime powertrain warranty. To get started, view our available inventory online today, or call Exclusive Motorcars anytime. We’re always available to answer any questions you may have or provide you with more information on our lifetime powertrain warranty program.