The best car warranties in Australia

Australia is the most competitive vehicle market on the planet, with more than 70 brands battling for just over a million annual sales - and there are a dozen new brands on their way from China in the next 18 months, too.

So what are existing and established brands doing to try and retain their customers, or draw in new ones?

In many cases they're trying to make their cars seem failsafe with extraordinarily long warranty plans.

A new car warranty covers the vehicle itself against defects and major faults, and there are sub clauses in warranty paperwork that cover components like the 12-volt battery, wiper blades, tyres, brakes, wear-and-tear items, and in some cases even the multimedia screens.

What are the longest car warranty plans in Australia?

MG Australia has taken the game up a notch with an unprecedented 10-year, 250,000km warranty for private customers. In customers' minds, that means they're essentially getting a new car that has factory backing, with a decade and a quarter-million kays of trouble-free motoring assured.

And perhaps the most impressive element of the MG warranty is the fact that it also includes the high-voltage battery pack for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully-electric models in the line-up.

Most other companies offer a maximum eight-year/160,000km warranty for their battery systems.

There is a stipulation in the scripting of that warranty: commercial users - including those who buy an MG for rideshare purposes or fleet - get a seven-year/160,000km warranty plan.

If you plan to buy any new car for work purposes, be sure to check that - it is a common clause in many warranties.

MG Motor Australia's chief commercial officer, Giles Belcher, said building confidence in a brand is front of mind for buyers, and a big warranty makes a big difference.

"If you're looking for value and peace of mind from a new car purchase, the length and quality of the factory warranty should be as important as the horsepower. We think that our new 10-year warranty for EV, PHEV, Hybrid and petrol range is the best and strongest in market."

There are other lengthy warranty offers, such as Mitsubishi's conditional 10-year plan (more details below), and a number of marques have a seven-year warranty cover, including SsangYong, GWM Haval and LDV (up to 200,000km for non-EV models) all part of the mix.

The first brand in Australia to offer a seven-year warranty was Kia, which maintains that level of cover with unlimited-kilometre cover for private owners. And there's only one European brand with a seven-year warranty - Skoda.

But if you're well-heeled enough to be in the market for a Ferrari, you can purchase additional warranty cover on an annual basis, out to a maximum of 15 years.

Other brands will occasionally offer promotional warranty cover for some models that are in runout or have excess stock available. An example of this is Honda's HR-V, which has seen a promotional eight-year warranty and eight years of roadside assistance as part of a clearance sale.

Electrified vehicle warranty considerations

Not all EV warranties are created equal. Read the warranty paperwork or ask the dealership if you aren't sure about anything regarding the high-voltage battery cover for your hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car.

For instance, Nissan Australia publicly states that its warranty has an incorporated "State of Health guarantee", which says that over an eight-year or 160,000km period, the lithium-ion battery pack will still maintain "9 bars out of 12", or 75% total charging capacity, as is illustrated on the car's interior display.

Tesla also states "70% battery retention" warranty cover for the Model 3 and Model Y.

Some brands don't openly state their "state of health" guarantee in writing, so be sure to have it documented for any future issues. And despite the fact you can easily get the info at a glance on your smartphone, car brands don't showcase the "state of health" of their vehicle battery packs - Nissan is still the only brand to actually show owners how much charging capacity is remaining in the battery.

What about servicing?

Brands want you to stay loyal to them, and they want you to service your vehicle with their network, too.

From their perspective it will ensure a level of clarity for any incidental repair work that may come up, as genuine parts will have been used by in-house repairers; private mechanics and workshops may use cheaper or second-hand parts that may affect the warranty cover.

While it's hardly going to be a thrilling read, you should make sure you go through your warranty paperwork to see what is included, what is covered, what isn't covered, and whether you need to maintain your vehicle with the brand's inhouse servicing division.

A brand that insists upon its own maintenance to grant its customer the maximum amount of warranty cover is Mitsubishi.

The Japanese brand might market the fact it has a 10-year/200,000km warranty in bold, and loudly, at every given opportunity - but you must service your car with the brand's workshops in order to get that level of cover. Otherwise, you're dealt a five-year/100,000km warranty instead.

Why servicing matters when it comes to warranties

Almost all brands have capped-price servicing plans. In essence these plans are designed to help you know what you'll have to pay for basic maintenance over a period of time.

Capped-price programs typically span from three to seven years, but some go all the way out to 14 years - or even the entire life of the vehicle!

Hyundai offers Lifetime capped-price servicing, which assures that if customers keep coming back, they'll know what they need to budget for annual maintenance.

Service intervals depend on the vehicle - some are as short as six-months, others span out to two years between checkups.

There's not only the 'pay as you go' option when it comes to price-capped servicing - there's also the option from many brands to prepay your maintenance and save hundreds, or thousands, in the process.

Some luxury brands have moved away from capped-price to only offer prepaid, as it helps bundle your costs into a smoother payment plan.

The benefits of prepaying are that you don't need to budget for your car's ongoing maintenance, and it also mitigates the potential for bill shock when you get a service done.

You can roll the cost of ownership into your repayments, and that way you get the pleasant experience of collecting your car - which will have been serviced, washed and vacuumed - and drive off without getting your card out!

What if I sell my car?

Transferability of the warranty cover is a key selling point for many customers, because it could mean your vehicle is worth more on the secondhand market.

There is a big draw for a preowned-vehicle buyer to be able to buy a car that isn't as expensive as a new model and yet still has warranty cover included. EG: you could buy a five-year-old Kia and still be comfortable in the knowledge that there's still two years' cover left, should anything go wrong.

Prepaid service plans can also be passed on to the next owner in most instances, but make sure you read the fine print and ask at the dealership if you're not sure.

Australia's top 20 brands - and their warranty cover

More than halfway through 2024, here are the different levels of cover on offer from the best-selling vehicle brands in Australia, including warranty length, EV component warranty duration and servicing options.

The numbers below are for private buyer considerations only - commercial buyers may have different levels of cover offered.

Also note, the warranty terms below are for 'whichever occurs first'.

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