What does the Volkswagen warranty cover? (2023)

Apr 14, 2024

Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team writer and has written for numerous automotive news sites and marketing firms across the U.S., U.K., and Australia, specializing in auto finance and car care topics. Daniel is a MarketWatch Guides team authority on auto insurance, loans, warranty options, auto services and more.

Rashawn Mitchner is a MarketWatch Guides team editor with over 10 years of experience covering personal finance, loans, insurance and warranty topics.

The Volkswagen warranty for new vehicles covers most components that stop working due to defects or faulty workmanship. This manufacturer’s warranty provides extensive protection for your Volkswagen, but it doesn’t last for long.

We at the MarketWatch Guides Team researched the Volkswagen warranty to find out what it covers. We also reviewed the best extended car warranty companies, so we can recommend providers to turn to when your Volkswagen warranty expires.

The Volkswagen warranty for new vehicles covers most components that stop working due to defects or faulty workmanship. This manufacturer’s warranty provides extensive protection for your Volkswagen, but it doesn’t last for long.

We at the MarketWatch Guides Team researched the Volkswagen warranty to find out what it covers. We also reviewed the best extended car warranty companies, so we can recommend providers to turn to when your Volkswagen warranty expires.

The MarketWatch Guides Team is committed to providing reliable information to help you make the best possible decision about a warranty for your vehicle. Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. After 500 hours of research, the end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Learn more about our methodology.

The Volkswagen new-vehicle limited warranty lasts 4 years/50,000 miles, which puts it slightly above the industry average. The types of protection included with the Volkswagen warranty are listed below.

The length of your Volkswagen warranty may vary depending on your car’s model year. Look your VW warranty up to learn how long your powertrain and bumper-to-bumper coverage will last.

The average factory warranty lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles, so the Volkswagen warranty is respectable. If you’re looking for the longest protection possible for peace of mind, consider alternative makes, such as Hyundai, Genesis, Kia and Mitsubishi.

Read on to learn about each piece of the Volkswagen warranty and how it protects your new vehicle in the event of a mechanical breakdown.

You can transfer your Volkswagen warranty to a second owner as long as your car is still within the coverage period. Reach out to Volkswagen to find out which restrictions may apply.

While each new car from Volkswagen comes with a similar warranty plan, details may vary. Don’t expect the same Jetta or Passat coverage to apply to a Tiguan or Atlas, for example.

The Volkswagen warranty covers quite a few vehicle components, but there are exceptions. Here’s what’s not protected under the company’s warranty:

Each new Volkswagen warranty includes 3 years/36,000 miles of complimentary roadside assistance, which is near the norm for all automakers. Through this program, you’ll receive towing services, battery jump-starts, flat-tire services, lockout assistance, fuel delivery services and trip interruption benefits.

If you’re in the market for a certified pre-owned (CPO) Volkswagen, you should look into the company’s used car warranty plans before making a purchase. Most CPO Volkswagens come with a 2-year/24,000-mile comprehensive limited warranty that protects the car’s most critical components. CPO Volkswagens from the 2018 and 2019 model years come with the same coverage for 1 year/12,000 miles.

The Volkswagen warranty for CPO vehicles comes with two years of 24-hour roadside assistance.

Your Volkswagen may still be under the manufacturer’s warranty even if you purchased it from an individual rather than a VW dealership. If you’re unsure of your Volkswagen’s warranty status, reach out to the company so it can look the information up using the car’s vehicle identification number (VIN).

The Volkswagen warranty ends after 4 years/50,000 miles, but you can get long-term coverage by purchasing an extended warranty from either the manufacturer or a third-party provider. Not all cars will need extended protection, though, so consider the reliability of Volkswagen models.

Data from the J.D. Power 2022 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠ shows Volkswagen drivers face an average of 217 issues per 100 VW vehicles sold. This ranks the company as the 21st-most reliable automaker out of 32 that were researched. Our team reached out to Volkswagen for comment on its poor dependability results but did not receive a response.

RepairPal found significantly less concerning results, naming Volkswagen an above-average brand for reliability. The site ranks the automaker as the 12th-most dependable out of 32 car brands. Getting an extended Volkswagen warranty might still be a good move, however, due to the manufacturer’s mixed ratings. Also, Volkswagens have an average annual maintenance and repair cost of $676, which is about 4% above the industry average.

There are three main extended warranty options through the Volkswagen Drive Easy program: Platinum, Gold and Powertrain. They come with up to 10 years/120,000 miles of vehicle service protection, and the deductible can be $0, $100 or $250 depending on your preference. Each plan requires covered repairs to be performed by a Volkswagen dealer.

Platinum coverage

Gold coverage

Powertrain coverage

All three of these extended Volkswagen warranty plans include complimentary roadside assistance with battery jump-starts, flat-tire services, fuel delivery and lockout assistance.

To determine which extended protection plan best suits your needs, weigh the pros and cons of coverage from Volkswagen and third-party extended warranty providers. Independent companies tend to offer similar services at far more reasonable rates, so they’re worth a look.

The most reputable extended car warranty companies usually offer cost-effective protection plans with extensive coverage. Below, you’ll find some benefits of getting an extended warranty from an independent provider rather than straight from Volkswagen.

To find the best and cheapest extended Volkswagen warranty, consider choices from both the automaker and independent providers. Doing so will help you find out which extended warranty plans cover your financial needs and repair requirements.

The Volkswagen warranty lasts for 4 years/50,000 miles and covers most vehicle components, with only a small list of exclusions.

The Volkswagen warranty covers most parts of your vehicle, except for wear-and-tear pieces, glass, tires, the bumper and upholstery. The warranty excludes damages caused by car accidents or environmental conditions.

Volkswagen offers Platinum, Gold and Powertrain extended warranty coverage options for up to 10 years/120,000 miles. Extended warranties from third-party providers will generally cover your vehicle for a longer period at a lower cost.

Your Volkswagen warranty will be voided by improper maintenance or vehicle modifications that cause issues with your car. While the warranty protects your vehicle against defective components or workmanship flaws, it won’t cover damage caused by owners.

According to RepairPal, maintenance and repairs on Volkswagens cost an average of $676 per year. That’s slightly higher than the industry average of $652 per year and above what drivers typically spend for similar models from Toyota, Chevrolet and Hyundai.

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Because consumers rely on us to provide objective and accurate information, we created a comprehensive rating system to formulate our rankings of the best extended car warranty companies. We collected data on dozens of auto warranty providers to grade the companies on a wide range of ranking factors. The end result was an overall rating for each provider, with the companies that scored the most points topping the list.

Here are the factors our ratings take into account:

Our credentials:

*Data accurate at time of publication.