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New Toyota vehicles come with a 3-year/36,00-mile factory limited warranty and a 5-year/60,00-mile manufacturer powertrain warranty.
- Understand what’s included in a Toyota warranty.
- While Toyotas are reliable cars, they have their fair share of issues, many of which cost thousands of dollars to repair.
- An extended warranty provides peace of mind for potential replacement and repair costs down the line.
- Read our detailed comparison of purchasing an extended warranty from Toyota versus purchasing from a third-party company.
While Toyota’s vehicles are consistently ranked among the most reliable, no car is immune from the eventual need for repairs. Whether you’re considering a new Toyota or already own one, it’s a good idea to understand what’s covered by the Toyota factory warranty, what isn’t, how long it lasts, and the extended warranty options available to you once your original coverage expires.
In this guide, we’ll explain everything you should know, as well as the benefits of extended protection from one of the best extended car warranty companies.
Toyota Factory Warranty
Toyotas New Vehicle Limited warranty prevents you from paying out of pocket for repairing or replacing defective parts or workmanship. The Toyota factory warranty begins on the vehicle’s in-service date. There are several different Toyota factory warranties that come with the purchase of a new or used Toyota vehicle. Below we will break down the different levels of coverage and plans.
Toyota Warranty Coverage
The Toyota warranty for all new cars can be broken down into four types of coverage: Basic Coverage, Powertrain Coverage, Restraint Systems Warranty, and Corrosion Perforation. In addition to the basic coverage, Toyota also offers tire and wheel warranties, a maintenance planed called ToyotaCare, hybrid warranties, and various types of certified pre-owned warranties. Below we will discuss each of these Toyota factory warranties in more detail.
| Toyota Warranty | Coverage Length |
|---|---|
| Basic Coverage | 3 years/36,000 miles |
| Powertrain Coverage | 5 years/60,000 miles |
Toyota Basic Warranty
Basic Toyota Warranty Coverage includes repairs and adjustments related to defects in materials or workmanship, excluding normal wear and maintenance items. Coverage lasts for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Toyota Powertrain Warranty
This covers the engine, transmission/transaxle, and front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive systems, as well as related components. Coverage lasts for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
ToyotaCare
All new Toyota vehicles come with ToyotaCare, the company’s maintenance plan. This plan covers all manufacturer-recommended factory-scheduled services for two years or 25,000 miles. ToyotaCare also includes roadside assistance for two years with unlimited miles.
- Toyota Airbag And Seatbelt Warranty: This covers repairs for any defects in seatbelts or airbag systems for 60 months or 60,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
- Toyota Rust Warranty: This “rust-through” coverage is for the perforation of sheet metal and lasts for 60 months, regardless of mileage.
- Toyota Emissions Warranty: Your Toyota may be eligible for this coverage depending on where you live, as coverage varies under federal and California regulations. If an EPA-approved vehicle emissions inspection and maintenance program is enforced in your area, your vehicle is eligible to receive repairs if it fails to meet applicable standards. Such failures may result in a penalty to you, such as a fine or denial of the right to use your vehicle. Coverage lasts 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
The aforementioned coverage comes with every new car from the Toyota dealer. However, the company also offers special coverage packages for hybrid cars and certified used cars.
Toyota Tire Warranty
The Toyota tire warranty is available for new, certified, used, and used Toyotas at the time of purchase or lease. There are two levels of coverage, Gold and Platinum, with the option to add or purchase separately the Key Replacement Protection plan. These plans will replace or repair your tire if it is damaged by eligible road hazards such as nails, broken glass, tree limbs, or potholes and replace your keys if lost, stolen, or damaged.
Toyota Hybrid Warranty
If your new car is a Toyota Hybrid, you’ll receive Hybrid-Related Component Coverage in addition to the coverage listed above. More than just a hybrid battery warranty, this plan also covers the battery control module, hybrid control module, and inverter with converter for eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Toyota Certified Warranty
If you purchased a Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV), it’s covered by the TCUV Warranty. This warranty is also known as a certified pre-owned warranty. This warranty is essentially an extension of the original factory warranty and includes:
Toyota Comprehensive Warranty
This covers repairs and adjustments related to defects in materials or workmanship, excluding wear and tear and maintenance items. Coverage begins from the date of TCUV purchase and lasts for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
Toyota Certified Limited Powertrain Warranty
This covers most major engine and transmission components, including the engine, transmission, axle assembly components, and hybrid components. Coverage begins from the original date of first use when purchased as new and lasts seven years or 100,00 miles, whichever occurs first.
Toyota Warranty Roadside Assistance
This covers flat tires, lockout service, jump starts, towing, and fuel delivery, and begins when the used vehicle is purchased. Coverage is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Keep in mind warranties can vary marginally by car model and purchase location. The best way to determine your Toyota’s exact coverage is to refer to the car’s warranty and maintenance guide or to contact the dealership.
Toyota Warranty Transfer
Drivers can transfer their Toyota warranty as long as the model is eligible, the vehicle is less than 2 years old, and the mileage does not exceed 25,000 miles.
What’s Not Covered By My Toyota Warranty?
While a new car’s factory warranty is sometimes referred to as “bumper-to-bumper” or a “full warranty,” this language, which indicates comprehensive coverage, can be misleading.
In addition to the time and mileage coverage caps listed above, the Toyota factory warranty excludes regular maintenance items, and damage or failures resulting directly or indirectly from a long list of incidents.
To help you understand the potential costs incurred from the failure or breakdown of what’s not covered, here’s an overview by type of what’s not included in Toyota factory warranties:
- Tires: Tires are covered by a separate warranty provided by the tire manufacturer.
- Normal Wear and Tear: Noise, vibration, cosmetic conditions, and other deteriorations caused by normal wear and tear are not covered.
- Normal Maintenance Services: Your warranty won’t include engine tune-ups, replacement of fluids and filters, lubrication, cleaning and polishing, replacement of spark plugs and fuses, and replacement of worn wiper blades, brake pads, and clutch linings.
- Accessories: Toyota accessories purchased at the time of the new vehicle purchase are covered under a different warranty. The Toyota Accessory Warranty is in effect for 36 months or 36,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Damage or Failures Resulting from Certain Incidents: Fire, accidents, theft, abuse, negligence, misuse (racing), improper repairs, alteration or tampering, lack of improper maintenance, installation of non-Genuine Toyota Parts, airborne chemicals, tree sap, road debris, lightning and other environmental conditions, and water contamination are all not covered under warranty.
Toyota Extended Warranty
If you’d rather not leave too much to chance after your Toyota warranty expires, consider purchasing an extended car warranty. Whether you’re someone who drives a car for a long time or likes to sell it after a few years, this type of service contract helps mitigate costs from unexpected repairs that occur after the standard coverage period.
If you’re interested in an extended auto warranty for your Toyota, quite a few options and contracts are available. A Toyota extended warranty can be purchased from the manufacturer in the form of a Vehicle Service Agreement (VSA).
Here are a few details about Toyota’s VSA:
- 24/7 roadside assistance.
- Access to a nationwide service network.
- Reimbursements for vehicle rentals, meals, and lodging
- Terms range from three to eight years and 50,000 to 125,000 miles.
- Offered in three levels of protection: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain.
- Transferable (one-time) if you sell the vehicle & cancellation options.
While these plans offer protection for your car, they don’t cover everything. The batteries, rotors and drums, filters, brake linings, bumpers, and many other parts are not covered.
Also consider how Toyota extended warranties from the dealer tend to be more expensive than third-party options. You may also feel restricted, considering there’s little customization available. For example, a licensed dealership must be visited for repairs and, in some cases, the warranty will be rolled into your monthly car payment, which means you’re actually paying interest on the warranty.
Is A Toyota Extended Warranty Worth it?
One of the best ways to determine whether extended warranties are worth the cost is to take a look at a car’s reliability rankings, common issues, and associated repair costs. With certain Toyota models prone to defects and reliability issues, an extended warranty can offer security. It’s an investment in limiting financial risk and can save you money on costly parts, labor, and repairs down the line.
Toyota Warranty Check
Before purchasing an extended warranty for your vehicle, it is vital to consider any existing warranty coverage your vehicle may still have. To check if your Toyota is still under warranty, you can enter the vehicle identification number (VIN) on Toyota’s website.
Are Toyotas Reliable?
Toyota has become a household name. Their cars are among the most dependable vehicles available, and the brand is one of the most trusted on the road today.
Consumer Reports, who annually polls its subscribers to determine which cars go the distance without much fuss, consistently ranks Toyota among the most reliable on the market. The survey covers 500,000 vehicles and 300 models spanning the 2000 to 2018 years. While Lexus took the top spot on the list, Toyota claimed five of the top 10 with the Prius c, Prius Prime, Corolla sedan, Prius, and Highlander.
JD Power Toyota
Other industry reports confirm Toyota’s reputation for reliability. The Japanese-based company was given three J.D. Power awards in 2019, including the quality, dependability, and performance awards. These are awarded to the brand who had the fewest problems reported during the first 90 days of ownership; the fewest problems during the last 12 months for three-year old vehicles; and the highest new car owner design and performance ratings after the first 90 days of ownership, respectively.
Toyota Recalls
Toyotas are also known for having a low incidence of recall, but they do happen. While not every recall is dangerous, they can be real hassles. It’s no surprise car models with high recall rates are associated with overall reliability issues. Toyota vehicles are among those with the best record, as the company claims two spots in Consumer Reports’ list of the top 10 cars with the fewest recalls.
Toyota Problems & Repair Costs
Despite Toyota’s generally admirable track record, its vehicles have had their fair share of problems over the years. We looked at RepairPal and CarComplaints.com to show you just a few common repairs:
- Toyota Highlander: Seven model years of the Toyota Highlander have been known to have failing oxygen sensors, costing $846 to $1,687 to replace.
- Toyota Tacoma: The Tacoma was reported to have automatic transmission problems beginning at an average of just 4,000 miles in 2016.
- Toyota RAV4: In 2007, thousands of RAV4 drivers complained about serious engine problems that incurred repair costs between $2,200 to $3,000.
- Toyota Camry: The Camry had issues with the transmission system, oil leaks, and the brakes in 2007, with an average cost of $2,420. More transmission issues were reported in 2018.
- Toyota Prius: The 2010 Prius had issues with oil consumption costing owners roughly $1,620. 2007 and 2016 Prius owners complained of easily cracked windshields and headlight failures, both dangerous in their own right.
While the frequency of widespread problems like these has been on the decline since the early 2000s, it’s hard to say with 100-percent certainty something won’t come up in the years ahead. This laundry list of Toyota problems isn’t meant to be an attack, but rather an honest look at the issues all major brands have from time to time.
Toyota Manufacturer Warranty: Conclusion
In this article, we reviewed Toyota’s factory warranty, ToyotaCare, and third-party warranty companies that offer the best Toyota extended warranty. While Toyota’s are reliable vehicles, the cost of an extended warranty plan is often cheaper than the cost of one major repair. Toyota offers a comprehensive extended warranty, but third-party providers provide more flexibility in terms of coverage and plan costs. We recommend Endurance and CARCHEX for extended warranties for Toyota vehicles.
Recommended Toyota Warranty Providers
We’ve reviewed a variety of third-party extended car warranty companies, and we’ve placed Endurance and CARCHEX is at the top of the list. These companies are one of our highest recommendations for a variety of reasons, ranging from their excellent customer service to the affordable coverage options and added benefits.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance is one of the few extended car warranty providers that is a direct provider, meaning no brokers or middlemen, which is one of the many reasons why we’ve named it the “Best Overall” provider. After much research, we’ve compiled everything you need to know about this company into one, comprehensive Endurance review.
If you live in California, you’ll need to look elsewhere for coverage, as Endurance doesn’t offer protection plans to California residents. But if you live in any other state, Endurance currently offers six comprehensive levels of coverage, each one carefully designed to maximize coverage and value for the customer:
- Supreme plan: Referred to as bumper-to-bumper coverage, it gives maximum breakdown protection for all parts, unless specifically excluded in the plan.
- Superior plan: As the plan with the most stated-component coverage, Superior covers hundreds of specific components, including the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, suspension, cooling system, and more.
- Secure Plus plan: With the shortest waiting period among all plans (30 days and 1,000 miles), this plan is a mid-level warranty with a higher level of coverage compared to the Select Premier plan.
- Select Premier plan: This plan is designed to protect the vital components of high-mileage vehicles, such as the engine, transmission, transfer case, electrical components, and more.
- Secure plan: This powertrain warranty covers components such as the engine, transmission, transfer case, drive axle, and turbocharger – all at a reasonable price.
EnduranceAdvantage™ plan: Unique in the industry, the Advantage plan works as both an extended car warranty and a maintenance contract. Maintenance coverage includes services such as oil changes, engine diagnostic exams, and brake pad replacements.
CARCHEX: Best Reputation
Drivers of new, used, and certified pre-owned Toyotas can benefit from up to 10 years of additional protection with a CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plan. CARCHEX offers five coverage levels, 16 plans, and is accredited through the Better Business Bureau with an A+ rating.
Depending on which plan you choose, a coverage term of anywhere between five to 10 years will be available. CARCHEX representatives make it easy to decide which of the five protection plans are right for you by taking a consultative approach. Here’s what each of the coverage plans offers:
- Titanium: The highest level of coverage and most similar to factory coverage. Plans at this level provide coverage for all components with a very short list of excluded items.
- Platinum: The highest level of stated-component coverage available, covering hundreds of specific components from all major systems.
- Gold: These programs offer comprehensive coverage for all major system components and are usually a good fit for vehicles with more than 60,000 miles.
- Silver: This is a popular choice for vehicles with high mileage and covers more than just your powertrain, with essential coverage for all the major systems.
- Bronze: This is a great choice for basic protection from the most common and expensive repairs to the engine and transmission.
Toyota Factory Warranties: FAQ
Below are some common frequently asked questions about Toyota factory warranties:
Is my Toyota warranty transferable?
Toyota does provide transferable warranties, but where you live, whether the vehicle was purchased new or used, and the year and mileage of the vehicle all play a role in your ability to transfer the warranty to another owner.
According to Toyota’s website, the New Vehicle Limited Warranty is automatically transferred at no cost to subsequent vehicle owners, assuming the vehicle is sold during the warranty period. For example, if a two-year-old Toyota Highlander is sold by the original owner, the new owner could enjoy the basic warranty for another year.
If the vehicle is Toyota-certified used, the used car warranty is also transferable, but the coverage begins from the date of the vehicle’s original purchase date from a Toyota dealership.
Keep in mind Toyota warranties are not transferable in Hawaii, and transfers in certain states, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina, consist of different warranty coverage.
What does an extended car warranty cover?
An extended warranty is a safeguard against expensive, unforeseen repairs. It covers repairs for an agreed-upon period of time and miles, and the coverage varies depending on the provider and the plan you purchase.
What is the standard Toyota warranty?
The standard Toyota warranty is included at no additional cost with the purchase of a new car and, like all car warranties, covers certain mechanical breakdowns.
What is covered by Toyota’s warranty?
The Toyota warranty begins when the vehicle is delivered to the purchaser. It includes basic coverage, powertrain coverage, rust-through coverage and, in some states, emissions coverage.
What is the cost of an extended warranty?
An extended car warranty from the manufacturer generally costs more than $1,000.
Does Toyota offer extended car warranties?
Yes, Toyota offers three levels of protection that can be purchased through a dealership: Platinum, Gold, and Powertrain. However, these options don’t cover everything and can feel limiting to car owners since repairs must be completed at a Toyota dealership.
Should I purchase and extended car warranty through Toyota or a third-party provider?
While the choice is ultimately up to the needs and preferences of the car owner, shoppers may feel more satisfied with the options available through third-party providers. Our recommendation is CARCHEX, a provider that offers highly-customizable plans, flexibility and choice with regard to repair shops, extensive coverage, and added benefits to the driver. You can get a free quote from CARCHEX online or when you call 866-254-0205.
*Average monthly coverage cost is based on the average total price of the Vehicle Protection Plan over a four year coverage period. Actual monthly payments will vary per plan’s payment policy. Individual pricing is subject to change based on the combination of make, model, year, and mileage as well as coverage level and term length.
Our Methodology
Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
- Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
