An extended auto warranty is a protection plan you can buy from an automaker or dealership to cover mechanical breakdowns. Third-party providers offer similar coverage in the form of vehicle service contracts. We use these terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
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The Buick extended warranty can cover up to eight years or 100,000 miles and comes in three varieties: Platinum, Silver, or Powertrain Protection.
Crash Course
- After vehicle purchase, the Buick Protection Plan is available and can cover up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
- The Platinum Protection Plan is similar to Buick’s factory warranty, Silver is a mid-level plan, and Powertrain covers the basics.
- It’s a good idea to compare Buick’s extended warranty with other third-party options on the market.
A Buick extended warranty can be an effective way to save money on emergency repairs as your car ages out of the factory warranty. In this review, we’ll discuss Buick’s extended warranty plans in depth so you can make an informed decision on whether additional coverage fits your needs. We’ll take a look at coverage options, cost, advantages, disadvantages, and more.
It’s also helpful to consider the variety of Buick warranty options you have from third-party providers. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies to make it easier for drivers to find the right plans. Take a look at a few of our recommended providers above and compare free, personalized quotes.
Buick Extended Warranty Overview
Buick is a member of the General Motors (GM) family of brands, along with Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC. Since GM is their shared manufacturer, each of these brands have similar extended warranty plans. There are three main Buick extended warranty options:
- Platinum Protection Plan
- Silver Protection Plan
- Powertrain Protection Plan
All of these options can cover up to eight years or 100,000 miles from the in-service date. You can purchase a plan up until your vehicle is eight years old or has 100,000 miles on the odometer, as well. This is different from many other dealership extended warranties which require you to make a purchase before the factory warranty expires.
Buick Extended Warranty Plans
Below is a quick comparison between the three types of Buick extended warranty plans. After this, we’ll take a look at each plan in detail.
Component | Platinum | Silver | Powertrain |
---|---|---|---|
Engine | x | x | x |
Transmission | x | x | x |
Drive axles | x | x | x |
Hybrid/electric | x | x | x |
Front suspension | x | x | |
Rear suspension | x | x | |
Climate control | x | x | |
Electrical | x | x | |
Steering | x | x | |
Brakes | x | x | |
High tech | x | ||
Audio | x | ||
Navigation | x |
Buick Platinum Protection Plan
The Platinum Protection Plan is the highest level of Buick extended warranty coverage. The plan is a bumper-to-bumper warranty, which means it covers any breakdown except for a list of exclusions. It covers repairs by factory-trained technicians at Buick and other GM brand dealers, but it’s administered by Safe-Guard Products International, a third-party company.
The Platinum Protection Plan is an exclusionary warranty that covers up to 1,500 parts and is similar to Buick’s bumper-to-bumper warranty. However, it doesn’t cover quite as many parts as the original warranty since it comes with a longer list of exclusions.
Here’s a non-exhaustive list of the Platinum Plan’s covered parts and systems:
- Brakes
- Engine
- Steering
- Electrical
- Drive axle
- Transmission
- Transfer case
- Air conditioning
- Seals and gaskets
- Enhanced electrical
- Turbocharger/supercharger
Buick Silver Protection Plan
The Silver Protection Plan covers many major systems of the vehicle. It’s a good option if you want to save some money but still cover things like the air conditioning, steering, brakes, and cooling system. Be aware that it doesn’t cover brake pads but the mechanical components of the brakes instead. Brake pads are expected to wear out, so only prepaid maintenance plans cover those types of parts.
Buick Powertrain Protection Plan
The last extended service plan is a powertrain warranty. This means the warranty covers the parts that power your car, namely the engine, transmission, drive axles, and hybrid drive components. An engine failure or transmission repair can be very expensive to deal with, so the Powertrain Protection Plan is a good safety net for rare but costly repairs.
Buick Roadside Assistance and Other Benefits
The Buick Platinum Plan comes with a few extra benefits:
- Rental car coverage: Covers up to $40 per day for 10 days for a covered breakdown
- Trip interruption reimbursement: Covers up to $200 per day for five days for food and lodging if you break down over 100 miles from home
- 24-hour roadside assistance and towing services: Covers towing, battery service, flat tire assistance, fuel and fluid delivery, and lockout assistance
The Buick Protection Plans are transferable for a $50 fee. There are multiple deductible options, so you can choose one that works for you.
The Buick Protection Plan is also cancellable for a full refund within 30 days if you haven’t used the coverage. After that, you can get a prorated refund.
Buick Extended Warranty Exclusions
We mentioned that the Platinum Protection Plan doesn’t cover quite as many parts as the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. Here are a few example exclusions to covered repairs:
- Exterior trim
- Cosmetic items
- Catalytic converter
- Emission vapor sensors
- All exhaust components
- Batteries and battery cables
- Regular maintenance services
- Standard transmission clutch assembly
- Damage from misuse or improper maintenance
Buick Extended Warranty Cost
How much is a Buick extended warranty? It’s an important question. A worthwhile extended auto warranty should cost less than out-of-pocket repairs. Buick used to offer instant quotes for its protection plans, but that’s not the case at this time. You’ll have to reach out to a dealer to get a price.
Buick Extended Warranty Quotes
Here’s a Platinum Protection Plan quote for a 2017 Buick Lacrosse with between 30,000 and 60,000 miles on the odometer:
Platinum Protection Plan Term | Pay-in-Full Price | Monthly Price |
---|---|---|
2 years/24,000 miles | $2,294.25 | $165.42 for 14 months with a down payment of $99.12 |
3 years/36,000 miles | $3,062.80 | $148.80 for 21 months with a down payment of $99.20 |
4 years/48,000 miles | $3,602.40 | $175.85 for 21 months with a down payment of $99.15 |
5 years/60,000 miles | $3,782.90 | $184.90 for 21 months with a down payment of $99.10 |
These prices are within the average range for the industry, though you can probably find better prices from other providers. Based on our data, the average extended car warranty costs $2,601 for between three and seven years of coverage.
Is a Buick Extended Warranty Worth It?
It’s important to consider the pros and cons of extended car warranties to see if they are worth it for your situation. An extended warranty may be worth the money if you aren’t able to pay for expensive repairs out of pocket, or if you want to keep your auto budget more constant.
One of the main benefits of an extended car warranty is peace of mind. You may not use the warranty to its full extent, but it can save you from footing a $1,000 emergency repair and dealing with the related stress.
Buick Reliability
Buick vehicles offer average reliability. A Buick isn’t as dependable as a Honda or Toyota, but it’s more reliable than many other American and European brands. RepairPal, a cost estimation site, gives Buick a star rating of 3.5 out of 5.0 stars, ranking the manufacturer 13th out of 32 car brands.
Buick Repair Costs
Buick owners pay about $608 per year for maintenance and repairs, which is just under the industry average of $652. Below are a few commonly reported Buick repairs (via RepairPal).
Buick Model | Repair or Replacement | Estimated Repair Costs |
---|---|---|
Buick LaCrosse | Door lock actuator replacement | $190 to $228 |
Buick Lucerne | Head gasket replacement | $1,598 to $1,759 |
Buick Lucerne | Radiator replacement | $1,235 to $1,335 |
Buick Rainier | Fuel pump replacement | $1,108 to $1,427 |
However, vehicles are more prone to repairs as they age. According to AAA, vehicles 10 years or older are twice as likely to sustain a mechanical breakdown. While 10 years may seem like a long time to own a car, car ownership has lengthened in the past few years. In a 2021 release, Information Handling Services (IHS) Markit found the average age of consumer vehicles is 12.1 years.
Buick Factory Warranty
Your existing coverage can impact an extended car warranty’s cost effectiveness. You don’t want to pay for extra coverage you already have.
For new vehicles from 2020 and later, the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for three years or 36,000 miles, and the powertrain warranty lasts for five years or 60,000 miles. For 2018 and 2019 vehicles, bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage last for four years or 50,000 miles and six years or 70,000 miles, respectively.
Buick Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Buick also has a certified pre-owned (CPO) program. These vehicles come with a longer powertrain warranty of six years or 100,000 miles. CPO Buicks also come with an extra 12 months or 12,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage. This additional coverage begins from the CPO’s sale, or is added on to the original bumper-to-bumper limited warranty if it is still in effect.
Buick Extended Warranty Review
There are a few advantages to Buick’s extended warranty. Some manufacturers only offer one plan, but Buick lets you choose between three options. However, the Platinum Plan’s maximum coverage length of 100,000 miles is shorter than many other factory extended warranties.
With the Buick extended warranty, you have to go to a GM dealership for repairs, but this does include other branded dealerships in the GM family. However, you can’t pick your favorite mechanic down the road and expect repairs to be covered under warranty. The Platinum Plan does offer some repair flexibility. If a driver can’t access a GM dealership, repairs can be performed at a licensed repair shop with prior authorization.
Buick vs. Aftermarket Extended Warranty
If you want more repair facility options, or want to cover your car beyond 100,000 miles, it may be a good idea to consider reputable third-party vehicle service contracts. Third-party companies like Endurance, CarShield, and CARCHEX can match Buick’s coverage and added benefits, but often for a cheaper price.
Remember, once your vehicle has more than 100,000 miles, it isn’t eligible for a Buick Protection Plan. You can get a wide range of plans from third-party providers well beyond these limitations. Some providers can even cover up to 250,000 miles.
Before you sign on an extended warranty from the Buick dealership, compare quotes from multiple providers to see what’s available for your Buick. Click below to receive free quotes from our top picks.
Buick Extended Warranty: Conclusion
To sum up, Buick offers the Platinum, Silver, and Powertrain Protection Plans that last up to eight years or 100,000 miles. You also have the option to get longer or more varied coverage from third-party companies. We recommend comparing multiple options.
Buick Protection Plan: FAQ
Below are some frequently asked questions about Buick extended warranties.
Does Buick sell extended warranties?
Yes, Buick sells the Platinum, Silver, or Powertrain Protection Plans from any dealer. These plans all go up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
Is it worth getting an extended warranty from the dealer?
In general, auto dealers have higher prices for warranties than third-party warranty providers. We recommend comparing multiple options when shopping for a warranty.
How much is the GM extended warranty?
What you pay for a GM extended warranty depends on your vehicle and the warranty term, but you can expect to pay between $2,000 and $4,000.
What is the Platinum Plan for Buick?
The Platinum Protection Plan for Buick covers almost any mechanical breakdown except for a list of exclusions. It can last up to eight years or 100,000 miles.
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.