As you’re shopping for a vehicle, you have a lot of things to consider: make, model, year, new or used, features and options you want, and much more. In the midst of all of this, you might not be thinking too much about future expenses for repairs and such, but you should be (at least a little bit) since this can impact what you choose and what you get. When you head to your favourite used Nissan dealership, for example, you’re probably going to check out both new and used vehicles (especially right now when used models are more expensive than ever before).
In addition to all of the other things you’re looking at when comparing vehicles, it’s worth taking a few moments to consider the warranty coverage on these different options. You’ve probably heard plenty of stories of people complaining about a lack of warranty protection on their vehicles and still having to pay for repairs; this often happens because they weren’t paying enough attention when shopping for a car. Today, I’m going to take you through the warranty options on new and used Nissan models to see how they compare and make sure you get the protection on your car that you deserve.
New Nissan Warranty Coverage
We’ll get to your options for warranty coverage when shopping for a used Nissan further down below, but let’s start with what a new Nissan gets you. Whether you’re looking for a new model or not, this is a great place to start for a few reasons that I’ll mention in a moment. Every new Nissan comes with the following warranty protection:
- 5 year/160,000 km of Basic Coverage
- 5 year/160,000 km Powertrain Warranty
- 3 year/60,000 km Corrosion Surface Warranty
- 5 year/Unlimited km Corrosion Perforation Coverage
There are a few other warranties on new models that cover aspects like emission control systems and seat belts, but these are the big ones I wanted to point out. As you can see, the terms on these warranties are all quite fair and generally competitive with what you’ll find on a lot of new vehicles from other brands. What’s particularly noteworthy about these, especially if you’re shopping for a used model, is that they’re all transferable within their terms when a vehicle is transferred to a new owner (such as when bought as used from a dealership).
That means if you buy a pre-owned Nissan that’s only a couple of years old, then it could still have both Basic Coverage and powertrain warranty protection. This is why it’s so important to look at the age and the mileage on a used vehicle – not only to see how much it was used by the previous owner but also to recognize what kind of protection it might have from the manufacturer. One very important thing to note here, however, is that this warranty coverage can be voided if the previous owner failed to follow Nissan’s Service and Maintenance Guide for the vehicle. This is the service schedule they provide; failure might not completely void the warranty, but it can mean coverage is no longer recognized.
You need to make sure you can get documentation on a used Nissan that shows it was properly maintained by the previous owner. If you can’t show that oil changes were performed according to Nissan’s guidelines, then an issue with the powertrain might not be covered by the warranty even within the time and mileage limits. In other words, you’ll have to pay for repairs that would’ve otherwise been covered. This can be tricky, but it’s worth discussing with a dealership to see what records they have for any used model you’re interested in.
Certified Pre-Owned Warranty
Beyond the new-vehicle warranty that’s provided on all Nissan models, there are also options for additional warranty coverage on Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicles from Nissan. Every manufacturer handles the details of their CPO programs a bit differently, so be sure to look at the specific plans for any vehicle you’re interested in. With Nissan, all CPO vehicles have to pass a 169-point vehicle inspection to ensure they’re in fantastic shape. You also get the following a 6-year / 120,000 km Powertrain Warranty.
As I mentioned before, if you’re looking at a CPO model that’s less than three years old and has fewer than 60,000 km on it, then it will have some of its original Basic Coverage warranty still in effect, though probably not a lot of it. One thing that should be noted about the CPO powertrain warranty is that it starts from when the vehicle was originally sold as new. In other words, it essentially extends the original powertrain warranty by one year and 20,000 km – that’s great, but a lot of people don’t realize how it works.
Let’s say you’re looking at a CPO Nissan from last year with 25,000 km on it. Assuming it was properly maintained, it will have up to 2 years and 35,000 km of basic coverage on most of the vehicle, along with up to 5 years and 95,000 km of powertrain warranty protection on it. That’s nearly as good as the powertrain warranty when it was sold as new, which is why a lot of people like the protection that CPO models have to offer. It’s worth pointing out that for all of these warranties, the mileage and duration are “whichever comes first,” so if you drive a lot, then they might not last as long as for someone who puts less than 20,000 km each year on their vehicle.
Other Used Warranty Options
Whether you’re buying a new or used Nissan, you’ll also have options for other warranty protection, specifically one or more choices for an extended warranty or additional coverage. With a CPO model, for example, you can choose a Nissan Security+ Protection plan that gives you additional coverage beyond the powertrain – this can be a particularly good choice if the CPO vehicle is beyond Nissan’s new-vehicle Basic Coverage warranty period. These plans are available in different durations at different costs, so they’re at least worth considering and looking at to see your options.
There are also extended warranties available from third-party companies that your dealership can tell you about if that’s something you’re interested in. I’ve heard plenty of pros and cons for extended warranties, and I suggest doing a fair amount of research into any such warranty before paying extra for it. Find out what’s being offered, look into the company that provides it, and see how well rated they are by others who have bought the coverage. An extended warranty can save you some money in the long run, but not all of them are created equally, so tread carefully in figuring out if one is right for you.
What’s Best for You?
As you can see, the absolute best warranty coverage typically comes with a brand-new Nissan, which is no surprise. Following that, a CPO Nissan is your next-best choice with an excellent powertrain warranty that adds to what was available new without any downside to it. Personally, I wish Nissan would provide a short additional Basic Coverage warranty on their CPO models, but no such luck. Depending on the dealership you choose, you might be able to find additional options for more coverage – either from a third party or even provided free of charge by the dealership, so look at all of your options. The more coverage you get, as long as it’s from a reputable service that actually backs up their coverage, the less you’ll likely pay for repairs in the years you enjoy your Nissan.
