Manufacturer Car Warranty in India: Coverage, Duration and Claim Process

At a glance

What the standard warranty covers

A new car's manufacturer warranty covers repair or replacement of parts that fail due to manufacturing defects — engine, transmission, electrical systems and major mechanical components. Coverage generally runs 2–3 years from the date of purchase, with either a fixed kilometre cap or, increasingly, unlimited kilometres on some models and brands.

What voids or limits the warranty

• Servicing at a non-authorised garage instead of the manufacturer's service network.
• Using non-genuine or non-approved spare parts and accessories.
• Modifications to the engine, suspension, exhaust or electronics.
• Damage from accidents, misuse, flooding or racing.
• Missing scheduled service intervals specified in the owner's manual.

Extended and paid warranty options

Beyond the standard cover, many manufacturers sell optional paid extensions at the time of purchase or shortly after — some brands now offer packages stretching to 5, 7 or even 10 years on particular models. These are separate from third-party "extended warranty" products sold by dealers or independent providers, and are usually cheaper and more comprehensively backed since they're issued directly by the manufacturer.

EV and hybrid battery warranty

Electric vehicles carry a distinct warranty for the battery pack and high-voltage components, separate from the general vehicle warranty. Industry-typical cover is around 8 years or roughly 160,000 km, guaranteeing the battery won't degrade below a specified capacity threshold within that window — check the specific figure for your model, as it varies by manufacturer.

How to file a warranty claim

1. Book the car in at an authorised service centre and describe the fault clearly.
2. The service advisor logs a job card and, for anything beyond routine servicing, raises a warranty claim with the manufacturer.
3. The manufacturer's regional team reviews the claim, sometimes requesting photos or a technical inspection.
4. Once approved, the repair or part replacement is carried out at no cost (or reduced cost, depending on the exact terms) to the owner.

Buying a used car with warranty remaining

If you're buying second-hand, check whether the factory warranty is still active and, importantly, whether it's transferable to a new owner — most manufacturer warranties are tied to the vehicle rather than the original buyer, but registration and service-history continuity still matter for a smooth claim.