If you're searching for a warranty check by VIN, you need to find your vehicle's VIN and take the odometer reading. Then, you can call the dealership or use Carfax and check the manufacturer warranty status. If you couldn't find the VIN, you can drive your car to the dealership and have one of their employees help you find the number.
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Some people find it hard to keep track of their manufacturer's warranty. Others might purchase a used car and would be interested in knowing whether it's still covered under warranty or not.
Moreover, things get more challenging if you would like to track the manufacturer warranty for different components in your vehicle. For example, the powertrain warranty is usually about 100,000 miles or ten years. Therefore, when any component within your powertrain goes bad before this warranty, you should be able to get it covered without any problem. However, once you pass the ten years or the 100,000 miles, you will have to take care of the repairs from your own pocket.
While there are different methods to check for your car's warranty status, warranty check white VIN is one of the most common methods, which is relatively easy.
This article provides you with all you need to know about “warranty check by VIN.” It also highlights some of the other methods that could help you understand the current manufacturer warranty for your brand new or used vehicle.
What is the VIN?
Before we dive into the details about warranty checks by VIN, let's step back and make sure that we are all aware of what the VIN is.
The VIN is the vehicle identification number, considered a fingerprint for each vehicle to identify it and distinguish it from any other vehicle.
The VIN consists of 17 characters. Some of these characters might be letters, while others can come in numbers. Each character or group of characters represents certain information, and once you decode the VIN, you get all details about the vehicle.
Let's take a closer look at how to decode the VIN:
- The first character represents the location where the vehicle was built
- The second two characters provide information about the manufacturer
- The following four characters what's the details about the vehicles brand and the engine type and size
- The 9th character is a security code to tell you whether the vehicle was authorized by the manufacturer or not
- You will find the vehicles model year in the 10th character
- They live in's character provides no details about the location and the plant where the vehicle was assembled
- The last six characters are considered the serial number for this vehicle
Where can I locate the VIN?
Since the VIN is one of the most sensitive and important information you have to have, locating this VIN is not a complicated job, and it could be in one of several locations.
Let's look at some of the coming areas where you can find the VIN of your vehicle:
- Based on our experience, the simplest method for locating the VIN is at the driver's side corner of the dashboard, where it meets the windshield.
- Another simple method to find your vehicle's VIN is by looking at the door sticker. Open the driver’s door and locate the sticker right under the latch. Depending on your vehicle's type, you might even find this sticker close to the jamb.
- If you open your vehicle's hood, check around the engine compartment, and you should find another way to read the VIN. The VIN should be written right close to the hood latch.
- Some people might find it easier to locate the VIN by looking at their insurance card or on the vehicle's registration, one of the primary components in both documents.
Warranty check by VIN: how it’s done?
As we indicated earlier, determining whether your vehicle is still covered under the manufacturer warranty can be detected using the VIN check. Here's all you need to do for the warranty check by VIN:
- Find your vehicles VIN
If you haven't done already, you need to determine your vehicle's VIN. As we mentioned earlier, you can check in any of the mentioned locations for your vehicle's VIN.
If you're still having a hard time determining your vehicle's VIN, you can reach out to the dealership and ask for some details. The dealership will ask you for some of your personal information and some other details about the vehicle to help you get the VIN.
- Read your vehicle's odometer
Once you have the VIN, the next step is to determine how many mileages your vehicle has. Remember that the manufacturer warranty has a limitation based on your vehicle's mileage; although it might be based on years, the most common threshold is based on mileage.
One of the quickest ways to get the mileage is to check the vehicle's odometer. The old meter is usually either an electrical or mechanical device located right behind the steering wheel. In some vehicles, you might need to turn on the ignition to read the odometer because it might be an electrical base, which means that it needs some source of power for the numbers to illuminate.
- Reach out to the dealership
After obtaining the VIN and the odometer reading, the next step is reaching a dealership from the same brand or automaker. For example, if you own a Ford car, you recommend talking to a Ford dealership.
In some scenarios, people might not have their VIN no matter how much they try. In this case, it's recommended that they drive their cars to the nearest dealership and ask about the extended warranty. Then, while having the vehicle with them here at the dealership, employees should determine the VIN and have their ways to help them get the number fast without any hassle.
- Use Carfax
If you prefer to check the manufacturer warranty online, you can always visit the Carfax website. The website helps you input your vehicle's VIN, and it will retrieve some information, including whether your car is still covered under the manufacturer warranty or not.
Can I look for my manufacturer warranty through my vehicle's owner’s manual?
No, you cannot. One of the common misconceptions is that you can refer to the vehicle's owner’s manual to get an idea about the warranty. However, the manual is a document related to the manufacturer and the vehicle assembly or design. Thus, it doesn't give any information related to your purchase date.
Remember that the warranty starts at the time you buy the vehicle, which means that the purchase date is the one you should keep in mind what are your car is still under the manufacturer warranty or not. This date is not part of the vehicle's owner’s manual.
Can you check the car warranty online?
Yes, you can check your car's warranty online. One of the easiest methods to check for your vehicle's manufacturer warranty is through the Carfax website. All it takes you is to get the VIN and input it and the designated box on the Carfax website. Then, Carfax would retrieve the information and provide you some details about your vehicle, including whether it's covered under the manufacturer warranty or not.
How long is the factory warranty?
The check the factory warranty, you have two important limitations to check for:
- The mileage
- The years
Depending on your manufacturer warranty and the type of coverage, you will see two different numbers, one based on years and the other based on mileage. For example, and manufacturer's warranty might say it's expired after three years or around 36,000 miles.
Another example is the powertrain warranty, which is covered for ten years or 100,000 miles depending on whatever comes first.
What are the different types of manufacturer warranties?
Manufacturer warranties are not the same, and they can differ significantly depending on the automaker. However, in general, there are three types of manufacturer warranties that you might come across, including:
- The limited warranty
One of the most common types of manufacturer warranties is the limited warranty. This limited warranty, as the name suggests indicating that it will expire at a certain threshold based on years or mileage, as we indicated before. Usually, the limited warranty covers up to three years or 36,000 miles.
- The drivetrain or the powertrain warranty
The second common manufacturer warranty is the powertrain or drivetrain warranty. This type of warranty covers more components and takes care of more mechanical problems. It usually is considered one of the best warranties, and it lasts the longest but not as the lifetime one.
- Lifetime limited warranty
The last type of manufacturer warranty targets certain components, and it covers it during its lifetime and if it stays. Usually, the lifetime warranty covers up to 200,000 miles.
What are the common standard warranties by automakers?
As we indicated before, the standard or manufacture warranty differs significantly depending on your automaker. So, if you don't have an idea about which automaker provides the best and longest standard warranty, let's take a closer look at the list below:
| Automaker | Limited warranty | Powertrain warranty |
| Toyota | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Honda | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Ford | 3 years or 36,000 miles | 5 years or 60,000 miles |
| Buick | 4 years or 50,000 miles | 5 years or 100,000 miles |
| BMW | 4 years or 50,000 miles | 4 years or 50,000 miles |
| Acura | 4 years or 50,000 miles | 6 years or 70,000 miles |
As you might notice, the warranties differ significantly depending on the automaker. This does not mean that an automaker provides better coverage than the other, although it could be. However, it is most likely that some automakers know that their parts last longer, and they shouldn't have any problem covering it for an extended time frame.
The good news is that when you buy a used vehicle and it's still covered under warranty, the warranty coverage is transferred to you, and you can take advantage of it. Thus, keep an eye on the mileage and the age of the vehicle when buying it because you might get some coverage while not knowing. Of course, the younger the vehicle, the more expensive it will be but, knowing that it might be covered under warranty could convince you to put go ahead and buy this vehicle.
Conclusion
Understanding whether the vehicle is covered under warranty or not is important information. Unfortunately, sometimes people lose track of the manufacturer warranty status and search for “how to check if my car is still under warranty?”
One of the quickest methods to answer this question is the warranty check by VIN. It basically involves determining your vehicle's VIN, reading the odometer, calling the dealership, or checking on Carfax website.
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