Bumper to Bumper vs. Powertrain – What You Need to Know

Posted on: Feb 23, 2022 | | Written by:

Bumper to Bumper vs. Powertrain – What You Need to Know

Published on February 23, 2022. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

There are various ways in which you can keep your vehicle safe and secure. Apart from making use of the basic car insurance policy, you can also use the motor insurance riders and the car manufacturer’s warranties. The zero depreciation (also known as the bumper to bumper cover) car insurance coverage and the powertrain warranty are two such protections that prove to be very handy. What exactly is a bumper to the bumper cover and what is the powertrain warranty? Let’s find out.

What Is Covered by a Powertrain Warranty?

The powertrain warranty is a type of warranty offered by the manufacturer of the vehicle. As the name suggests, the powertrain warranty covers all the components of the car that provide power to the vehicle. These include the engine, wheels, axle-shafts, transmission gears and fuel injectors, to name a few. Here is a list of what is covered in a powertrain warranty:

● Engine -

Engine mount, flywheel, cylinder block, cylinder heads, timing chain, engine gaskets and seals, pistons and compressor gaskets, timing gears and belts, fuel injection and hydraulic/oil/water pumps, valvetrain

● Transmission -

Transaxle, clutches, transfer case, hydraulic lines, transmission fluid lines, central gearset, torque converter, actuation sensors

● Drive system -

Differentials and differential housing, propeller shafts, axle hubs, wheel bearings, every internal joint, axle shaft and driveshaft, constant-velocity (CV)/universal (U) joints, intake and exhaust manifolds

What Is Covered by a Bumper-to-Bumper Warranty?

A bumper to bumper cover is a component of car insurance and you need to buy it separately. The car manufacturer doesn't offer this cover. When you buy a regular motor insurance plan, the factor of depreciation comes into play. So, when you make a claim, the claim amount is settled after deducting the depreciated value.

However, with bumper to bumper car insurance, this problem is tackled. The depreciation factor is nullified and you get the whole claim amount, which proves to be very profitable.

The covers available under bumper to bumper car insurance include:

● Plastic parts

● Wooden parts

● Fibreglass components

● Rubber parts

● Nylon parts

● Metal parts

● Batteries

What Aren't Bumper-to-Bumper Warranties covered For?

Most of the car insurance companies in India offer bumper to bumper car insurance as an add-on cover along with the comprehensive plans. The zero depreciation feature hence applies to the covers that are originally available in the comprehensive plans. So, any exclusion listed in the comprehensive plan is listed under the bumper to bumper coverage too. For example, you will not get coverage for the car’s engine. Then, the consumables such as the nuts/bolts and the oils are not covered either.

What Is the Distinction Between Bumper-to-Bumper and Powertrain?

There are some very basic differences between the bumper to bumper and powertrain covers. They are:

1. Cost

The powertrain warranty is not sold separately; it is included as a benefit when you buy the car directly from the manufacturer. This is why there is no extra cost associated with the warranty you get. On the other hand, the bumper to bumper is insurance coverage and you need to get it separately. Even if the manufacturer or dealer offers you insurance coverage when you buy the vehicle, you have to pay for it. It is not a free feature. Additionally, the bumper to bumper cover is a rider, so you need to pay more for it, over and above the cost of the comprehensive car insurance plan.

2. Availability

As stated, the powertrain warranty is an inbuilt feature. You cannot go shopping for it. You have to take what the car manufacturer offers. The bumper to bumper cover, however, is an optional cover and you can choose where you want to get it from. You can choose your primary car insurance provider after comparing your options and seeing which insurer offers the best deal. You can then choose to get the bumper to bumper cover as an add-on privilege at an extra cost.

3. Scope of cover

While the powertrain warranty covers some core parts of the car such as the engine and the axle, the bumper to bumper protection covers components such as the rubber, nylon and fibreglass components of the car.

4. Claim

The powertrain warranty doesn't cover any damages to the parts of the car due to a road accident. However, this coverage is available under the insurance policy. So if you need to get your car and its components repaired after an accident, you will have to rely on your insurance coverage alone.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are some very handy benefits available under the powertrain warranty as well as the bumper to bumper cover. However, the scope of coverage is very different and you need to be aware of what you can claim, from where and when. Read the clauses associated with both these covers and make good use of them as and when needed.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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