Which brands offer the best warranty in Spain?

The minimum legal warranty in Spain, in force since January 2022, establishes three years of coverage for all vehicles sold, under Royal Decree-Law 7/2021. This coverage, known as the “legal guarantee,” protects the buyer against manufacturing defects or unforeseen failures. However, some brands go beyond this obligation, extending their commercial warranties both in time and mileage.

The warranty on a car is a key factor that many drivers value before deciding on a purchase, and in the competitive Spanish market, not all brands offer the same level of peace of mind. While most manufacturers stick to the three-year legal minimum, other brands are breaking the mold with coverage reaching up to 15 years, depending on maintenance conditions. In this context, JAECOO, Kia, MG and OMODA are the four brands that stand out the most, offering a 7-year or 150,000-kilometre warranty, currently the longest general coverage on the Spanish market without the need for extensions.

Warranties beyond three years: what do the different brands offer?

23.5% of the brands on the Spanish market (§h27Alfa Romeoh28§ in total) offer a 5-year warranty, while a small group of four brands led by JAECOO, Kia, MG and OMODA extend their warranties up to 7 years.

Kia, which pioneered a 7-year warranty in Spain back in 2010, has set a path that some Chinese brands, such as JAECOO, OMODA and MG, have followed to stand out in the market. This strategy allows brands to compete on quality, conveying safety and reliability to the consumer.

ٌٌٌٌٌWarranty extension options: greater peace of mind for the customer

Beyond these general warranties, some brands also offer warranty extension programmes at no additional cost, provided the customer carries out maintenance at their official dealership network. Toyota and Lexus lead this trend with their “Relax” programme, which extends the warranty up to 15 years or 250,000 kilometres, one of the broadest coverages on the market. They are followed by Citroën and Mazda, which offer up to 10 years or 200,000 kilometres, and Suzuki and Peugeot, with extensions of up to 10 and 8 years, respectively. These warranty extension programmes are ideal for those seeking a long service life for their vehicle and who want no unexpected surprises in repairs.

Dacia also offers warranty extensions of up to 7 years or 150,000 kilometres under the same conditions, allowing customers to keep their car protected with a warranty similar to that of JAECOO, Kia, MG and OMODA.

What about electric vehicles?

With the advance of electrified vehicles, the coverage of their batteries is another concern for buyers. Here too there are differences: 90% of brands in Spain offer additional warranties specifically for electric car batteries, with an average duration of 8 years, providing an extra measure of confidence in the new technology.

Most stop at three years

Despite these notable exceptions, the reality is that most brands, 64.7% of the market (33 manufacturers in total), still maintain a three-year warranty, the legal minimum required. This group also includes brands such as Tesla and DFSK, which offer a slightly longer four-year warranty, and mid-to-upper range brands that opt for five years of coverage, such as Alfa Romeo, Honda, Land Rover and Hyundai.

The strategy behind a long warranty

Extended warranties have been a key strategy, especially for newer brands in the European market, which seek to attract consumers with a high-quality, long-term commitment. Chinese brands, in particular, have adopted this strategy to enter the market forcefully and challenge traditional brands. Ultimately, each manufacturer’s commitment to the durability and quality of its cars is reflected in the length of its warranties.