How to Check What Your Product Warranty Actually Covers

On July 3, 2024, the Federal Trade Commission announced warning letters to eight companies over warranty terms that may violate federal law. For you, a clause requiring the maker's own parts or repair shop is generally not allowed unless those are free, and FTC staff has warned against "void if removed" stickers that block routine maintenance. The written terms still decide what gets covered. No source reviewed for this article shows that warranties in general are getting shorter, so the useful question is what yours covers and who pays.

Key takeaways

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which the FTC enforces, generally bars conditioning a warranty on using specified parts or services, unless the warrantor provides them for free or gets an FTC waiver.
A "limited" warranty can legally have gaps; a "full" one must meet a federal checklist.
Warranty terms for products over $15 must be available before you buy, online too.
Implied warranties arise under state law even with no written warranty, but a limited warranty may cap how long they last.
An extended warranty is a separate paid contract, not a longer included warranty.

What it means for you

Buying electronics: read the exclusions for liquid damage, batteries and cosmetic damage before you pay.
Buying appliances: check the labor and shipping lines; a free part can still leave you paying the technician.
Buying online: look for the warranty text or a link near the product description.
Offered an extended warranty at checkout: it costs extra and may duplicate coverage you already have.
DIY repairers: third-party parts or shops don't by themselves void a warranty, but damage your repair caused can be excluded.
Denied a claim: ask for the reason in writing, then escalate (see "If a claim is denied").

Full vs. limited warranties

No federal law requires a company to offer a written warranty. But the FTC's Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law says that if a company does, and the consumer product costs more than $10, the warranty must be titled "full" or "limited." A warranty counts as "full" only if it meets a set of conditions. One of them is that it does not limit how long implied warranties last. If any condition is not met, the warranty is "limited." A single product can carry both. A limited label is legal, so treat it as a prompt to read the terms, not a red flag.

Registration cards

The guide says requiring a registration card is an unreasonable duty in a full warranty. A limited warranty can still require one: the FTC's consumer page on warranties says you may have to return a card first to qualify for service. If the terms mention registration, do it; if not, nothing on the FTC pages reviewed suggests skipping it costs coverage.

Seeing the terms before you buy

Under the FTC's pre-sale availability rule, 16 CFR Part 702, a seller of a product with a written warranty that costs the buyer more than $15 must make the terms available before the sale. In a store, that means displaying it near the product, or giving it on request and posting signs saying so. For catalog and mail-order sales, the description must carry the full text or the warrantor's web address plus how to get a free copy. FTC staff has told internet retailers that the rule applies to them, and that a clearly labeled link near the product description is one way to comply.

Stickers, parts and repair shops

The FTC's guide says tie-in sales provisions, such as requiring a particular brand of filter bag to keep coverage, are generally not allowed. The exceptions are when the warrantor supplies the item or service free, or the FTC grants a waiver.

Its main public actions on such terms since 2018:

April 10, 2018: FTC staff warned six unnamed sellers of cars, cellular devices and video game systems about requiring specified parts or service providers, per the 2018 press release.
October 27, 2022: the FTC approved final orders against Harley-Davidson, MWE Investments (maker of Westinghouse outdoor power equipment) and grill maker Weber-Stephen. Their warranties allegedly said third-party parts or independent repairs would void coverage; the orders require them to tell customers otherwise.
July 3, 2024: letters went to eight companies: five over required parts or service (aeris Health, Blueair, Medify Air, Oransi, InMovement) and three over "warranty void if removed" stickers placed where they hinder routine maintenance (ASRock, Zotac, Gigabyte).

The 2018 and 2024 rounds were staff warnings, not findings that any law was broken. Searches of ftc.gov in October 2026 found no newer warranty letters or cases.

What a maker can still do

The FTC guide lets a warranty exclude damage caused by parts or service the warrantor did not provide; its sample says such damage "may void this warranty." What matters is the cause. A third-party battery does not cancel the screen warranty, but if it swells and damages the case, the maker can decline that repair. Apple's US one-year limited warranty follows this pattern. It excludes damage from service by anyone other than Apple or an authorized provider, and from third-party components that don't meet the product's specifications.

Implied warranties, "as is" sales

Implied warranties come from state law. The FTC's consumer page describes merchantability (the product should do what it is supposed to do) and fitness for a particular purpose (when a seller recommends a product for a specific use). Both apply even without a written warranty, unless the seller disclaims them in writing or sells the product "as is" where state law allows. The same page says implied warranties can last as long as four years in some states.

Federal law adds two limits, per the FTC guide. First, a company that gives a written warranty cannot disclaim implied warranties on that product. Second, a limited warranty may cap how long they last at the length of the written warranty, which a full warranty cannot do. Apple's warranty uses that cap, where the law allows it. Some states bar "as is" sales of consumer products entirely, the guide notes.

California is one example. Under Civil Code section 1792.4, selling goods covered by the state's consumer warranty chapter "as is" or "with all faults" does not disclaim the implied warranties unless a conspicuous writing is attached before the sale. It must say the goods are sold that way, that the buyer bears the entire risk as to quality and performance and pays for any servicing or repair. For new consumer goods sold to a retail buyer, section 1791.1(c) ties the implied warranty to any reasonable express warranty's length, at no less than 60 days and no more than one year (the full year if no length is stated). Other states differ.

Reading a warranty line by line

The FTC's consumer page says to check what is covered, what the company will do (repair, replace or refund), whether misuse voids it, and whether you pay labor or shipping. Assume anything not listed is not covered. The table applies that checklist to Apple's US warranty for iPhone, iPad and its other listed products, not Macs. Terms are the version in effect since January 19, 2024, checked in October 2026.

Question	What to find	Apple US one-year warranty
How long?	Start date and length	One year from original retail purchase
What is covered?	Defects vs. everything	Defects in materials and workmanship under normal use
What is excluded?	Accidents, wear, cosmetic	Accidental damage including liquid contact; batteries as consumable parts unless a defect caused the failure; cosmetic damage unless a defect caused it
Who pays shipping?	Both directions?	Mail-in: Apple pays if its packing and shipping instructions are followed; you may pay if the product can't be serviced in the country it is in
Who pays labor?	Technician time	On DIY parts service, Apple is not responsible for labor costs you incur
What is the remedy?	Repair, replace or refund	At Apple's option, repair, replace or refund

If a claim is denied

The FTC advises contacting the seller first, then the manufacturer by certified mail with a return receipt; a company may be entitled to try a repair before refunding you. Some warranties include an informal dispute program. If a warrantor requires you to use one before suing under the federal warranty act, the program must follow 16 CFR Part 703. It cannot charge you a fee, and it must decide within 40 days of being notified, with limited exceptions. If the problem is still unresolved, the FTC consumer page says to report it to the FTC and your state attorney general.

Extended plans are a different product

Per the FTC, an extended warranty or service contract costs extra, is sold separately and is not a warranty. It may duplicate repairs your included warranty already covers.

Illustrative example, with round numbers: a plan costs $120, and a likely covered repair costs $300. The plan pays off on average only if the chance of needing that repair is at least $120 / $300 = 40%. A $50 deductible raises the break-even to $120 / $250 = 48%. During the manufacturer's warranty period, the plan adds value only for what that warranty excludes, such as accidental damage if the plan covers it.

Frequently asked questions

Does a company have to offer a warranty at all?

No. The FTC guide says the federal warranty act does not require any business to provide a written warranty. Once a business offers one, it must follow the act, and state implied warranties can apply either way.

Does a verbal promise from a salesperson count?

Get it in writing. The FTC warns a business may later refuse to honor a spoken promise.

What if the warranty runs out while my product is being repaired?

The FTC says that if you report a defect during the warranty period and it isn't fixed properly, the company must correct the problem even if the warranty expires first.

Do I need the original receipt?

Keep it. The FTC says it proves your purchase date and original ownership; store it with the warranty.

Is a dispute program's decision binding?

No. Under 16 CFR 703.5(j), decisions of a program covered by Part 703 are not legally binding on anyone, though the warrantor must act in good faith and the decision can be used as evidence in court.

A five-minute check before you buy

Find the warranty text on the product page, box or manufacturer site. If it is missing, ask the seller before paying.
Note whether it says "full" or "limited," and the start date and length.
Read the exclusions and the lines on shipping, labor and how to file a claim.
Check whether registration is required to qualify; if it is, register the same day.
Before accepting an extended plan, compare its price with the likely repair cost and any deductible, as in the example above.

This is general education, not legal advice. State laws differ; a state attorney general's office or an attorney can help with a specific dispute.