Chinese car warranties in the UAE: how to read the fine print on long coverage offers

You’ve seen the ads.

“6 years.” “7 years.” “10 years.” Sometimes even “1 million km.”

On paper, that sounds like you can stop worrying about repairs for a decade.

But warranties don’t work like that.

Here’s the thing: the big number on the billboard is usually not one simple promise. It’s a bundle of different coverages, different time limits, and different conditions. And the differences matter a lot once you actually file a claim.

This guide will show you how to read the fine print on long warranty offers in the UAE, using real examples from brand warranty pages, and what to check before you sign.

Step one: don’t treat “10 years” as one warranty

A simple way to think about it is this:

Most warranties are a stack.

You’ll usually find separate sections like:

• Basic vehicle warranty (the main one people talk about)
• Powertrain warranty (engine and gearbox related)
• High-voltage battery and drive unit warranty (for EVs and some hybrids)
• Limited warranties for specific parts (infotainment, suspension parts, 12V battery, etc.)
• Consumables (filters, pads, blades, bulbs) with very short coverage

A real UAE example: BYD’s split coverage

BYD UAE lists a full set of different time and mileage limits on the same page:

• High Voltage Battery and Drive Unit: 8 years or 200,000 km, battery capacity covered down to 70% or above
• Basic vehicle warranty: 6 years or 150,000 km
• Some “other parts” like the multimedia system and charging ports: 3 years or 60,000 km
• Consumables (filters, brake pads, tires, wiper blades): 6 months or 10,000 km

So even with a “6-year” headline, some items are effectively 6 months. Some are 3 years. Some are 8 years.

What this means is… the headline number is only useful if you know which parts it applies to.

Step two: check whether the “long” warranty is only for the engine and transmission

This is the most common trick of misunderstanding, not necessarily dishonesty.

Brands may offer:

• a standard new car warranty (often 5 to 7 years)
• plus an extra-long warranty for the engine and transmission only

A real UAE example: GWM (Haval, Tank)

GWM UAE states:

• A 6-year/200,000 km new car warranty (example shown for TANK and HAVAL H6)
• Plus an additional 10-year/1,000,000 km warranty for engine and transmission (shown under TANK)

So the “10-year” part is not the whole car. It is specific components.

In real life, it looks like this:

Your infotainment screen fails in year 7. You point at the “10-year” marketing. The provider points at the wording that says “engine and transmission.” Your screen is not covered under that 10-year promise.

The catch is you only find this out if you read the breakdown.

Step three: find the “limited warranty” list (it’s where most surprises live)

Many people read the general warranty period and stop.

Don’t.

You want the part that says “Component with Limited Warranty” or “Other parts limited warranty.”

A real UAE example: Changan’s detailed limits

Changan UAE’s warranty page lists different limits for different items, for example:

• Main warranty for CS series: 6 years or 250,000 km
• Some listed components (steering gear, compressor, generator, fuel pump, etc.): 60 months or 150,000 km
• Battery: 12 months or 20,000 km
• Maintenance parts (filters, brake pads/linings, clutch disk, tires, wipers, bulbs, fuses, relays): 3 months or 5,000 km
• Rust, paint, rubber parts, shock absorbers, entertainment/infotainment: 36 months or 100,000 km

That’s a full map of where the warranty is strong and where it is short.

This can help if you’re comparing two cars with similar headline warranty lengths. The “limited parts” section often reveals the real difference.

Step four: look for the service rules that can void the warranty

Most long warranties assume you will service the car exactly as required.

And some brands are very strict about it.

A real UAE example: strict service interval requirement

Changan UAE says it is the owner’s responsibility to service the vehicle every 6 months or 10,000 km at authorized Changan service centers, and it states that if not done, the warranty will be void .

That is not a small detail. It changes your real cost of ownership.

Here’s how it works:

• If you miss an interval, or service outside the required network without acceptable proof, your future claim can turn into a fight.
• Even if the failure seems unrelated, many warranty providers will use maintenance non-compliance as grounds to reject.

If you only do one thing, do this: before you buy, ask the dealer to show you the service interval requirement and the “what voids warranty” section in writing.

Step five: check the exclusions list for UAE-specific realities

The UAE punishes cars in very specific ways: heat, sand, and sudden weather events.

Many warranty pages include exclusions for environmental damage and cosmetic issues.

A real UAE example: what’s not covered

Changan’s “What is not covered” section includes items like:

• consumables (oils, coolant, A/C refrigerant)
• damage due to improper maintenance or wrong fluids
• cosmetic damage like chips and scratches
• environmental damage including acid rain, chemicals, tree sap, hail, windstorms, lightning, floods

In real life, it looks like this:

Your car gets water ingress after heavy rain, or after a poorly sealed windshield replacement. A module fails. Warranty might argue “external cause” or “environmental damage,” not a defect.

So when you see long warranties, don’t assume they cover weather-related issues.

Step six: for EVs, battery coverage is not just “8 years”

Battery warranties often include a capacity clause.

BYD UAE states the battery and drive unit warranty covers battery capacity greater than or equal to 70% .

What this means is… a battery that loses some range is not automatically a warranty claim. It depends on the measured capacity and the warranty threshold.

In real life, it looks like this:

• You feel the range drop after two summers.
• You assume warranty will replace the battery.
• The test shows the battery is still above the capacity threshold, so the claim is rejected.

That does not mean you imagined the range change. It just means the warranty was never written to replace batteries for mild degradation.

Step seven: confirm transferability, because it affects resale and real value

Some long warranties help resale because they transfer to the next owner. Some do not.

Geely UAE explicitly says its 7-year warranty transfers to the next owner, whether you’re the first or second owner .

That single line can matter in the UAE used market, because buyers love anything that reduces “what if” anxiety.

But don’t assume transferability is standard. Always ask.

Step eight: understand what “official dealer” really means in the UAE

Warranties are usually tied to where the car was purchased and serviced.

Geely UAE states the warranty applies to vehicles purchased from an official Geely dealer .

That matters because in the UAE, many cars are:

• GCC spec
• imported spec
• gray imports with different options and parts

If you buy an imported vehicle, the manufacturer warranty terms can differ, or the warranty may not apply the same way. You need written confirmation from the selling party on who honors what.

The “10-minute warranty reading method” (fast, but effective)

When you’re handed a warranty PDF or a brochure, do this in order:

1. Find the in-service date definition
   Coverage starts from first delivery or first registration. Changan calls it the in-service date .
   That matters if the car sat in storage.
2. Find the basic warranty term
   Example: Geely 7 years or 250,000 km .
3. Find the limited warranty parts list
   This is where screens, batteries, and suspension bits often shrink to 1 to 3 years, like Changan’s infotainment limit .
4. Find the consumables coverage
   Often extremely short, like BYD’s 6 months or 10,000 km for consumables .
5. Find the service rules and what voids coverage
   Changan’s service rule is explicit and strict .
6. Find the exclusions list
   Look for environment, cosmetic damage, accident damage, and wrong fluids .
7. Find transferability rules
   Geely is explicit about transferability .

If you do those seven checks, you’ll avoid most “I thought it was covered” shocks.

What to ask the dealer before you sign (copy-paste friendly)

Bring these questions and get answers in writing:

• “Is the long warranty for the whole car, or only engine and transmission?” (GWM shows how these can differ )
• “What is the warranty on infotainment and screens?” (Changan shows infotainment can be limited )
• “What is the warranty on the 12V battery?” (Changan lists 12 months/20,000 km )
• “What service intervals are required, and does missing one void the warranty?” (Changan explicitly says it can void )
• “Is servicing required only at authorized centers?” (again, Changan is explicit )
• “For EVs, what is the battery capacity threshold for replacement?” (BYD states 70% threshold )
• “Is the warranty transferable to the next owner?” (Geely says yes )
• “What is excluded due to weather, floods, or external damage?” (Changan lists environmental exclusions )

This can help if you want to compare brands fairly, instead of comparing marketing.

A blunt truth: long warranty does not always mean easier ownership

Long warranties can be real and valuable. But they don’t solve:

• parts availability delays
• workshop capacity
• appointment wait times
• whether a claim is easy to prove

Also, long warranties sometimes come with stricter servicing requirements, which can increase your total cost.

So the right question is not “Which brand has the longest warranty?”

It’s:

Which warranty is clear, practical, and matches how I actually use the car in the UAE?

If you end up in a warranty dispute in Dubai

You should know there are official complaint channels for disputes about warranties and service contracts in Dubai.

Dubai’s Consumer Rights portal states consumers can submit complaints related to warranty or guarantee implementation and disputes over service or maintenance contracts for Dubai-licensed businesses . The UAE government platform also provides guidance on consumer protection channels .

I’m not saying “threaten a complaint” as your first move. But it helps to know you have a formal path if things get unreasonable.

Wrap-up

Chinese brands in the UAE are offering strong headline warranties. Geely advertises 7 years/250,000 km . BYD breaks coverage down into separate buckets, including an 8-year/200,000 km battery and drive unit warranty with a capacity threshold . GWM shows how “10 years” can apply only to the engine and transmission, not the whole car . Changan shows how detailed the fine print can get, including strict service rules and shorter coverage for infotainment and consumables .

So yes, the warranties can be good. But the value is in the details.

If you want a quick win: read the limited warranty list and the service rules before you buy. That is where the real story is.