When does the warranty run out?

How the end date is worked out

A warranty given in years or months ends on the same day of the month it started, that many months later. One given in days is counted day by day. Something bought on the 31st with a period ending in a shorter month finishes on that month's last day.

Which date starts the clock?

Usually the purchase date on the receipt. Some makers count from delivery or installation, and a few fall back to the manufacturing date when there is no proof of purchase, which can cost you months. The warranty card or the maker's support page says which applies.

Why the reminder matters

Faults that show up in month thirteen were often there in month eleven. A month before cover ends, use the thing properly: every cycle, every port, every burner. Photograph anything wrong and report it in writing before the end date, even if the repair happens after.

Cover you may not know you have

• Card benefits. Some credit cards add extra warranty time to purchases made with them. The card's benefits guide lists the terms and limits.
• Parts on a different clock. Appliances and cars often carry longer cover on specific parts, such as a compressor or a battery, than on the whole product.
• Legal rights. In many places the law gives buyers protection beyond the written warranty. It varies by country and state.
• Registration. A few makers offer a longer period if you register the product soon after buying.