How to Track Warranty Expiration Dates (So You Never Miss a Claim)

The Warranty Problem Nobody Talks About

You buy an appliance. It comes with a 2-year warranty. 18 months later it breaks. Do you remember the warranty exists? Do you know when it expires? Can you find the receipt?

Most people can't. Studies suggest that billions of dollars in valid warranty claims go unfiled every year — not because people don't have coverage, but because they forget about it or can't find the proof of purchase.

The fix is tracking your warranties before you need them.

What You Need to Track

For each warranted item, record these details:

Method 1: Calendar Reminders

The simplest approach — set a calendar reminder before each warranty expires.

How to do it:

1. When you buy something with a warranty, calculate the expiration date
2. Create a calendar event 30 days before expiration
3. Title it: "WARRANTY EXPIRING: [Product Name]"
4. In the notes, add: purchase date, store, receipt location

Pros: Free, simple, works with any calendar app

Cons: Manual setup for every purchase, clutters your calendar, no central view of all warranties

Best for: People with a small number of high-value purchases.

Method 2: Spreadsheet Tracker

A step up from calendar reminders — one central place to see all warranties.

Set up a spreadsheet with these columns:

Tips for spreadsheet tracking:

• Sort by expiration date so upcoming expirations are at the top
• Color-code: green (active), yellow (expiring soon), red (expired)
• Include a link to the digital receipt for each item
• Review monthly and remove items you no longer own

Pros: Free, customizable, central view of everything

Cons: Manual entry, no automatic alerts, easy to forget updating

Best for: Organized people who like full control over their data.

Method 3: Dedicated Warranty Tracking App

The most automated approach — apps that track warranties and alert you before they expire.

What good warranty trackers do:

• Extract purchase dates from receipt photos or emails
• Calculate warranty expiration automatically
• Send push notifications before warranties expire
• Store receipts alongside warranty info
• Find product manuals for your items

Apps like Recevity combine receipt capture with warranty tracking — scan a receipt and the app automatically identifies the product, looks up the warranty period, and sets expiration alerts.

Pros: Automated, sends alerts, stores receipts, minimal effort after initial setup

Cons: May require subscription for full features

Best for: Anyone with more than a handful of warranted items, or people who don't want to maintain a spreadsheet.

Method 4: Product Registration

Many manufacturers let you register products online, which creates a warranty record on their end.

How to register:

1. Visit the manufacturer's website
2. Look for "Product Registration" or "Register Your Product"
3. Enter your model number, serial number, and purchase date
4. Save the confirmation email

What registration gets you:

• Manufacturer has your warranty on file (no receipt needed for claims)
• Recall notifications if your product is affected
• Sometimes extends the standard warranty
• Priority customer support with some brands

Brands with good registration systems:

• Samsung, LG, GE Appliances, Bosch, KitchenAid, Dyson, Apple, Sony

Limitation: You still need to remember the warranty exists. Registration helps with claims but doesn't remind you to file them.

Don't Forget Credit Card Warranties

Many credit cards automatically extend manufacturer warranties by 1-2 years. This is free coverage most people never use.

How to check your coverage:

1. Log into your credit card account
2. Look for "Benefits" or "Card Perks"
3. Search for "Extended Warranty Protection" or "Purchase Protection"

How to track it:

• Add a note to your warranty spreadsheet/app: "Credit card extends to [date]"
• The extended warranty starts when the manufacturer warranty ends
• You claim through your credit card company, not the manufacturer
• Keep the original receipt — the credit card company will ask for it

Setting Up Your System

Here's a practical approach to get started today:

For Past Purchases

1. Walk through your home and list items with warranties (appliances, electronics, tools)
2. Find receipts — check email, cloud storage, and paper files
3. Look up warranty periods on manufacturer websites
4. Enter everything into your chosen tracking method
5. Register products that you haven't registered yet

For Future Purchases

1. Capture the receipt immediately (photo, email forward, or app)
2. Record the warranty details in your tracker
3. Register the product with the manufacturer
4. Set an expiration reminder if using the calendar method
5. Note any credit card extended warranty that applies

Monthly Maintenance (5 minutes)

• Check for any warranties expiring in the next 60 days
• Inspect those items — anything not working properly?
• File claims for items with issues while warranty is active
• Update your tracker with any new purchases

When to File a Warranty Claim

Don't wait until the last day. If you notice any of these issues, check your warranty:

• Product stopped working or works intermittently
• Performance degraded significantly from when new
• Parts breaking that shouldn't break under normal use
• Manufacturing defect became apparent over time (rust, peeling, cracking)
• Noise, vibration, or smell that wasn't there before

Important: Warranties cover defects, not damage from misuse. Normal wear and tear is usually excluded. But if something breaks under normal use within the warranty period, file that claim.

Quick Reference: Common Warranty Periods

Note: These are manufacturer warranties. Extended warranties and credit card extensions add to these periods.

The Bottom Line

Warranty tracking isn't complicated — it just needs to be done before you need it. Pick a method that matches your style, spend 30 minutes setting it up, and you'll have a system that pays for itself the first time you catch an expiring warranty on a broken product.