What is the difference between a warranty and a guarantee in Singapore?

What the Law Says

Singapore law distinguishes warranties and guarantees primarily through statutory interpretation and contractual context — only 'warranty' is defined and given legal effect in the Sale of Goods Act. A guarantee has no statutory basis and depends entirely on its wording and incorporation into the contract.

Under the Sale of Goods Act (Cap. 393), a 'warranty' is a contractual term that, if breached, entitles the buyer to claim damages but does not allow them to reject the goods or treat the contract as repudiated.

Section 14 of the Act implies certain warranties into contracts for the sale of goods — for example, that goods sold in the course of business are of satisfactory quality and reasonably fit for purpose — unless expressly excluded or modified.

In contrast, Singapore law does not define or regulate 'guarantee' in any statute. A guarantee is simply a separate promise — often made by a manufacturer or seller — about product performance, durability, or repair. It only creates legal rights if it forms part of the contract (e.g., by being written into terms or incorporated by reference).

Because guarantees are not statutory, their scope, duration, and remedies depend entirely on the specific wording — unlike warranties, which carry automatic legal consequences under the Act.

Statutory Text

A warranty is a stipulation collateral to the main purpose of the contract, the breach of which gives rise to a claim for damages but not to a right to reject the goods and treat the contract as repudiated.

— Sale of Goods Act, s. 14 — Interpretation

What to Do

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