GM’s harsh new policy for the 2025 Corvette ZR1 sends a clear message: flip this car and face the consequences.
The automaker isn’t playing games with its 1,000-horsepower flagship. Sell your ZR1 within 12 months of delivery, and GM strips all warranty coverage from the vehicle—leaving the next owner holding a very expensive, very unprotected supercar.
Punishment That Extends Beyond the Seller
GM’s retention agreement doesn’t just punish flippers—it creates collateral damage.
When a ZR1 changes hands prematurely:
- The original owner must inform the buyer about the voided warranty
- The seller gets blacklisted from future in-demand GM models
- The new owner receives a $180,000+ supercar with zero factory protection
The policy essentially weaponizes the warranty against both parties. Brutal, but effective.
A Tightening Grip on Flippers
This represents GM’s most aggressive anti-flipping measure yet.
Previous GM retention policies demanded six-month ownership periods for models like the Z06 and E-Ray. The ZR1’s twelve-month lockdown doubles that requirement.
The strategy mirrors tactics GM deployed with the Cadillac Escalade-V and GMC Hummer EV, suggesting the company has found a formula it believes works.
Market Correction by Corporate Decree
GM clearly views the 1,000-horsepower ZR1 as too valuable to become speculator bait.
The policy creates a fascinating tension: the free market says owners should sell for whatever price the market will bear, while GM says doing so carries severe consequences.
For enthusiasts actually planning to drive their ZR1s, the policy changes nothing. For flippers eyeing quick profits, GM just erected a significant barrier.
Either way, the message from Detroit comes through crystal clear: the ZR1 was built for drivers, not dealers.
