Is a Honda Extended Warranty Right for You?
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If you’re a Honda owner in the market for long-term vehicle coverage, you may be able to purchase a plan through your vehicle’s manufacturer. But is the Honda extended warranty the best option for you?
In this article, we review the coverage and terms of Honda’s vehicle service contracts and take a look at how the manufacturer’s plans stack up against top third-party providers.
Table of contents
- Honda Extended Warranty Overview
- What's Not Included in the Honda Extended Warranty?
- Additional Perks of Honda's Extended Warranty
- Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
- Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
- Honda Extended Warranty Cost
- Final Thoughts on the Honda Extended Warranty
- Methodology
Honda Extended Warranty Overview
Honda Extended Warranty |
Coverage Term |
|---|---|
Honda Care Vehicle Service Contract |
up to 8 years/120,000 miles |
The extended car warranty is called Honda Care and includes three Component Coverage options for new, pre-owned, and CPO vehicles, as well as one Powertrain Coverage option exclusively for pre-owned vehicles. Honda plans offer basic protection from costly repairs, covering parts including your engine, drive axle, transmission, seals, gaskets, and fluids. You can also customize your warranty to cover the following systems:
- Climate control: Covers heating and cooling
- Chassis (drive): Covers braking, steering, and suspension systems
- Electronic units: Covers the engine control unit, conventional and hybrid batteries, and electronic systems like audio and navigation
- Honda Genuine Accessories: Covers dealer-installed navigation, security, audio, and communication devices and accessories
What's Not Included in the Honda Extended Warranty?
- Non-genuine Honda parts
- Cables, belts, and hoses
- Batteries
- Non-Honda electronic or audio accessories
- Windshields and window glass
- Oil changes and other routine maintenance
Another limitation of Honda’s extended warranty program is that it requires you take your vehicle to a dealership for any covered repairs. Only factory-trained Honda technicians may work on your vehicle, and they can only use genuine Honda parts.
You may also need to show proof of routine maintenance in order for the plan to cover certain repairs. In this case, “routine maintenance” can mean anything from oil changes to mileage-based tune-ups to suggested services.
Additional Perks of Honda's Extended Warranty
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Rental car reimbursement
- Trip interruption coverage
- Concierge services through HondaLink
You also have the option to couple your extended warranty with Honda Care Maintenance, the manufacturer’s program for covering routine maintenance like oil and air filter changes, transmission and brake fluid replacements, and tire rotations.
If you own several Honda vehicles, you can enroll in the Honda Care Family Plan, a multi-car warranty package for sharing additional coverage like emergency roadside assistance and rental car reimbursements.
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
Honda vehicles are known for reliability. In RepairPal’s 2019 reliability survey, Honda even claimed the title of most reliable brand, with the HR-V, Fit, Civic, and Accord all earning spots on the list of top 20 most reliable vehicles overall.
Honda owners also benefit from low-cost maintenance. Forbes named three Honda vehicles—the Fit, Civic, and CR-V—in its list of the top 10 cheapest cars to maintain, and RepairPal reports an average annual repair cost for a Honda is $428, which is below the $652 average across all makes.
However, depending on the issue, you could be paying much more. For example, one of the most commonly reported issues in Honda vehicles is the air conditioning blowing hot air, which means you’d need your car’s AC compressor replaced. For a Honda Civic, this would cost you between $642 and $1,001, according to RepairPal. For a CR-V, it would be in the ballpark of $735 to $1,176.
Additionally, J.D. Power’s 2019 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study™ found for every 100 new Honda owners, 98 of them experience repair issues in the first 90 days of ownership. Beyond that, it’s safe to assume all vehicles will need repairs at some point, and generally, a vehicle will experience more breakdowns and require more expensive repairs as it ages. For these reasons, we recommend considering extended service contracts for your vehicle. Small monthly payments could be preferable to paying out of pocket for expensive repairs.
What Warranty Coverage Do You Already Have?
To determine whether you need a Honda extended warranty, it’s important to understand what your Honda factory warranty covers.
New Honda Vehicles
Honda’s factory warranty, which is applied to all new vehicles sold, includes several types of coverage:
Honda Warranty |
Term Length |
What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
New Vehicle Limited Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Any major part or system in a new car that breaks down due to a malfunction or defect |
Powertrain Limited Warranty |
5 years/60,000 miles |
Engine, transmission, and drive systems |
Federal Emissions Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Defective parts that cause your vehicle to fail an emissions test |
High Voltage Battery Capacity Warranty |
8 years/100,000 miles |
Greater-than-normal degradation of your high-voltage battery |
Accessory Limited Warranty |
3 years/36,000 miles |
Any Honda Genuine Accessories installed at time of vehicle purchase |
Seat Belt Limited Warranty |
15 years/150,000 miles |
Defects in your vehicle's seat belts |
Rust Perforation Limited Warranty |
5 years/unlimited miles |
Rust that occurs from the inside of the vehicle outward due to corrosion |
Certified Pre-Owned Hondas
If you purchased a certified pre-owned (CPO) Honda, your car may still be under warranty. Any factory warranties still in effect when you purchase your CPO vehicle will transfer to you, and cars outside their original warranty period will still receive coverage for 1 year or 12,000 miles with a new owner.
Other CPO coverages include:
Honda CPO Warranty |
Term Length |
What It Covers |
|---|---|---|
Certified Pre-Owned Powertrain Coverage |
7 years/100,000 miles from the original in-service date of the vehicle |
Engine, transmission, and drive systems |
Non-powertrain coverage for vehicles purchased within New Vehicle Limited Warranty coverage period |
4 years/48,000 miles from original in-service date, or 1 year/12,000 miles (whichever comes first) |
Any major components that break down due to a malfunction or defect |
Non-powertrain coverage for vehicles purchased after New Vehicle Limited Warranty has expired |
1 year/12,000 miles |
Any major components that break down due to a malfunction or defect |
If you’re unsure whether your pre-owned Honda is still under warranty, you can call a Honda dealership at any time and provide your vehicle identification number (VIN) to check your coverage.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
Benefits to choosing a third-party over a manufacturer for extended coverage include:
- Coverage for older vehicles: Honda's coverage tops out at 120,000 miles. Third-party providers like Endurance, CARCHEX, and CarShield cover vehicles up to 200,000 or 300,000 miles.
- Vehicle protection plans: Honda offers only one or two plans depending on whether your vehicle is new or used. Third parties often have multiple levels of coverage available for any car, so you can find an option that best fits your needs.
- Ability to purchase anytime: Third-party plans can generally be purchased at any time, while a Honda extended warranty must be purchased before the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty expires at 3 years/36,000 miles.
- Access to multiple repair shops: Another major benefit against a Honda extended warranty is that third-party providers allow repairs to be done at a number of certified service centers rather than exclusively at the Honda dealership.
- Low rates: In most cases, extended warranties from third-party providers have more reasonable pricing than dealership Honda extended warranties.
In our review of the best extended auto warranty companies, we found Endurance to be the industry’s top provider. The chart below compares a Honda extended warranty with an Endurance extended warranty.
Honda Extended Warranty |
Endurance Extended Warranty |
|
|---|---|---|
Coverage Start Date |
Before expiration of 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranty |
Anytime |
Longest Term |
120,000 miles |
200,000+ miles |
Levels of Coverage |
1 |
6 |
Deductible |
$0, $100 |
$0, $50, $100, or $200 |
Where to Get Repairs |
Honda dealerships |
Any US or Canadian repair facility certified by the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) |
Transferability |
||
Cancellation |
Full refund available within 60 days, prorated refund available thereafter |
Refund available within 30 days |
Roadside Assistance |
||
Rental Car Reimbursement |
||
Availability |
Purchase from dealership |
Get Quote |
Honda Extended Warranty Cost
Many factors can affect the cost of Honda’s extended coverage for your vehicle, including:
- Your plan: You'll have to pay higher premiums for more comprehensive coverage.
- Your deductible: Honda offers $0 and $100 deductible options to choose from.
- Existing coverage: Stacking a Honda extended warranty on an unexpired factory warranty will give you a discounted premium.
- Vehicle age: The older the vehicle, the higher the risk of defects and service issues popping up. For this reason, older vehicles will often be quoted higher premiums.
- Vehicle model: Honda will check historic defect and reliability data to see whether your vehicle has a higher-than-average chance of needing a repair, and riskier vehicles will be quoted higher premiums.
To get a customized quote, you’ll need to contact Honda directly. You can also get a quote for a Honda Care plan when you buy your car from a Honda dealer that offers the program (not all dealerships do).
If you decide to purchase Honda Care, you can either roll your Honda extended warranty into your car loan (which means you’ll be paying interest on it), or you can take advantage of Honda’s available payment plans.
It’s also important to note that your Honda extended warranty can be canceled at any time. If you cancel within 60 days of purchase, you’ll receive a full refund. Beyond that period, you’ll receive a prorated refund according to either your remaining contract term or your car’s current mileage.
Final Thoughts on the Honda Extended Warranty
With only one or two options for coverage determined by whether your vehicle is new or used, Honda’s extended warranty is basic at best. If you own multiple Honda vehicles, are a brand loyalist, or find that the coverage and cost of Honda’s vehicle protection plans meet your needs, it could be a good option. However, for most Honda owners, this might not be the case.
It’s always smart to research average annual repairs for your vehicle and shop around to get multiple quotes from warranty providers before making a decision on coverage. You may find a third-party extended warranty company like Endurance, CARCHEX, or CarShield offers a better plan to protect your Honda.
Methodology
- Price: Comparing providers can be difficult due to the many factors that influence cost. To determine this score, we employ a secret shopper analysis using different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations.
- Coverage: A wide variety of coverage is essential to support the differing needs of customers. We take into account the number of extended car warranty plans available, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
- Customer Service: The level of customer service and care provided by an extended warranty company is an important consideration. Our review team sifts through customer reviews and complaints from reputable sources such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and Trustpilot. We also consider the responsiveness of each company's customer service team based on our secret shopper analysis.
- Reputation: Good extended warranty providers consistently provide quality experiences. Our team takes into account BBB ratings and the company's history of reliable service when giving this score.
- Transparency: Customers value a commitment to open and honest communication when it comes to vehicle service contracts. Our team of experts takes into account the availability of money-back guarantees and sample contracts.
Stephen Kenney is a writer and editor who focuses on car insurance, auto financing, and vehicle shipping services. He's a graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill and has experience covering categories ranging from travel to sports to environmental sustainability. In his free time, Stephen enjoys going on long-distance runs, trying out new recipes, and exploring his adopted hometown of Cincinnati.
More by Stephen Kenney
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