How Affordable Is the Average Honda Maintenance Cost?

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Many of Honda’s sleek new vehicles have attractive price tags, but that’s not all that it takes to own a car. It’s definitely worth looking at the average annual Honda maintenance cost to see what kind of a financial commitment you’re getting yourself into.

Fortunately, Honda vehicles are known for reliability and affordable maintenance. Read on to find out what you can expect to pay per year on average. We’ll also cover Honda’s general maintenance schedule and estimated prices.

Practicing regular maintenance can reduce the likelihood of unexpected repairs, but all cars have breakdowns. You can get an extended warranty to protect against emergency repairs from a wide range of providers. We’ve reviewed the best extended car warranty companies, and we recommend comparing free quotes from multiple top providers to find the best price.

Remember, not everyone has the same driving habits, and some people drive on dirt or gravel roads more often than others. For this reason, there is an alternate service schedule to use if your conditions aren’t standard. This may include replacing your transmission fluid or brake pads more often or going in for an extra engine oil change or tire rotation on occasion.

Your Maintenance Minder will let you know when a service is due, of course, but it's good to be aware of the general schedule. The idea is that each 7,500-mile interval comes about every six months, but you may find that you drive many more miles than that in a six-month period.

Honda vehicles are very economical, but they do require some investment beyond the purchase price. The best way to reduce your ownership costs over time is to stick to the factory-recommended car maintenance schedule. Don't be afraid to bring your vehicle in a little bit early. That's much better than waiting too long between services and experiencing a larger repair down the road as a result.

Some companies provide free maintenance with new vehicles for a certain period of time, but Honda is not one of them. You do have the option to purchase a prepaid maintenance plan called Honda Care MaintenanceTM. A plan like this can help you save on your yearly Honda maintenance cost, as it ensures standard recurring services won't get more expensive over time. You also might be more likely to take your car in right away when your service light illuminates since you've already paid for routine maintenance.

So, by now you know Honda’s vehicles are very reliable. You might expect that Honda would offer a long factory warranty period because of this. However, the opposite is true. Honda's factory bumper-to-bumper warranty lasts for 3 years/36,000 miles, which is the shortest in the industry. Its powertrain warranty lasts for 5 years/60,000 miles.

If you want to cover mechanical repairs after the factory warranty has expired, you can get an extended warranty from Honda or from third-party companies. Honda’s extended warranty is called Honda Care®, and it comes in a few varieties for new, used, and certified pre-owned vehicles.

Honda Care can cover vehicles up to 120,000 miles. That might sound like a lot, but if you take care of your Honda, you can probably drive it much longer. Also, Honda Care requires you to go to a Honda dealership for repairs. Downsides of this are that you can't choose your own mechanic, and a non-covered car repair is typically more expensive to have completed by a dealership than an independent shop.

At the end of the day, it can make more sense to choose a plan from a third-party extended warranty provider. Third-party plans can match Honda Care in terms of covered parts, and they can last more than twice as long. You can also go to any licensed repair facility for coverage.

Hondas are solid vehicles. Some of the repairs we mentioned above may not happen until after 120,000 miles. The good thing is that most third-party extended warranty plans cover these types of repairs.

If you only have time to check out one company, Endurance is definitely our top choice. Endurance is a direct warranty provider, which means there’s no middleman to contact when you file a claim.

Endurance offers six different plans that can cover over 200,000 miles. That's a good distance for your Honda Accord or Civic. In addition to standard warranty coverage, it also has plans that combine breakdown coverage and prepaid maintenance. Plus, all plans come with a wide range of added benefits, including roadside assistance, tire repair or replacement, and total loss protection.

Learn more about this provider in our Endurance warranty review, and get a free, personalized quote from Endurance below.

Our rating: 4.6 out of 5.0

Endurance is our pick for best coverage with its comprehensive warranty options.

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(888) 650-5952

CarShield also offers a wide range of coverage options that can last up to 300,000 miles. Where CarShield really stands out is for its affordable prices.

After a secret shopper analysis of the industry’s leading providers, we found that CarShield quoted us the best prices overall, and without sacrificing quality. Many Honda owners appreciate the brand's low ownership costs, and CarShield is a good option for staying under budget with repair coverage. CarShield’s extra benefits include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage.

Check out our CarShield review to learn more.

Q & A

Are Honda cars high-maintenance?

Honda cars are generally not high-maintenance vehicles. You don't have to worry about expensive Honda maintenance costs, and the maintenance schedule is easy to follow.

Is the Honda maintenance plan worth it?

A Honda Care Maintenance plan can be worth it if you plan on visiting the dealership for each service. However, you can probably save a little bit of money if you pay for services at a reputable independent shop.

What car is the cheapest to maintain?

According to RepairPal, Honda Civic owners only pay about $368 per year for maintenance and repairs. This is extremely cheap, especially considering the industry average is $652 per year.