Honda Care Extended Warranty Review

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Crash Course:

• Honda’s extended vehicle protection plan, better known as Honda Care, is a customizable program that can cover breakdowns up to 8 years or 120,000 miles.
• We found an extended bumper-to-bumper warranty from Honda for around $2,302 but this can vary based on the model, mileage, and age of your vehicle.
• A Honda extended warranty can be worth it if you want the benefits of a certified technician, but typically a third-party contract has better value.

While the Honda factory warranty protects your vehicle’s most important parts and components for the first three years of ownership, you may plan to keep your vehicle longer than that. A Honda extended warranty is one way to increase coverage up to a total of eight years and 120,000 miles.

If you’re concerned by the cost of a Honda extended warranty, it’s worth researching and comparing third-party warranty options. We’ve reviewed many of the best extended car warranty companies and compiled a comprehensive guide to Honda vehicle protection plans. By reading this guide and comparing quotes from several providers, you’ll be better equipped to compare and select the right extended warranty plan for your Honda. 

What Does the Honda Care Extended Warranty Cover?

Honda’s extended vehicle protection plan or Honda Care program allows customers to create a coverage extension package. Honda Care is available for up to eight years or 120,000 miles and provides coverage for the following vehicle systems:

• Chassis (drive): Covers the braking, steering, and suspension systems
• Climate control: Covers the air conditioning, heating, and cooling systems
• Powertrain: Covers the engine, transmission system, differentials, and axle assembly
• Electronic units: Covers the engine control unit, conventional/hybrid batteries, and electronic cabin systems (e.g. audio, navigation)
• Honda Genuine Accessories: Covers navigational and security systems, as well as audio and communication devices and accessories

Available for new and pre-owned vehicles, you can add Honda Care at any point before the expiration of the standard three-year or 36,000-mile Honda factory warranty. To ensure comprehensive and cost-efficient coverage, we recommend you wait until your factory warranty is about to lapse before augmenting it with an extended warranty.

With Honda Care, you’re eligible for a range of attractive perks, including 24/7 roadside assistance, trip interruption protection, rental car reimbursement, and concierge services.

Honda Care Additional Coverage Options

If you’re looking to secure additional coverage for general maintenance tasks, the Honda extended warranty program can be stacked with Honda Care Sentinel, a subordinate extended warranty plan that provides coverage for less expensive maintenance, such as tire damage or unscheduled oil and fluid replacement.

Also, if you currently own or plan on purchasing multiple Honda vehicles, you might want to consider applying for the Honda Care Family Plan, a multi-car warranty package for sharing roadside assistance and rental car reimbursement perks.

Honda Extended Warranty Cost

We contacted several third-party extended car warranty companies to learn what it would cost to protect a 2018 Honda Civic about to run out of warranty coverage. Extended bumper-to-bumper Honda warranty coverage averaged a total price of $2,302. This could be paid completely upfront or over payment terms as long as 48 months. Monthly payments ranged from $52.50 to $107.25.

In some cases, your Honda dealership may also offer to bundle your Honda Care plan premiums and origination costs with your vehicle’s broader financing agreement. However, we can’t in good faith recommend this payment structure for current or soon-to-be Honda owners. Even though it might be convenient to roll your vehicle service contract into your car loan, it’ll also mean you’ll end up paying interest on your warranty premiums. 

Honda Care Vehicle Service Contract Deductible

The deductible is a predetermined minimum dollar amount you must pay for claimed repairs or services. Honda Care extended warranty plans come with either a $0 or $100 deductible. Remember, even though selecting the $100 deductible means a lower monthly warranty premium, it also means you’ll be paying more for every service repair you incur over the life of the warranty. 

Factors Affected Honda Extended Warranty Costs

The cost of your Honda warranty will be determined, deductible choice aside, by the following five factors:

• Coverage customization: The more comprehensive the warranty coverage, the more expensive the premium.
• Provider choice: In most cases, extended warranties from third-party providers have less expensive premiums than Honda dealership extended warranties.
• Existing coverage: If you choose to stack an extended warranty on your car’s unexpired factory warranty, you will be charged a discounted premium rate.
• Vehicle age: Older vehicles tend to have a higher risk of defects and service issues. As a result, your car’s age and mileage will factor into the calculation of your premium cost. 
• Vehicle model: Your Honda model will be cross-referenced against historic defect and reliability data. If this information indicates a higher-than-average chance of a coverage event, your premium will be more expensive.

Do You Need A Honda Extended Warranty?

A vehicle service contract, more commonly known as an extended warranty, provides Honda owners with protection against out-of-pocket costs for future car repairs, service labor expenses, and upcoming maintenance bills. Before purchasing a Honda extended warranty, you should consider the factory warranty coverage that you already have as well as your vehicle’s reliability.

Unlike the factory warranty, a Honda extended warranty can generally be extended much longer into the life of the vehicle. For example, an American drives an average of 13,476 miles per year, according to the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. If that’s you, then you’ll max out your Honda New Limited Warranty in under three years. A CARCHEX Extended Vehicle Protection Plan can last up to 10 years, depending on your coverage plan. As people hope to keep their cars for longer, an extended warranty may be the perfect solution to saving on expensive repairs likely to occur as your car ages.

What’s Covered Under Honda’s Factory Warranty?

Honda factory warranty coverage kicks in the second you drive your vehicle away from the dealership. However, not all factory warranties are created equally. Here’s what coverages and coverage term conditions are included in Honda’s factory warranty:

• New Vehicle Limited Warranty (3 years, 36,000 miles): This comprehensive warranty, also known as a bumper-to-bumper warranty, covers all major parts and systems of your vehicle that break down due to malfunction or defects.
• Powertrain Limited Warranty (5 years, 60,000 miles): This includes coverage for the engine, transmission, and drive systems.
• Federal Emissions Warranty (3 years, 36,000 miles): If your vehicle fails an emissions test during the warranty period due to defective parts, Honda will adjust those parts.
• High Voltage Battery Capacity Warranty (8 years, 100,000 miles): This covers greater than normal degradation of your high voltage battery.
• Seat Belt Limited Warranty (15 years, 150,000 miles): Covers defects in your vehicle’s seat belts.
• Rust Perforation Limited Warranty (5 years, unlimited mileage): Covers rust that occurs from the inside of the vehicle outward due to corrosion. It does not cover rust that forms on the outside of the vehicle and corrodes inwards.

Honda Maintenance Cost

On average, Honda maintenance costs are around $428 every year, according to RepairPal. So, after 15 years of ownership, the average Honda owner can expect to pay up to $6,420 in repair costs – and remember, that’s only considering average annual repair expenses. For this reason, we believe long-term warranty coverage is important for your financial security and overall peace of mind.

Honda Reliability & Repair Preparation

According to RepairPal’s 2023 Reliability Rating list, Honda, which received a 4.0 out of 5.0, is the most reliable car brand in the U.S (out of 32 auto companies surveyed). These ratings are drawn from an in-depth analysis of average repair costs and mileage reliability across 345 unique automobile models.

Although Honda was once known for being a reliable car maker, the most recent dependability study by J.D. Power ranks Honda in the lower half of the brands. This declined reliability doesn’t mean Honda vehicles are a bad choice, but it should have you thinking about how you’ll repair your car when it breaks down.

Remember, no matter how reliable your vehicle is, repair projections are still an important factor in choosing an extended warranty plan. In fact, a 2022 study from J.D. Power found that Hondas exhibited 230 problems per 100 vehicles over a one-year period. If you know the type and timeframe of service work to expect, you can choose and customize your extended warranty options accordingly.

Common Repair Costs for Popular Honda Models

To help kickstart this process, we’ve listed three popular Honda models and the cost of their most common repairs below:

• Honda Accord: Replacing the ignition switch will cost between $125 and $275, according to Auto Service Costs.
• Honda Civic: Replacing the catalytic converter will cost between $945 and $2,475, according to CarBrain.com.
• Honda CR-V: Replacing the variable valve timing control solenoid will cost between $371 and $672, according to RepairPal.

Is Honda Care Worth it?

While the Honda Care extended warranty is a serviceable coverage plan, it tends to come with higher costs for similar benefits compared to third-party providers. You will also have less flexibility for personal repairs and plan choices. However, with a Honda extended warranty, you’ll have access to certified technicians who specialize in maintenance and repairs for your vehicle.

Below, we’ve summarized our experience and thoughts on what we do and don’t like about Honda Care:

3 Things We Like About The Honda Care Extended Warranty

1. Honda Care can be transferred between private entities for a $50 fee.
2. Concierge support is a very useful feature. With the press of a button, you are connected to a live agent who can help you with everything from dinner reservations to event booking and trip planning assistance.
3. After purchasing a Honda extended warranty for your car, you also benefit from a range of other worthwhile incentives, including roadside assistance, towing services, and fuel delivery.

3 Things We Don’t Like About Honda Care Extended Warranty

1. You can find other options that are less expensive than Honda Care. We collected quotes from several third parties for a 2018 Honda Civic and got as low as $52.50 per month.
2. After purchasing a Honda Care plan, personally maintaining your vehicle tends to become a coverage liability. This means any evidence of DIY repairs, even temporary patch-ups, could potentially void coverage for a claim event.
3. For Honda Care to approve covered repairs, you will need to have your vehicle serviced by Honda technicians and replace any components with Honda OEM parts. If you break down in a remote area and have to take your car to a mechanic with non-manufacturer components, you may find your car’s repair and service bills omitted from coverage.

Why Should You Consider a Third-Party Extended Warranty for Your Honda?

Despite some limitations, Honda Care is an adequate extended warranty plan and, on the surface, it’s easy to see the advantage of packaging your car brand and warranty with the same company. However, more often than not, you can net a more inclusive, affordable deal by reaching out to a third-party extended warranty provider.

First of all, although coverage flexibility will depend on your specific choice of warranty provider, third-party extended warranty plans are generally more customizable than dealership vehicle service contracts. This means you can tweak your coverage according to your specific requirements, be it warranty budget, specific model issues, or projected driving mileage.

Secondly, coverage under a third-party provider is not contingent on service at a specific dealership or repairs with company components from company technicians. This means you have the freedom to work with trusted local mechanics and service centers. Once your claim is approved, your warranty provider will handle everything directly with the mechanic. That means no paying up front and chasing down reimbursement checks.

Thirdly, the average premium cost for third-party extended warranties is generally cheaper than for dealership vehicle service contracts. This is because third-party providers are not contractually bound to one single auto company, enabling them to access and compete with a much broader customer market.

Honda Care Warranty: Conclusion

While a Honda extended warranty from Honda Care may seem like an attractive option at the dealership, you can find better deals elsewhere. With any warranty consideration, we recommend you compare options, plan coverages, and benefits before making a decision that is right for you.

Best Honda Extended Warranty

CARCHEX is a leader in the vehicle protection industry. As a top-rated warranty company on Trustpilot and with an A+ Better Business Bureau rating, it’s easy to see that CARCHEX believes in providing excellent customer service. If you’re looking for the best option to protect your vehicle even after the Honda warranty expires, a CARCHEX extended warranty could be the perfect option.

Plans Offered by CARCHEX

CARCHEX is a service contract broker. This means it has access to multiple car warranty providers to give you a range of coverage levels and plan options. The company provides five levels of coverage ranging from basic coverage for the most expensive repairs to comprehensive, bumper-to-bumper covers with few exclusions.

• Titanium Coverage: The highest level of coverage for your Honda vehicle. With up to 10 years of protection, it’s the most comprehensive plan CARCHEX offers. It covers nearly all your vehicle’s parts and systems.
• Platinum Coverage: Offering up to 10 years of coverage, this plan is a stated-component coverage option. The stated components of Platinum level plans include hundreds of parts and systems to give you the best combination of coverage and affordability.
• Gold Coverage: Up to 10 years of comprehensive coverage with flexible terms, Gold coverage plans are ideal for Honda vehicles with over 60,000 miles.
• Silver Coverage: Silver level plans provide coverage for the essential systems in your vehicle for up to seven years. This plan is great for older cars or those with higher mileage.
• Bronze Coverage: Available for up to six years, this level helps cover the most expensive repairs. It’s a good fit for older cars prone to costly engine or transmission issues.

In each tier, there are multiple plan options from different vehicle service contract providers. While going through each type of contract from the different providers can seem daunting, having so many protection plans available gives you the best chance of finding the right extended vehicle warranty. When you talk to CARCHEX about a quote, the representatives can help you narrow down the best plan for your Honda vehicle and budget.

Why Choose CARCHEX for Your Honda Extended Protection?

CARCHEX is a top choice when it comes to third-party extended warranty companies. Their commitment to customer service is seen in their BBB A+ rating and long-term accreditation. By choosing an Extended Vehicle Protection Plan from CARCHEX, you’ll also get access to important benefits, such as:

• 30-Day Money Back Guarantee: If you decide you don’t want your CARCHEX plan, you can cancel with no questions asked within the first 30 days.
• Affordable and flexible pricing: The price of CARCHEX protection plans are comparable to other top extended car warranty providers, and monthly payment options are available.
• Your repair shop is paid directly: Unlike a branded Honda extended warranty, CARCHEX plans allow you to choose your repair shop from over 30,000 ASE-certified shops across the country. You also won’t have to deal with footing an expensive bill and waiting for reimbursement, as CARCHEX pays repair shops directly.
• Extra perks: With any CARCHEX plan, even basic coverage, you’ll get access to 24/7 roadside assistance at no extra charge. This includes a towing service allowance, trip interruption services, and rental car reimbursement when your car is in the shop.

Learn how to protect your Honda and get a free quote from CARCHEX today by calling 866-254-0205 or by answering a few questions online about your Honda. They’ll provide a price that’s customized to your model and year, driving habits, budget, and needs.

Get a free, no-obligation quote and compare coverage and costs to find the best protection for your Honda.

Honda Extended Warranty: FAQ 

Below are some frequently asked questions about honda care extended warranties:

Our Methodology

Our expert review team takes satisfaction in providing accurate and unbiased information. We identified the following rating categories based on consumer survey data and conducted extensive research to formulate rankings of the best extended auto warranty providers.

• Affordability: A variety of factors influence cost, so it can be difficult to compare quotes between providers. Our team performs ongoing secret shopper analyses for different vehicles, mileages, warranty plans, and locations to give this rating.
• Coverage: Because each consumer has unique needs, it’s essential that a car warranty company offers an array of coverage options. We take into account the number of plans offered by each provider, term limits, exclusions, and additional benefits.
• Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
• Customer Service: Reputable extended car warranty companies operate with a certain degree of care for consumers. We take into account customer reviews, BBB complaints, and the responsiveness of the customer service team.