Honda’s Extended Warranty Includes Some Beneficial Perks | Autance

What IS Included

Honda Care provides four levels of coverage, depending on the type of vehicle you own. This includes New Vehicle Coverage, Pre-Owned Vehicle Coverage, Certified Additional Coverage, and Powertrain Coverage (for pre-owned vehicles only). A Honda Care service contract can cover a vehicle for up to eight years or 120,000 miles. 

The automaker’s extended warranty provides more assistance and coverage than the vehicle’s original bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties as long as you follow Honda’s recommended maintenance schedule. You must purchase Honda Care before the bumper-to-bumper warranty expires, which is three years or 36,000 miles.

The New, Pre-Owned and Certified Additional Coverage plans cover pricey repairs for nearly every component, while the Powertrain plan covers essential powertrain components.

In addition, you have the option of purchasing Honda Care Sentinel and Honda Care Sentinel 3/45, which cover routine oil changes and offer a few other benefits.

Component Coverage

Honda Care’s coverage of components is fairly comprehensive, which reduces and/or eliminates repair costs. The extended warranty plans don’t cover everything, but they provide protection for most parts on your vehicle.

Specifically, the New, Pre-Owned, and Certified Additional Coverage plans cover the following: drivetrain (engine, transmission, differential, and axles), electronics (computers, electronic components, and electrical system), chassis (suspension, steering, and brakes), heating/cooling, and accessories (audio and communication devices, navigation, and security systems).

The Powertrain plan covers vital components such as the engine, front and rear drive axle, transmission, seals, gaskets, and fluids. 

Service for any of the four plans must be performed at a Honda Care-authorized service center.

Added Benefits

Similar to some third-party extended warranties, Honda Care has some additional perks that make it quite compelling. This includes 24-hour roadside assistance that provides towing, tire changes, fuel delivery, and lockout services. 

The automaker’s Concierge Service helps in emergency situations with things such as cash advances, insurance claims, airline ticket assistance, shipment of personal replacement items, and more.

In addition, Honda will reimburse rental car expenses up to $35 per day for up to six days if your vehicle requires any covered repairs and you need a vehicle during that time period. 

Honda Care also provides trip-interruption benefits if you’re over 100 miles from home and your vehicle experiences a mechanical breakdown (accidents and other roadside issues are not included). Meals and lodging are covered up to $100 per day for up to three days. 

Lastly, Honda Care can be transferred one time to a private party if you decide to sell your vehicle before the extended warranty expires. You will receive a full refund if you cancel Honda Care within 60 days and no services have been rendered. Then the contract is prorated for time and mileage.

What’s NOT Included

The Honda warranty excludes items such as wiper blades, batteries, cables, belts, hoses, exhaust system, catalytic converter, brake drums/rotors and shoes/pads, mirror glass, body parts, bumpers, lenses, fuses, outside ornamentation, wheel covers, window handles, upholstery, carpeting, tires, and seat belts.

Also, it only covers genuine Honda parts. So, if you, a local garage, or another facility uses non-manufacturer parts, chances are they will not be covered. This limits the types of modifications and upgrades you can do to your vehicle.

Finally, while roadside assistance covers up to $100 per occurrence, it does not include parts, and the Concierge Service is not available in Florida. 

The Good

What we like about Honda’s extended auto warranty is that it provides comprehensive coverage on components as well as benefits such as emergency assistance while you’re traveling. Compared to most other extended warranty providers, Honda Care provides pretty standard parts coverage, so it doesn’t particularly excel in that area.

However, its extra perks are worth considering if you don’t maintain your own vehicle. If you run out of gas, accidentally lock yourself out of your car, or need help changing a flat tire, roadside assistance is available around the clock. This, in conjunction with the Concierge Service, can be very convenient.

The Bad

As we mentioned earlier, Honda Care covers only Honda parts, and services must be carried out at Honda dealerships or authorized repair shops. If you upgrade your vehicle with performance parts or a local garage uses non-OE or non-OEM components, they will be excluded through the extended warranty.

Another downside is the three-year or 36,000-mile limit that requires you to overlap coverage with the original bumper-to-bumper warranty. If you buy an older Honda that no longer has a factory warranty, you have fewer options when it comes to coverage.

Takeaway Value

Purchasing an extended warranty is a personal preference. It adds a bit of money to your bottom line, so you have to determine whether the extra payments are worth the extra coverage. Nevertheless, Honda Care’s extensive coverage of repairs and replacements is an attractive bargaining chip and can give you some peace of mind. 

The extended warranty’s component coverage combined with its added benefits makes it very appealing, particularly if you don’t want to get stuck with an unexpected repair bill. Heavy drivers will probably take advantage of roadside assistance and trip-interruption coverage more than those who travel less often, so you need to factor that in when making your decision about purchasing Honda Care.