Honda Accord extended warranty: cost, coverage and plans
Why an extended warranty could make sense
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Honda Accords are known to have above-average reliability, but considering an extended warranty is still smart for owners who want comprehensive coverage against unexpected repairs, despite the vehicle's strong track record.
We’ll break down what a Honda Accord warranty covers, how much it costs, what your options are and whether a warranty is worth it in the long run.
All new Honda Accords come with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty from the factory.
Jump to insightQuotes we received for an extended auto warranty on a 2021 Accord ranged from $1,039.80 to $765.88 a year. That’s less expensive than the average cost of an extended warranty.
Jump to insightHonda has above-average reliability compared with other vehicles.
Jump to insightGetting an extended warranty on an Accord gives you peace of mind and protection against repair bills once the factory warranty expires.
Jump to insightHonda Accord extended warranty coverage
An extended auto warranty is an optional, paid extension of the factory warranty your Accord comes with. For context, Honda Accords come with the following warranties from the factory:
- A three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- A five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty
Factory warranties follow the vehicle, not the owner. So if you buy a 2-year-old car with 20,000 miles on it, you still have one year or 16,000 miles worth of factory bumper-to-bumper warranty remaining.
For an extended warranty on your Honda Accord, you have two options:
- Buy the official Honda extended warranty, called Honda Care.
- Buy a plan from a third-party extended warranty company, which allows you to take your car to any ASE-certified mechanic for repairs.
A ConsumerAffairs investigation found most drivers couldn't afford to cover a $1,000 repair bill with cash, and 13% had no way to pay a bill that large, even with credit.
Whether you get a third-party plan or a warranty from a dealer, a plan that offers comprehensive, exclusionary protection (often called bumper-to-bumper or Platinum) will provide the most value. These plans cover almost all the parts on your vehicle. Less comprehensive plans (e.g., Gold, Silver, powertrain) may be cheaper, but they also cover fewer parts per dollar.
Auto warranties don't cover damage or accidents, and repairs generally aren't covered if you don't properly maintain the vehicle or you make aftermarket modifications. They only pay for repairs and replacements of specifically covered parts that fail from normal wear and tear.
In general, here are the differences between what a bumper-to-bumper warranty and a powertrain warranty cover:
| Warranty type | Typically covered | Not covered |
|---|---|---|
| Bumper-to-bumper | ||
| Powertrain | Parts that create power and deliver it to the wheels | Parts not related to the engine, transmission or drive axle |
Note that some extended auto warranty plans fall somewhere between bumper-to-bumper and powertrain coverage.
» LEARN: What to know about manufacturers’ extended warranties
How much does a Honda Accord extended warranty cost?
We were quoted $765.88 a year from olive for three years of bumper-to-bumper coverage for a 2021 Honda Accord registered in Austin, Texas, with 40,000 miles. From Endurance, the quote for similar coverage was $1,039.80 annually for 30 months of coverage for the same vehicle with the same mileage. Both quotes assumed a $100 deductible. Note that both of these are third-party extended auto warranty companies.
The “official” Honda extended warranty is called Honda Care, and it may cost less than a third-party option. Be sure to get a quote from your local Honda dealer to compare your options.
In general, quotes for extended auto warranties vary based on coverage, vehicle, deductible, location and other factors. A 2022 Accord with zero miles typically has cheaper extended warranty options than a 2020 model with 50,000 miles, for example.
Prices for an extended auto warranty can vary a lot. Get quotes from multiple providers to be sure you're getting a good deal.
For context, the average cost of an extended warranty is around $1,000 per year of coverage. The quotes we collected for our hypothetical 2021 Honda Accord were less expensive by comparison.
You can save money by going with less coverage, but bumper-to-bumper plans usually provide better value because of how much more protection you get.
Keep in mind that some extended auto warranties start from the original owner's purchase date of the vehicle. So if the factory warranty lasts for four years and 50,000 miles, a six-year/100,000-mile plan may only provide two additional years or 50,000 additional miles of coverage.
Is a Honda Accord extended warranty worth it?
Yes, a Honda Accord extended warranty is worth it. In general, an extended auto warranty is worth it if any of the following are true:
- Your vehicle has a bad reputation for reliability.
- The warranty costs less than you expect to spend on repairs.
- A big repair bill could hurt you financially.
- You don’t mind paying for peace of mind.
Honda as a brand has above-average reliability, with J.D. Power ranking Honda 19th out of 29 car brands for overall dependability. As for the Accord specifically, RepairPal gave it a 4.5 out of 5.
That doesn’t mean Accords are indestructible, though. A few ConsumerAffairs reviewers have reported issues with their cars.
“I purchased my 2021 Honda Accord on June 19, 2021 and on June 21, 2021 my transmission went out after 200 miles,” said Julio in Texas. “I took it into a Honda dealership and was told they would need to replace the transmission, which I was not happy about having a service record on my brand new Honda!”
Ahmed in Minnesota also reported problems: “I bought 2018 Honda Accord about a month ago and it already had fuel injector problem!”
While there are stories of folks driving Accords to nearly 500,000 miles with the original engine, things can still go wrong. Experts will tell you that a powertrain warranty is all you need for peace of mind on older models, but a bumper-to-bumper warranty might make sense on a newer vehicle to avoid dealing with upfront manufacturing defects.
Honda maintenance is fairly cheap in general. On the other hand, the extended warranty quotes we got for our hypothetical Accord were also inexpensive. Ultimately, you have to weigh whether protection against big-ticket repairs is worth it for your peace of mind.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- J.D. Power, “Vehicle Dependability Slumps as Rate of Deterioration Increases, J.D. Power Finds.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
- RepairPal, “Honda Accord Reliability Rating.” Accessed Aug. 14, 2024.
