An extended auto warranty is a protection plan you can buy from an automaker or dealership to cover mechanical breakdowns. Third-party providers offer similar coverage in the form of vehicle service contracts. We use these terms interchangeably in this article for simplicity.
Crash Course:
- If you want protection for your Acura after the factory warranty expires, you may consider Acura Care®.
- Acura vehicles have high reliability scores, and RepairPal ranks the manufacturer second out of 32 car brands in overall reliability.
- If you can afford to pay for unexpected car repairs out of pocket, you may not benefit as much from Acura extended warranty coverage.
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Our review team has narrowed down the best extended car warranty plans on the market, considering factors such as cost, coverage, industry reputation, customer satisfaction, and more.
Below, we take a close look at the vehicle service contract options from Acura and the pros and cons of extended car warranties. We’ll explain coverage details and help you decide if an Acura extended warranty is worth it to protect your car long-term.
Acura Extended Warranty Overview
The Acura extended warranty, called Acura Care, is available for new and used vehicles. Before we get into the specific coverage options, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with Acura’s extended warranty terms and conditions.
Acura Extended Warranty Terms And Conditions
- Eligibility: Available for new and used cars model year 2020 or newer with less than 50,000 miles.
- Finance: You can combine the cost of your extended warranty with the price of your vehicle when you purchase an eligible car from an Acura dealership.
- Repairs: Vehicles must be repaired at certified dealerships or service centers.
- Deductible: You can choose your deductible.
- Benefits: Benefits include roadside assistance, car rental reimbursement, trip interruption coverage, and concierge services.
- Transferability: Owners of Acuras can transfer their extended warranty coverage for a fee.
- Cancellation: You must cancel an Acura extended warranty within 60 days to receive a full refund. After that, you will receive a prorated refund.
We rated Acura Care 4.5 out of 5.0 stars mostly due to its lengthy coverage and affordable pricing. Below, you can see how the Acura Care extended warranty scored in each of our review categories:
| Rating Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Coverage | 4.6 |
| Cost | 4.5 |
| Accessibility/Usability | 4.2 |
| Benefits | 5.0 |
| Overall Rating | 4.5 |
Acura Care Extended Warranty Coverage
As with most manufacturer-backed vehicle service contracts, Acura extended warranty coverage varies by dealership. Generally, there are six types of coverage that you may be eligible for depending on whether your car is new, used, or certified pre-owned. Extended coverage is available up to eight years or 120,000 miles.
Acura Care extended warranty coverage plans include:
- New Vehicle Coverage
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Coverage
- Certified Additional Coverage
- Powertrain Coverage (for pre-owned vehicles only)
- Certified Used Powertrain Coverage
- Certified Used Additional Coverage
Powertrain coverage promises to repair or replace parts of the engine, transmission, drive axle, seals, gaskets, and fluids should a breakdown occur. The other levels of coverage include protection for powertrain components, electronics, the chassis, heating and cooling systems, and genuine Acura accessories, such as the infotainment system.
Acura Extended Warranty Benefits
All Acura extended warranties include the following perks:
- 24/7 emergency concierge services: Acura Care concierge services connect you with an agent who can help with directions, hotel reservations, and other critical services.
- Roadside assistance: This service includes towing, lockout assistance, fuel delivery, battery jump-start, flat tire change assistance, and more.
- Rental car reimbursement: Covers up to $45 per day for a maximum of six days while your car is in the shop.
- Trip interruption benefits: Provides up to $100 per day of lodging for a maximum of three days if you break down 100 miles from home.
What’s Not Covered by an Acura Extended Warranty?
In order to keep your Acura extended warranty valid, you must maintain the vehicle in accordance with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule. Certain parts are specifically excluded from coverage under the vehicle protection plan, such as:
- Trim
- Paint
- Fuses
- Hoses
- Frame
- Tires and wheels
- Airbags
- Seat belts
- Wiper blades
- Steering wheel
- Pre-existing issues
- Interior doors and hinges (glovebox, interior panels)
- Damage caused by misuse, nature, accidents, or other non-mechanical incidents
Contracts are transferable and can be canceled for a full refund within 60 days, or for a prorated amount minus a $25 processing fee after 60 days.
Acura Extended Warranty Cost
You are likely to pay between $900 and $2,200 total for an Acura extended warranty.The manufacturer-backed extended warranty costs are not advertised, but we did some secret shopping to determine potential costs. See the table below for quotes we received.
| Acura Model | Mileage | Coverage Length | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 TLX | 45,000 miles | 3 years/120,000 miles | $1,490 |
| 2021 RDX | 35,000 miles | 4 years/80,000 miles | $1,145 |
| 2022 MDX Hybrid | 35,000 miles | 5 years/120,000 miles | $2,240 |
| 2024 MDX | 20,000 miles | 6 years/80,000 miles | $1,260 |
These costs are comparable to similar vehicle service contracts offered by third-party providers.
Because you can only buy Acura Care from a dealership, pricing will vary and may be negotiable. If you’re buying a new Acura or leasing your vehicle, you can choose to roll the cost of an extended warranty into your financing agreement but you’ll end up paying interest on the coverage.
Is an Acura Extended Warranty Worth It?
The Acura extended warranty is fairly comprehensive, but what is the likelihood that you will need the coverage you pay for? Before purchasing an extended car warranty, it’s a good idea to research your vehicle’s reliability. Highly reliable cars may not benefit much from extended warranty protection, but it can be a great investment for those that experience frequent problems.
Acura Reliability
According to RepairPal, Acuras are reliable cars. The brand scored 4.0 out of 5.0 in RepairPal’s most recent reliability rating and ranked second out of 32 brands surveyed. Furthermore, Acura owners report only 0.4 visits to a repair shop per year with only 8% of the repairs needed being severe.
Given Acura’s reputation for building reliable cars, an extended warranty may not be worth it for some drivers. But for others, the cost of repairs may cause financial distress, and the warranty cost may end up being less than typical annual repair costs.
Acura Repair Costs
On average, Acura repairs cost $501 per year. That is 23% cheaper than the average repair cost across all brands.
See the average cost of Acura repairs for several models in the table below:
| Acura Model | Repair | Repair Cost |
|---|---|---|
| TLX | CV Joint Replacement | $483 to $529 |
| ILX | Coolant Reservoir Replacement | $323 to $337 |
| TSX | Spark Plug Replacement | $164 to $176 |
| RDX | Ignition Coil Replacement | $328 to $491 |
As you can see, Acuras have a lower annual repair cost and a lower chance of needing a major repair than the average vehicle. Because these vehicles are so reliable, you should only purchase an Acura extended warranty if the price is low.
Acura Factory Warranty
Another thing to consider when deciding on a warranty is how long you plan to keep your Acura. All new cars include some amount of limited warranty protection for free with purchase. If you plan to sell your vehicle before its manufacturer’s warranty expires, there’s little value in buying Acura extended warranty coverage. New Acuras are covered by the following warranties:
- 4-year/50,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty
- 5-year/unlimited-mile rust perforation warranty
- 6-year/70,000-mile powertrain warranty
- 15-year/150,000-mile seat belt warranty
Acura CPO Warranty
Certified pre-owned (CPO) Acuras come with warranty protection as well, including a two year or 100,000 mile bumper-to-bumper extended warranty that applies once the original factory warranty ends. The CPO Acura warranty extends the original powertrain coverage to seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. CPO Acuras also come with a complimentary scheduled maintenance visit.
Acura’s warranty plans aren’t the shortest in the industry, but also aren’t the longest. If you plan on driving your Acura for more than a handful of years, you may want to consider an extended warranty to keep your car covered and give you added peace of mind on the road.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
If you’re considering an extended warranty for your Acura, you can purchase one from the dealership or from an independent warranty company. While the Acura extended warranty provides extensive protection for covered repairs and guarantees the use of trained technicians and genuine Acura parts, there are many benefits to choosing third-party vehicle service contracts.
Best Third-Party Extended Warranty Company for Acura Vehicles
The best car warranty companies can provide coverage for older vehicles, with higher limits, more plan options, and larger repair shop networks. These contracts can also be significantly less expensive because there’s no dealer markup.
Endurance: Best Overall
Endurance scored the highest of any extended warranty provider our research team reviewed, earning 4.6 out of 5.0 stars. The company offers six levels of coverage that boast affordable pricing, excellent benefits, and add-on options for maintenance and other services. Endurance is a direct extended warranty provider, meaning you won’t have to work with any unexpected companies or contractors when making a claim.
Read more in our Endurance warranty review.
Acura Extended Warranty: Conclusion
Acura Care offers a surprising number of extended warranty options compared to many other manufacturers. However, a restrictive purchase window and limited repair options mean Acura owners might benefit from exploring third-party extended warranty options.
Frequently Asked Questions: Acura Extended Warranty
Below, we cover some of the most frequently asked questions about an Acura extended warranty:
Does Acura offer an extended warranty?
Acura offers an extended warranty called Acura Care. There are six types of coverage that you may be eligible for depending on whether your vehicle is new, used, or certified pre-owned. These warranties can lengthen factory coverage up to eight years or 120,000 miles and cover the majority of Acura parts and components. However, repairs must be done at an Acura dealership.
Is an Acura extended warranty worth it?
While the cost of an Acura extended warranty is low relative to other manufacturers, Acuras are known for their reliability. This means that you may pay more for an Acura extended warranty than you would pay out of pocket for repairs. However, many drivers still find the coverage worth it for the peace of mind and extra protection if a major breakdown does occur.
How much should an extended warranty cost?
The price of an extended warranty depends on factors including your vehicle type, mileage, the warranty length, and your deductible. Luxury brands can be more expensive to cover. Typically, drivers can expect to pay anywhere from $500 to $1,000 per year of extended warranty coverage.
What does the Acura extended warranty cover?
The Acura extended warranty covers powertrain components, electronics, the chassis, heating and cooling systems, and Acura genuine accessories such as the infotainment system. The coverage extends the manufacturer’s new vehicle limited warranty up to eight years or 120,000 miles from a vehicle’s in-service date.
Our Methodology: How We Rated The Acura Extended Warranty
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.
- Industry Standing: Our team considers Better Business Bureau (BBB) ratings, availability, and years in business when giving this score.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
