A division of Honda, Acura occupies an interesting position in the auto industry – it’s considered a luxury brand that’s known for its reliability and safety features. The manufacturer’s dependability is just one factor that comes into play when deciding whether to purchase an Acura extended warranty.
In this article, we’ll look at the ins and outs of the Acura extended car warranty and discuss the benefits of third-party providers. To make your life a little easier, we’ve narrowed down the best extended car warranty companies on the market and will let you know how to get quality third-party coverage.
You can go ahead and start comparing free Acura extended warranty quotes from our top recommended providers below.
What Does the Acura Extended Warranty Cover?
Acura extended warranty plans, called Acura Care® Vehicle Service Contracts, come in four coverage levels. Instead of having set term limits, these plans are more open-ended than the average extended auto warranty.
Here are the four Acura extended warranty plans your vehicle may be eligible for depending on where it is in its life cycle:
- New Vehicle Coverage
- Pre-Owned Vehicle Coverage
- Certified Additional Coverage
- Powertrain Coverage (for pre-owned vehicles only)
Oddly, that’s almost all the information you can get about Acura’s coverage without contacting your local dealership. The manufacturer doesn’t map out any contract lengths or standard exclusions, so your Acura extended warranty coverage is built by you and the dealer.
With the New, Pre-Owned and Certified Additional Coverage plans, you’re given these starting points for what’s included:
- Engine
- Transmission
- Differential
- Axles
- Computers
- Electronic components
- Electrical system
- Suspension
- Steering and brake systems
- Engine heating and cooling systems
- Air conditioning
- Audio and communication devices
- Navigation systems
- Security systems
These plans mimic standard bumper-to-bumper vehicle service contracts, but it’s hard to know based on Acura’s publicly available information.
The Powertrain coverage plan offers protection for your engine, transmission and drive axle, as well as seals and gaskets.
Cost of an Acura Extended Warranty
If you’re interested in knowing the exact cost of an Acura extended warranty, you’ll need to call a dealership. The final cost of your vehicle service contract will depend on factors such as the age and mileage of your vehicle, your location, the plan length you choose, and your deductible.
Acura mentions on its website that the cost of a warranty can be broken down into a payment plan. If you purchase coverage when you buy your vehicle, you may also have the option to roll the cost of your Acura extended warranty into your car loan, but keep in mind that doing this will mean you’ll be paying interest on your plan over time.
If you’re unhappy with your Acura warranty after purchase, you have 60 days to cancel coverage and receive a full refund. You’re able to cancel the warranty beyond that period, but your refund will be prorated.
What’s Not Included?
The Acura extended warranty doesn’t have set exclusions, so you can work with your dealer to decide what coverage you need and don’t need. We expect that normal exclusions like wear-and-tear items, collision damage and environmental damages will still apply, though.
One thing to note about the Acura extended warranty is that when your vehicle needs a covered repair, you must take your car into an Acura dealership. This guarantees that repairs will be made by a factory-trained technician using genuine Acura parts. However, if you don’t live near a dealership, this can be a headache. The manufacturer does mention, however, that under particularly limited circumstances, you can bring your car to an authorized repair shop instead.
Additional Perks of an Acura Extended Warranty
While the manufacturer’s website doesn’t have much outlined regarding coverage details, it does list added benefits that come with all Acura extended warranty plans. These include:
- 24-hour roadside assistance: Includes jump-start services, tire changes, lockout services and fuel deliveries
- Towing: Courtesy towing to the nearest Acura dealership should your vehicle become inoperable
- Trip interruption coverage: Covers meals and lodging up to $100 per day for a maximum of three days if your vehicle breaks down more than 100 miles from your home
- Concierge service: Includes insurance claims assistance, emergency airline ticket assistance, auto glass replacement referrals and more
- Rental car reimbursement: Up to $45 per day for a maximum of six days
The perks that come with Acura extended warranty coverage are relatively standard, but the concierge service is a nice addition that’s not offered with most other manufacturers’ vehicle protection plans.
Do You Need Extended Warranty Coverage?
When deciding whether to purchase an Acura extended warranty, consider factors like your personal financial situation, how long you intend on owning your car and the manufacturer’s dependability. Only you can speak to your finances and driving habits, but we’ve got your back on Acura’s reliability and average repair costs.
Acura’s Reliability
According to RepairPal, Acura vehicles rank highly in terms of dependability. Acura came in second out of 32 car brands in RepairPal’s most recent Reliability Rating, earning a score of 4.0 out of 5.0. The only brand to beat Acura was its parent company, Honda.
Acura’s Average Repair Costs
If your vehicle is reliable, it could mean that you won’t end up needing to use your Acura extended warranty coverage. However, even the most dependable vehicles will need to visit the repair shop from time to time.
On average, Acura drivers pay $501 annually in repair costs. This is nearly 25% less than the industry-wide average repair cost, which is $652. Below, we’ve compiled examples of what common Acura repairs may cost you out of pocket if you don’t have an extended warranty.
| Acura Model | Common Repair | Estimated Cost* |
|---|---|---|
| Acura Legend | Water pump replacement | $632 to $906 |
| Acura RL | Alternator replacement | $519 to $775 |
| Acura RSX | Intake manifold gasket replacement | $248 to $290 |
| Acura TL | Stabilizer bushing replacement | $181 to $225 |
*Data from RepairPal.
What Coverage Do You Already Have?
All new vehicles come with a factory warranty that will cover repair costs such as those listed above for the initial duration of your ownership. Most extended car warranties won’t begin until your manufacturer’s warranty expires, but this isn’t always the case. The two can overlap, giving you unneeded redundant protection. Let’s discuss Acura’s factory warranty.
The Acura warranty has two main parts: a New Vehicle Limited Warranty and a Powertrain Limited Warranty. The New Vehicle Limited Warranty acts as bumper-to-bumper coverage and protects your car for 4 years or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. The Powertrain Limited Warranty stretches for 6 years or 100,000 miles.
The bumper-to-bumper plan is average, but the Powertrain warranty is a little longer than some other manufacturers’ warranties. If you plan to own your vehicle for longer than the duration of your factory warranty, however, an Acura extended warranty can keep you protected as your vehicle ages and becomes more prone to mechanical breakdowns.
Benefits of a Third-Party Extended Warranty
If you think you could benefit from an Acura extended warranty, we recommend looking into third-party providers. While the manufacturer-backed Acura extended warranty is open-ended and highly customizable, you could easily get burned by a dealership if you’re not well-versed in vehicle service contracts.
Reputable extended car warranty companies can take out the guesswork of building a warranty from scratch without compromising on flexibility. Other benefits to choosing a third-party warranty include:
- Third-party warranties are typically cheaper because they’re not subject to dealer markups and are often negotiable.
- Instead of having to take your vehicle back to the dealership when it breaks down, you have many different options when it comes to repair shops.
- Third-party providers are a great option for older vehicles, with many companies offering an extended car warranty for cars over 100,000 miles.
Final Thoughts on the Acura Extended Warranty
Because there is so much uncertainty around the Acura extended warranty, we recommend checking out third-party providers like Endurance and CARCHEX, which offer better peace of mind.
You may be able to build a great extended warranty plan through Acura, but because you won’t be able to see contract details until you’re sitting face-to-face with a salesman, chances are you may not walk away with the exact coverage or price you want. It’s better to get risk-free quotes and read over sample contracts on your own time so that you can make a fully educated decision when it comes to investing in a vehicle protection plan.
To start getting free, no-obligation quotes from our top recommended third-party providers, click below.
Methodology
The Detroit Bureau collects data from every major car warranty provider to formulate rankings of the best warranty companies. Our in-depth rating system takes into account coverage, pricing, transparency, customer satisfaction and ratings from industry experts. Each provider is given a weighted score in five categories, as well as an overall score out of 10.0.
We recommend auto warranty companies based on these rankings, but we also encourage you to perform your own research and compare quotes to find the best coverage.
