Acura Care Frequently Asked Questions

• Questions about coverage

  • Is Acura Care coverage the same as the standard factory warranty?

    No, not exactly. You should think of Acura Care as mechanical/electrical coverage. Some things, such as soft trim (upholstery, carpeting, etc.), are not covered by Acura Care but are covered by the original factory warranty. You should read "What is not covered" for the complete terms & conditions.

  • Is Acura Care a bumper-to-bumper warranty?

    Acura Care is a vehicle service contract (VSC) that offers "exclusionary coverage," the best type of coverage available. This means that whatever goes wrong, if it is not on the short list of not covered items, it is covered.

• Maintenance & your responsibilities

  • What are my responsibilities under the agreement

    Perform scheduled maintenance as outlined in your owner's manual.
    
    Take reasonable care not to do further damage when a problem occurs.
    
    See "Your Obligations"
    
    

  • Do I need to follow the dealer’s maintenance schedule?

    Some dealers use the same maintenance schedule for all models, a one size fits all approach. You need to follow the schedule as outlined in your Owner's manual. Your particular model's service schedule may differ from what is outlined in the dealer's suggested schedule. Keep in mind that the schedule in the Owner's manual shows the minimum required and shorter service intervals may prove to be beneficial for your car in the years to come.

  • Do I have to go to a Acura dealer for regular maintenance?

    While an Acura dealer may be the best place to go for regular maintenance since an Acura dealer knows your car the best, the answer is no, regular maintenance can be performed anywhere as long as you keep proof that maintenance has been performed.

  • Can I change my own oil?

    Yes, you can change do your own oil changes, but make sure that you keep a service log and receipts for purchases. Also make sure that you use the correct weight/viscosity of oil.
    
    (Please be environmentally responsible and safely dispose of your drain oil. Check with your local dealer and see if they will take it from you.)

• Questions about claims

  • How are claims handled?

    If you go to an Acura dealer, claims are handled in a similar fashion as regular Acura warranty claims and the dealer is directly paid by Honda. So, if you have a zero deductible plan, all you will need to do is to sign the repair order. If the covered repair means an extended stay in the shop, you will qualify for a rental car.

  • What if there is no Acura dealer nearby?

    You can use Acura Care at any licensed repair facility. However, in these cases, Acura Care will act more like a third-party plan and the repair facility will need to call Honda for authorization to repair your vehicle. Keep in mind, that unless it is an emergency situation, Honda will only allow Acura authorized parts to be used in repairing your vehicle and this may create an extended delay if the repair is performed by a non-Acura shop.

  • Can I use my own mechanic?

    Yes, you can use your own mechanic, but the repair must be authorized by Honda and Acura parts must be used. Keep in mind that Acura technicians are continually trained to keep up with the latest technological changes in today's Acuras and Acura dealers spend thousands of dollars each year for specialized tools to repair your vehicle. Even if your local mechanic is a nice guy and was formally an Acura certified technician, he will be at a disadvantage since he will not have the have the latest training, tools or information available to him.

  • How does the deductible work?

    If your plan has a deductible, it is paid on a per visit basis, regardless of home many repairs are made during that visit.

  • Do I need to show proof of maintenance each time I have a repair.

    Proof of maintenance will usually only come into play if a lack of maintenance is suspected to be the cause of the failure.

  • Will adding aftermarket parts void my warranty?

    Adding aftermarket parts will not void your warranty. However, aftermarket parts will not be covered and if an aftermarket part is deemed to be the cause of a failure of an otherwise covered part or component, the normally covered part or component will not be covered.

• When is the best time to purchase Acura Care?

  The best time to buy is when your Acura is still new and has less than 6,000 miles. This is when the longest terms are available and the best pricing is available to you.
  
  You can purchase Acura Care right up until your Acura is 4 model years old and has less than 50,000 miles, but as you vehicle ages, the the term of the plans available to you get shorter.

• Where can I purchase Acura Care?

  All Acura dealers can sell Acura Care. Keep in mind that Acura Care is a contract between you and Honda, not between you and the dealer, so you don't have to buy it from the same dealer as you purchased your vehicle.

• My dealer doesn't offer Acura Care, what can I do?

  While all Acura dealers can offer Acura Care, for reasons of their own, some dealers do not. Some dealers that are part of a chain offer their own warranties. They may do this to simplify internal administration of service contracts. Otherwise their personnel would need to learn the policies and procedures of several manufacturers. Having just one plan, sold at all of their franchises, makes it easier on them.
  
  If your local dealer doesn't offer Acura Care, find an Acura dealer that does. Even if your local dealer doesn’t sell it, they are contractually obligated with Honda to honor Acura Care.

• Acura extended warranty vs Acura service contract

  Some people use the terms "extended warranty" and "service contract" interchangeably. However, there is a difference between the two. The rule of thumb is that if you pay for it, it's a service contract, but if you get it free, it's an extended warranty. As an example: When you purchase a new Acura, along with it comes a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. You don't pay for this, it is a warranty. Let's say that you purchase a "Certified" used Acura, which comes with 7 year/100,000 mile powertrain warranty. This is an extended warranty, since it goes beyond the original warranty, but you do not pay for it. Let's suppose that you purchased a "certified" used Acura and wanted to upgrade the powertrain coverage to more extensive coverage, you could then purchase a service contract.

• Questions about a Certified Acura extended warranty

  • How can I upgrade my certified extended warranty?

    You can only purchase a certified upgrade plan from the dealer that certified the vehicle and only at the time of delivery.

  • Is Acura Care the same as an Acura certified warranty?

    A certified Acura comes with the remainder of the original 4 year/50,000 warranty (if any), plus 1 year/12,000 miles of full coverage and 7 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. The term of the powertrain coverage starts from when the vehicle was originally purchased by the first owner. If the powertrain portion is upgraded to full coverage (certified upgrade), then the coverage would be the same as Acura Care.

• Can Acura Care be purchased for a used car?

  It doesn't matter how many owners there have been, as long as the vehicle is a 2008 or newer and has less than 50,000 miles on it, it could qualify for Acura Care.

• I live in Florida. Can I purchase Acura Care from you?

  No Acura dealer outside the State of Florida can register a Acura Care contract to anyone that uses a Florida address.
  
  Due to Florida Insurance statutes, Florida residents are expected to purchase within the state and pay the retail price. Discounting is not allowed in Florida.

• Questions about cancellations & refunds

  • Can I get all my money back when my Acura Care expires if I have not had any claims?

    If your Acura Care contract expires by time or mileage, no refund is due you from Honda.
    
    Some dealers, as an inducement for you to purchase a service contract, will include a separately purchased insurance policy that may refund whatever you paid for the service contract if it expires and you have not filed any claims. These insurance companies are not affiliated with Honda and Honda does not endorse them. The terms and conditions of these policies make it so that very few people ever collect on them.

  • Under what circumstances can I cancel Acura Care?

    You can cancel Acura Care at any time, for any reason. If you cancel within 60 days, you will receive a 100% refund. After that, refunds are prorated by the time left on the contract or the mileage used.