Honda A1 service: what’s included
A Honda A1 service is an engine oil change and a tire rotation. In Honda’s Maintenance Minder, A means replace the engine oil, and 1 means rotate the tires. It is the lighter of the two main services: the oil filter change and the multi-point inspection belong to the B service, not to A.
On this page (8 sections)
What an A1 service includes
| Part of the code | Job |
|---|---|
| A | Replace the engine oil |
| 1 | Rotate the tires |
From the 2025 Civic Hatchback Hybrid owner’s manual and an older Honda manual. Check yours for your model.
That is the whole list. In Honda’s system, the filter change and the inspection come with B services. The display decides whether the next service is an A or a B.
Does A1 include an oil filter?
Honda’s A list says “replace engine oil” and puts “replace engine oil and oil filter” under B. Many shops change the filter at every oil change anyway, and some sell only one oil change package. Both are fine, but you should know what you paid for. Ask before the work: “Is the filter included?” Then check that the invoice says so.
A1 vs B1
| Job | A1 | B1 |
|---|---|---|
| Replace engine oil | Yes | Yes |
| Replace oil filter | Not on Honda’s list | Yes |
| Inspect brakes, steering, suspension, fluids, exhaust, fuel lines | No | Yes |
| Rotate tires | Yes | Yes |
So an A1 should cost less than a B1 at the same shop. If the two prices are the same, ask what is different.
How much an A1 service costs
There is no set price for a Honda A1 service. It is an oil change plus a tire rotation, so it costs about what your shop charges for those two jobs. The total depends on the oil grade and amount your engine takes, your area, and whether you use a dealer or an independent shop. See our guides on oil change cost and tire rotation for typical ranges, and ask for a written estimate that lists each item.
Rough guide: an AAA survey of shops, scaled to late 2026 prices, puts a typical oil change at about $64 with conventional oil and $118 with full synthetic. Consumer Reports puts a tire rotation at about $45 to $75. So an A1 at a shop that charges for both lands somewhere near $109 to $193. Many shop oil change prices include a new filter even though Honda’s A list does not ask for one, and some shops rotate the tires for free. Use these numbers to compare quotes, not as a price.
Watch for add-ons that are not on Honda’s A1 list, such as an engine flush or fuel additive. You can say no to them.
Before and after the service
- Timing. Book it when the display shows Maintenance Due Soon at 15% oil life, and have it done by Maintenance Due Now at 5%.
- Once a year at least. If no message has appeared 12 months after the last reset, Honda says to change the oil anyway.
- Reset. A Honda dealer resets the display. If you or another shop did the work, reset it yourself: see how to reset Honda oil life.
What to write down
- Date and odometer reading
- The code (A1) and the oil life percentage before service
- Oil grade and amount, and whether the filter was changed
- Tire rotation done, and the pressure set afterward
- Shop name and price
Keep it in a car maintenance log with the receipt. All codes are explained on the Honda maintenance codes chart; A12 is A1 plus new air filters.
FAQ
What does A1 mean on a Honda?
A means replace the engine oil, and 1 means rotate the tires. That is the full A1 list in Honda’s owner’s manuals.
Does an A1 service include a new oil filter?
Not on Honda’s list: the filter is part of the B service. Many shops change it at every oil change anyway. Ask before the work and check the invoice.
How much is a Honda A1 service?
About what your shop charges for an oil change plus a tire rotation: roughly $109 to $193 at typical published prices. It varies by engine, oil, area, and shop, so get a written estimate.
Milealot is an independent site, not affiliated with or endorsed by American Honda Motor Co. Honda and Maintenance Minder are trademarks of their owner and are used here only to name the system.
Sources
- Honda, 2025 Civic Hatchback Hybrid owner’s manual, “To Use Maintenance Minder” (A and B lists, sub item 1, oil life messages, 12-month rule; archived copy, checked November 12, 2026): techinfo.honda.com (archived)
- Honda, 2007 owner’s manual, Maintenance Minder pages (A and B lists; archived copy): techinfo.honda.com (archived)
- AAA, Synthetic vs. conventional engine oil, research report, 2017 (shop survey: typical oil change $38 conventional, $70 synthetic): ace.aaa.com
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI for all urban consumers, motor vehicle maintenance and servicing (series CUUR0000SETD; June 2017 to October 2026, about +69%) (checked November 12, 2026): data.bls.gov
- Consumer Reports, Your car maintenance checklist (tire rotation about $45–$75; updated May 6, 2026; checked November 12, 2026): consumerreports.org