Honda Certified Pre-Owned Warranty

Honda certified pre-owned program details

Honda groups its certified pre-owned program under the HondaTrue umbrella. Depending on the vehicle's age and mileage, it will fall into one of three tiers.

All three tiers also include roadside assistance, concierge service, complimentary maintenance and a few other benefits that we’ll discuss below.

On average, Honda dealers charge just 1.9% extra for CPO vehicles, according to iSeeCars data, which found Honda had one of the lowest average upcharge rates of the 25 automakers in its study.

» LEARN: What does a car warranty cover?

Honda CPO warranty coverage

Honda’s CPO warranty coverage is excellent, and its terms are straightforward to understand. Honda extends or reinstates factory warranty coverage when you buy a CPO rather than creating a separate, complicated warranty structure as some automakers do.

“It’s a continuation from Honda,” a rep from Honda of Atlanta told us. “It’s the same bumper-to-bumper and powertrain warranties you get from the factory, just stretched out a little longer.”

Here’s an example of what that means, given that a brand-new gas-powered Honda comes with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty:

• If the vehicle is still within its factory window and you buy it CPO, HondaTrue Certified adds an extra two years or up to 100,000 total miles (whichever comes first) to your non-powertrain coverage. 

• If the factory window has closed, you still get a clean 2-year/100,000-mile non-powertrain warranty starting from the exact day you sign the paperwork.

CPO Honda benefits

Beyond the limited warranty itself, all three tiers of HondaTrue coverage come with secondary benefits like the following:

• 24/7 roadside assistance for the duration of your limited warranty, including towing to the nearest Honda dealer after a breakdown, accident or collision, flat-tire changes (with spare), battery jump-starts, emergency fuel deliveries, lockout assistance and winch services; HondaTrue Certified EVs get emergency towing to the closest charging station

• Trip interruption expense reimbursement of up to $100 per day for up to three days to cover meals, alternative transportation and lodging if your Honda breaks down more than 100 miles from home and requires overnight repairs at the dealer

• Complimentary maintenance perks, including two complimentary oil changes within 1 year or 12,000 miles of purchase for standard HondaTrue Certified vehicles, and one complimentary oil change within the first year of ownership for the HondaTrue Used tier; for the EV tier, buyers receive four tire rotations, four pairs of windshield wipers and an electric drive unit fluid change within the first year or 12,000 miles

• Multi-point inspection with a downloadable vehicle report, performed by Honda mechanics

• $0 deductibles on covered repairs and a three-day exchange window on the car if you change your mind

One thing Honda doesn’t emphasize as strongly in its CPO package as some competitors do is rental car reimbursement. In practice, that means your experience during a covered repair may depend more on dealer loaner availability than on a reliable built-in rental benefit. However, it does list alternative transportation as an available benefit under its concierge services.

If your vehicle needs repairs, you will typically need to take it to an authorized Honda dealer to receive warranty coverage. You should contact your Honda dealer or call the Honda roadside assistance number at the first sign of failure to ensure the issue doesn't get worse. From there, the Honda service department can guide you through the claims process for a covered repair. To receive warranty coverage, the HondaTrue CPO warranty may require preauthorization before the dealer can begin performing repairs.

Honda CPO warranty exclusions

Like most auto warranties, HondaTrue does not cover routine maintenance (outside of what is explicitly covered in the complimentary maintenance perk), normal wear and tear items and cosmetic repairs.

Honda outlines the components that are not covered under its CPO warranty. While these may vary by warranty tier, HondaTrue generally does not cover the following items:

• Expendable parts, such as spark plug wires, fluids, refrigerants or wiper blades

• Routine maintenance, including adjustments, calibrations, tire rotations or wheel alignment

• Clutch, brakes and tires, including brake pads, tire valve stems, clutch discs and pressure plates

• Emission system, including head pipes, mufflers, tailpipes and gaskets

• Body parts, trim, interior, glass, mirrors or wheels

Honda may also deny your CPO warranty coverage due to neglect, improper towing, racing or several other limitations listed in the warranty booklet.

How do Honda’s CPO warranties compare?

When we evaluated the terms alongside major competitors' programs, HondaTrue's top-tier (“Certified”) programs hold their own, though its lowest tier ("Used") is more restrictive. HondaTrue Used is still helpful, but it is closer to a basic protection layer than a full premium CPO package.

Is a CPO Honda worth it?

Buying a CPO Honda tends to make the most sense when:

• You want warranty coverage beyond what a standard used car can offer.

• You value the peace of mind that comes with the dealer inspection and certification.

• The dealer’s certified price is only about $1,000 more than the noncertified pre-owned price for the same model.

So, let’s dive in and see if a CPO Honda is really worth the upcharge.

Consumers weigh in: How reliable are Hondas?

In its 2026 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power ranked Honda in the middle of the pack amongst all tested brands. In the study, Honda drivers reported 211 problems per 100 vehicles (PP100), which was slightly more than the study's average of 204 PP100.

It’s best to look at reliability ratings for your specific model and year.

“I purchased a brand-new Honda with the expectation of reliability and safety. Within 4 months, I began experiencing serious issues: check engine lights, rough idling, jerking while driving, delayed acceleration, and overall unsafe drivability. After multiple repair attempts and the car being out of service for more than 60 days, Honda ultimately replaced the engine,” wrote Kristen, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Florida.

In short, Hondas appear to be relatively reliable and are historically affordable to keep on the road. According to data from RepairPal, Hondas typically have above-average reliability and cost about $428 per year in repair and maintenance costs, which is lower than the industry average cost of $652 per year.

This means you probably don’t need to overpay for a protection plan. However, if you can get a good deal on one that’s not far above the noncertified used price, there’s not much downside either.

» LEARN: Honda maintenance: cost, plans and service schedule

How much does a certified pre-owned Honda cost?

As we mentioned earlier, Honda’s average CPO premium is 1.9%, or about $340, the lowest among the brands in the iSeeCars study.

All things considered, we think the upcharge is well worth it for a vetted vehicle and the added protection that comes with certification. If you were to purchase them separately, a pre-purchase inspection alone would run you roughly $200, and a one-year extended warranty could cost well over $700.

» LEARN: How much does an extended car warranty cost?

How to get the most out of Honda’s CPO warranties

If you buy a HondaTrue vehicle, you can get the most value out of it, including planning ahead and utilizing Honda’s three-day vehicle exchange policy, if needed.

Three-day exchange policy

Even though HondaTrue vehicles must pass an 182-point (gas) or 167-point (EV) quality inspection, you can schedule your own pre-purchase inspection during your return window for an unbiased second opinion. If your mechanic finds any gremlins, you can ask your dealer to remedy the issue or risk taking the car back.

Maximizing benefits and tips

• Schedule your free oil change(s) early: An oil change can cost up to $100, so don’t leave that benefit on the table. Once you purchase your HondaTrue vehicle, schedule your free oil changes at the intervals recommended by your dealership.
• Add Honda Roadside Assistance to your phone: Look up the number to call for help ahead of time and add it as a contact so it’s easier to use when the time comes.
• Get your travel expenses preauthorized: While some automakers let you submit receipts for reimbursement, Honda may require you to call to preauthorize any trip-interruption expenses you incur while your Honda is in the shop more than 100 miles away. (This phone call could save you up to $300.)

Do you need an extended warranty for your Honda?

As we determined in our full breakdown of Honda’s official extended warranties, buying a CPO Honda doesn’t automatically mean you need an extended warranty.  If you plan to keep the vehicle well beyond the HondaTrue coverage period, though, an added warranty through HondaCare may make sense. That’s especially true for buyers who want more predictable repair costs after the CPO term ends.

If you plan to keep your Honda for a few years, you’ll be glad to know the quotes we received for HondaCare extended warranties were some of the lowest in the business, hovering around $750 per year of coverage. If you need coverage beyond 120,000 miles, though, you may want to consider a third-party extended warranty instead.

FAQ

Bottom line

Honda’s CPO vehicles are relatively affordable, and its HondaTrue Certified and HondaTrue Certified EV offerings include excellent warranty coverage and benefits. As long as your dealer isn’t charging more than $1,000 extra for your CPO vehicle, the upcharge is probably worth it for the quality assurance and boosted warranty. Just remember that HondaTrue offers different certification tiers, so a HondaTrue Used vehicle won't have the same coverage or benefits as a HondaTrue Certified vehicle.