Honda Certified Pre-owned Warranty
Expect a small upcharge for great warranties and benefits
+1 more
Honda has an unsung reputation for sustainability. In 1974, the Japanese automaker became the first car company to meet U.S. Clean Air Act standards without the use of a catalytic converter. Twenty-five years later, it launched the very first hybrid available in North America: the Honda Insight.
Today, Honda’s penchant for sustainability shines through in its certified pre-owned (CPO) program. By offering excellent warranties for minor upcharges, it’s clear that Honda wants to keep its cars on the road as long as possible.
But how does Honda’s CPO program stack up? How much extra will a CPO vehicle cost you compared to a noncertified used vehicle? Are there any hidden caveats to consider?
Honda’s CPO program is called HondaTrue, and it offers three tiers of certification: HondaTrue Certified, HondaTrue Certified EV and HondaTrue Used.
Jump to insightPaying extra for a HondaTrue Certified vehicle might be worth it if the dealer is charging $1,000 or less over the noncertified used price.
Jump to insightFor coverage beyond the CPO warranty term, consider an extended warranty.
Jump to insightHonda certified pre-owned program details
Honda calls its certified pre-owned (CPO) program HondaTrue. There are three levels of HondaTrue vehicles.
| Tier | Vehicle qualifications | CPO warranties |
|---|---|---|
| HondaTrue Certified | Must be a 2020 or newer in 2026 and have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer |
Two-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty* (or two-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper extension**); Seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty** |
| HondaTrue Certified EV | Must be a 2024 or newer in 2026 and have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer |
Two-year/86,000-mile limited warranty*; Eight-year/100,000-mile high voltage battery coverage |
| HondaTrue Used | Must be a 2015 or newer in 2026 (No mileage limit) |
100-day/5,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty*; 100-day/5,000-mile powertrain warranty |
All three tiers also include roadside assistance, concierge service 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. Honda had the lowest average upcharge of the 25 automakers in that study.
» LEARN: What does a car warranty cover?
Honda CPO warranty coverage
Honda’s CPO warranty is excellent and fairly easy to understand.
For starters, Honda didn’t create a special CPO warranty with extra gaps that aren’t present in its factory warranty like some automakers do. Instead, the company simply extends or reinstates your factory warranty when you buy CPO.
“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.”
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. Every Honda comes with a three-year/36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a five-year/60,000-mile powertrain warranty. If you buy a HondaTrue Certified vehicle, you get those warranties extended by two years or up to 100,000 total odometer miles.
CPO Honda benefits
All three tiers of HondaTrue vehicles come with the following benefits:
- 24/7 roadside assistance for the duration of the bumper-to-bumper warranty, including towing to the nearest Honda dealer after an accident or collision, flat-tire changes (with spare), battery jump-starts, emergency fuel deliveries, lockout assistance and winch services
- 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 services — two complimentary oil changes for HondaTrue Certified vehicles and one for HondaTrue Used vehicles; four tire rotations for HondaTrue Certified EVs
One notable omission is any form of rental car assistance. Some competitors offer up to $50 per day while your car is in the shop for a warranty-covered repair, but with Honda, you’ll have to catch a ride with family or hope your dealer has a loaner available.
How do Honda’s CPO warranties compare?
Honda’s CPO warranties generally stack up well against the competition, but it really depends on which certification you look at.
HondaTrue Used offers below-average protection that’s really only on par with the lowest certifications offered by other automakers with tiered CPO programs, like Ford and its Blue Certified tier. However, HondaTrue Certified vehicles match up pretty evenly with what Toyota and Chevrolet offer.
| Make | Additional CPO warranty coverage |
|---|---|
| Honda | HondaTrue Certified+: Two-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty* (or two-year/100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper extension**); 7-year/100,000 mile-powertrain warranty** HondaTrue Certified EV: Two-year/86,000-mile limited warranty*; eight-year/100,000-mile high voltage battery coverage HondaTrue Used: 100-day/5,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty*; 100-day/5,000-mile powertrain warranty |
| Toyota | One-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty***; seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty** |
| Chevrolet | One-year/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty*; six-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty** |
| Lexus | Extends remaining factory bumper-to-bumper warranty to six years/unlimited miles** or adds a two-year/unlimited-mile warranty* |
| Tesla | One-year/10,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty* |
Is a CPO Honda worth it?
Paying more for a certified pre-owned Honda is usually worth it as long as the dealer isn’t charging you more than $1,000 or so extra.
In general, buying a CPO is more likely to be worth it if:
- The vehicle you want isn’t known for reliability.
- The manufacturer’s CPO warranty offers bumper-to-bumper protection for at least a year.
- The dealer is charging less than $1,000 over the noncertified pre-owned price.
So, let’s dive in and see if a CPO Honda is worth the upcharge.
How reliable are Hondas?
In its 2025 U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study, J.D. Power ranked Honda 12th out of 30 automakers, with 201 problems per 100 vehicles after three years, compared with an average of 202 for all brands.
It’s worth looking at reliability ratings for your chosen model and year.
“Car hard idled and stuttered within 6 months of driving it new off the lot. Had it seen by 3 dealerships, they were unable to feel what I felt and did not fix the issue,” wrote Margaret, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Wisconsin.
“I had my compressor replaced last year (2022) and now my evaporator is bad according to the dealership,” wrote Ben, a ConsumerAffairs reviewer from Indiana. “Honda USA will not even acknowledge this is the fault of the compressor. Evaporators are supposed to last 10-15 years or the LIFE of the the system. My car is less than 5 years old and has 65,000 miles.”
Fortunately, if and when things do go wrong on Honda vehicles, they’re relatively inexpensive to get back on the road. Data from RepairPal suggests that Honda vehicles cost just $428 per year on average in maintenance and unexpected repairs; that’s nearly 35% below the $652 average across all brands.
In short, Hondas appear to be decently reliable and extremely affordable to repair. This means you probably don’t need a CPO or extended warranty unless it’s very cheap or you simply want extra peace of mind. However, if you can get a good deal, 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, a study from iSeeCars found that Honda dealers generally charge 1.9% extra for CPO vehicles versus their noncertified counterparts. On average, that worked out to a $340 upcharge.
All things considered, $340 or thereabouts is well worth it for a quality inspection and a brief extended warranty. If you were to purchase those items separately, the pre-purchase inspection alone would run you roughly $200, and a one-year extended warranty could cost well over $700.
How to get the most out of Honda’s CPO warranties
If you end up going with a HondaTrue vehicle, there are some ways you can squeeze 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 a 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: A good oil change can cost up to $100, so don’t leave that benefit on the table. Once you purchase your HondaTrue vehicle, go ahead and 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 to your phone as a contact so it’s easier to use when the time comes.
- Get your travel expenses preauthorized: While some automakers let you bring 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?
In our full breakdown of Honda’s official extended warranties, we determined that if you don’t plan to own your Honda much longer than the CPO warranty period, an extended warranty probably isn’t worth it.
If you plan to keep your Honda long-term, 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
Is Honda's certified pre-owned warranty transferable if I sell the car?
Yes, Honda's CPO warranty is transferable to a new private owner, which can boost the vehicle's resale value. Be sure to check with the dealer or HondaCare for any transfer requirements or fees.
Does a Honda CPO vehicle include maintenance coverage?
HondaTrue Certified vehicles include two complimentary oil changes, HondaTrue Used vehicles include one complimentary oil change and HondaTrue Certified EVs include four tire rotations. However, they do not include long-term maintenance plans unless purchased separately.
How do I know if a Honda used vehicle is HondaTrue certified?
You can verify certification by asking the dealer directly and checking the vehicle’s inspection report. The vehicle should come with official documentation confirming its HondaTrue certification and warranty coverage.
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 don’t get tricked into thinking a HondaTrue Used vehicle offers as much as Honda’s other certification tiers.
Article sources
ConsumerAffairs writers primarily rely on government data, industry experts and original research from other reputable publications to inform their work. Specific sources for this article include:
- Honda Certified Pre-owned, "Benefits That Work for You." Accessed Jan. 16, 2026.
- RepairPal, "Honda Reliability - 2026 Ratings." Accessed Jan. 16, 2026.
- J.D. Power, "Vehicle Dependability Still Suffering Due to Pandemic Aftershocks, J.D. Power Finds." Accessed Jan. 16, 2026.
- iSeeCars.com, "Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) Cars: Are They Worth the Extra Cost?." Accessed Jan. 16, 2026.
