Honda Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Overview
The Honda CPO warranty covers up to 4 years/50,000 miles or 5 years/86,000 miles depending on the program: Honda Certified or Honda Certified+.
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Motor1 Reviews Team Take:
- Honda provides extra bumper-to-bumper coverage of 1 year/12,000 miles or 2 years/50,000 miles depending on the condition of the CPO vehicle.
- All Honda Certified cars get a powertrain warranty of 7 years/100,000 miles.
- Honda’s CPO program includes a 182-point inspection and mechanical service.
Buying a Honda Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle is a great way to get a quality car, SUV, or Ridgeline pickup at a sizable discount from the new vehicle price. Honda offers two levels of warranty coverage depending on the vehicle model, mileage, and year.
After discussing the two tiers of Honda’s CPO coverage, you may consider buying an extended warranty, either from the Honda Care® program or from one of the best extended car warranty companies. We recommend comparing quotes between some of the top-rated providers to help you decide.
Honda CPO Process Details
A certified pre-owned program basically does three things:
- Technicians conduct a thorough inspection of the used vehicle to assess its condition.
- Any required services or repairs to ensure the vehicle meets the manufacturer’s specs for a CPO vehicle are performed.
- A warranty, and sometimes an extended powertrain warranty are provided for the vehicle.
We’ll look at how well Honda does all of those things.
HondaTrue Certified Vs. HondaTrue Certified+
As previously mentioned, the Honda CPO program has two categories: HondaTrue Certified and HondaTrue Certified+. The latter category is reserved for lightly-used vehicles, and it provides extra bumper-to-bumper coverage. Both types cover two complimentary oil changes and roadside assistance during the bumper-to-bumper warranty period.
Here’s the difference in warranty coverage:
| HondaTrue Certified | HondaTrue Certified+ | |
|---|---|---|
| Eligible vehicles | Up to 5 years old with up to 80,000 miles from original in-service date | Under 12 months or 12,000 miles from original in-service date |
| Vehicle warranty | 4 years/48,000 miles from in-service date (or 1 year/12,000 miles if purchased after factory warranty expired) | 5 years/86,000 miles from in-service date |
| Powertrain warranty | 7 years/100,000 miles (total from new vehicle in-service date) | 7 years/100,000 miles (total from new vehicle in-service date) |
| Free maintenance | Two oil changes within the first 12 months/12,000 miles of ownership | Two oil changes within the first 12 months/12,000 miles of ownership |
| Roadside assistance | For the duration of the bumper-to-bumper CPO warranty | For the duration of the bumper-to-bumper CPO warranty |
Honda CPO Bumper-To-Bumper Warranty
For HondaTrue Certified and Certified+ models alike, the non-powertrain, or bumper-to-bumper, vehicle warranty is in addition to any remaining portion of the New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which runs for 3 years/36,000 miles.
Since Certified+ vehicles can’t be older than 12 months or have more than 12,000 miles, that means buying one of these cars would, at a minimum, reset the warranty clock to 3 years/36,000 miles. A Certified+ Honda that is under those limits would have longer coverage than a new Honda.
Standard Honda Certified vehicles get 1 year/12,000 miles of extra bumper-to-bumper coverage, while Honda Certified+ vehicles get 2 years/50,000 miles of extra coverage. This warranty covers almost any breakdown except for a list of exclusions.
Honda CPO Powertrain Warranty
The 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty remains one of the Honda CPO program’s top highlights. Since new Hondas come with 5 years/60,000 miles of powertrain coverage, the extension that comes with CPO Hondas provides an additional 2 years/40,000 miles of coverage that we really like.
This type of coverage includes the engine, transmission, and drivetrain, which can be expensive to fix if you get a breakdown.
The Honda CPO warranty is fully transferable, giving the new owner the balance of both the powertrain warranty and the non-powertrain warranty.
Honda’s 182-Point CPO Inspection
Honda touts a 182-point inspection process for its Certified and Certified+ vehicles. Honda provides digital inspection reports for CPO vehicles, which you can view and download from Honda’s website. With other brands, you need to go into the dealership and ask for the inspection report for individual CPO models.
Honda’s inspection checklist is comprehensive, and prepping the car for sale includes these steps:
- All fluids must be topped off.
- All floor mats must be present and properly secured.
- All tires must be the same size, brand, load, speed rating, and free of damage.
- Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or non-OEM windshields with cracks, chips, scratches, and pitting must be repaired or replaced with Honda Genuine glass.
- Scratches greater than 4.0 inches, dings or dents that can’t be covered with a dime, and damage that penetrates the base metal must be repaired.
Essentially, the Honda CPO warranties continue the coverage of the original new vehicle warranties, with only a few exclusions:
- Standard Honda maintenance items and procedures
- Emission control system
- General appearance, body parts, interior, trim, and glass
- Damage caused by vehicle misuse, abuse, lack of proper maintenance, and “acts of nature”
Notably, Honda’s CPO powertrain warranty has no exclusions listed. So, all electrical components and sensors associated with the powertrain are covered. Not all brands do that.
Honda CPO Roadside And Other Benefits
Until 2019, Honda did not include roadside assistance as a standard part of its CPO program. Instead, you had to pay extra for a package to get roadside assistance, trip interruption reimbursement, concierge service, and a 24-hour Honda dealer locator.
Honda stepped up its game in 2019, announcing a suite of complimentary benefits, including:
- Emergency roadside assistance
- Towing to a local Honda dealership
- Flat-tire change with spare
- Battery boost
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Lockout assistance
- Winch service
- Trip-interruption expense reimbursement
- Concierge service
- 24-hour Honda dealer locator
Those are valuable benefits, but they last for only the duration of the Limited Warranty Non-Powertrain coverage. That means, for a HondaTrue Certified vehicle, these benefits last for just 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. With the Certified+ vehicles, roadside assistance and associated benefits would last for a minimum of 3 years/36,000 miles.
We’d prefer to see Honda extend its roadside assistance for a longer duration, but on a regular Certified Honda, you could extend those benefits by purchasing a Honda extended warranty or a warranty plan from one of the top third-party extended auto warranty companies.
Emergency Repair Reimbursement
Honda may reimburse you for emergency repairs performed at a facility other than a Honda dealer. Most brands do not offer this benefit, but for Honda to do it, your situation must meet strict requirements:
- There are no authorized Honda dealers within 50 miles of the breakdown, or all local dealerships were closed at the time you needed the repair.
- The repair is one that would normally be covered by the Honda warranty.
- Your Honda was immobile, or attempting to drive it would cause further damage or be unsafe.
Even if your situation meets those criteria, you must call Honda’s roadside assistance hotline to obtain prior authorization before any repairs are performed. Then, if Honda approves the repair by a non-Honda facility, the company will reimburse according to its own guidelines. That also means applying its own recommended time allowance for the repair at the labor rate for the area where the breakdown occurs.
You would then take the receipt for the repair, along with any failed parts removed from the vehicle, to your selling Honda dealer to submit your claim.
Is Honda Quality Still Among The Best?
A vehicle’s documented quality is going to be one of the best predictors of future reliability, so let’s consider Honda’s quality.
In the 2023 J.D. Power U.S. Vehicle Dependability Study℠, which measures problems in cars after three years of ownership, Honda registered 205 problems per 100 vehicles. That was below the industry average of 186, and also below some key competitors. (Lower numbers are better.)
Something to keep in mind is that J.D. Power states that audio, communication, entertainment, and navigation systems account for more problems than any other category in its study. A failed audio or navigation system may leave you annoyed, but not stranded.
Honda CPO Warranty Vs. Other Brands
Honda offers a good CPO program, but it isn’t your only option. Below you can see how Honda compares to a few other similar automakers.
| Manufacturer | Vehicle Eligibility | Bumper-to-Bumper CPO Coverage | Powertrain CPO Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honda | Under 5 years/80,000 miles (Honda Certified) or 12 months/12,000 miles (Honda Certified+) | 4 years or 48,000 miles (Honda Certified) or 5 years or 86,000 miles (Honda Certified+) | 7 years/100,000 miles |
| Hyundai | Newer than 5 model years and less than 60,000 miles | Remainder of original 5 years/60,000-mile warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Kia | Less than 5 years/60,000 miles | Remainder of original 5 year/60,000 miles plus additional 1 year/12,000 miles | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Mazda | Less than 6 years/80,000 miles | 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | 7 years/100,000 miles |
| Mitsubishi | Less than 5 years/60,000 miles | Remainder of original 5 year/60,000-mile warranty | 10 years/100,000 miles |
| Toyota | Newer than 6 model years with less than 85,000 miles | 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | 7 years from purchase or 100,00 miles from in-service date |
Choose Your Certified Honda Carefully
Overall, Honda’s Certified Pre-Owned program is a good one, but you need to be careful not to confuse warranty coverage between the HondaTrue Certified and HondaTrue Certified+ tiers. Here are just a few things to keep in mind before you shop for a Honda CPO vehicle:
- While the 7-year/100,000-mile powertrain coverage is among the best compared to other programs, we think it obscures the fact that the “non-powertrain” warranty covers certified models for just 1 year/12,000 miles.
- While we applaud Honda for finally making roadside assistance and related benefits standard, remember that those last just 1 year/12,000 miles on certified models. The Honda Certified+ models certainly offer more warranty coverage, and if you buy a current-year model, you could end up with nearly four years of full coverage.
- Certified+ Hondas are nearly brand new vehicles and are priced accordingly.
Should You Get An Extended Warranty?
We think the regular certified pre-owned Hondas (without the “+”) are good candidates for an extended car warranty. And then a vehicle service contract from a third-party provider could fill in coverage gaps.
Honda Extended Warranty
Our team launched a survey in December 2023 to better understand vehicle owners’ experiences with extended warranties from vehicle manufacturers. When we polled Honda drivers, about 76 percent were satisfied with their coverage. Here’s how drivers responded when we asked how much they had paid for their coverage from the dealership:
- 17 percent reported paying under $1,000
- 35 percent reported paying $1,000 to $2,000
- 19 percent reported paying $2,000 to $3,000
- 7 percent reported paying $3,000 to $4,000
- 9 percent reported paying $4,000 to $5,000
- 3 percent reported paying more than $5,000
One driver with a brand new Honda CR-V reported being very satisfied with her plan.
“I had a rollover accident about a year ago and I had to make a claim,” she said. “It was an easy process and my coverage allowed me to get a new vehicle.”
Third-Party Extended Warranty Plans
If your Honda is covered by a third-party warranty and experiences a breakdown, you’re sure to be near one of the 30,000 nationwide facilities that these plans authorize for covered repairs.
Plans offered by Carchex, Endurance, and CarShield provide very generous roadside assistance, trip interruption, and towing benefits. Some cover tires, which can be quite expensive to replace on late-model vehicles.
Our team mystery shopped with more than 40 independent extended warranty providers and found average monthly rates to be between $120 and $135. The total price of a warranty depends on many factors but averages around $3,000, according to our research.
A certified pre-owned Honda can give you years of enjoyable driving. For greater peace of mind, start comparing warranties by getting free quotes from these reputable extended car warranty companies.
Honda CPO Warranty: FAQ
Below are a few frequently asked questions about the Honda CPO warranty:
Does Honda have a 100,000-mile warranty?
Honda’s CPO powertrain warranty lasts for 7 years/100,000 miles. This warranty applies to Honda Certified and Honda Certified+ vehicles and it covers the engine, transmission, and drivetrain.
Is extended warranty worth it on a CPO car?
A CPO vehicle comes with an extended factory warranty at no charge. This is usually one or two years long. You might still want an extended warranty beyond that point depending on the reliability of your vehicle.
What is not covered by the Honda warranty?
Honda’s factory warranty doesn’t cover regular maintenance items, damage from lack of maintenance, environmental damage, accident damage, or cosmetic deterioration, among other things.
Methodology
In an effort to provide accurate and unbiased information to consumers, our expert review team collects data from dozens of extended auto warranty companies to formulate rankings of the best providers. Companies receive a score in each of the following categories, as well as an overall weighted score out of 5.0 stars.
- Industry Standing: Warranty providers with a history of strong business practices and endorsements from experts receive the highest scores in this category.
- Coverage: This rating is based on types of extended warranty plans available, coverage terms, and added benefits like roadside assistance.
- Cost: Our research team reviews sample quotes for a variety of plans and vehicles. Companies with lower prices per year of coverage receive the best scores.
- Transparency: This score takes into account contract transparency and the availability of a money-back guarantee.
- Customer Service: We comb through customer reviews and perform our own shopper analysis to get a sense of the responsiveness and helpfulness of each warranty company.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
