Which radio is in your Honda Accord?
The Accord has had 3 sets of radios since 1998, from the Honda radios built by Blaupunkt or Clarion to the Honda audio. Find yours by year below, but go by the serial: radios get swapped, and the free check reads it for you.
How to find your Honda Accord radio serial number
On the screen
- Check the handbook wallet for the anti-theft card first.
- Turn the ignition on and leave the radio off. Hold buttons 1 and 6, then press the power button. Two numbers appear, one starting U and one starting L: write both down. The letters are only labels for the top and bottom halves — the numbers together are the serial.
- Touchscreen (2013 on): go to Settings, then System, then Detailed information.
- Older sat nav cars (2003–2012): hold MAP/GUIDE, MENU and CANCEL together.
- Nothing on screen? Look inside the glovebox door: dealers were asked to stick a label there with the serial on it, written as a B and then eight numbers.
- Off a label, the numbers may sit behind three letters or a B, and sometimes there is one more letter after them. Type the lot — we take the serial out of it.
On the label
The serial is also printed on a label on the top or side of the radio. It comes out with a pair of radio removal keys. Which keys, and where they go: how to remove a car radio.
Photograph the label rather than copying it by hand — 0 and O, 1 and I are easy to mix up.
Tips for your Honda Accord
- Ignition on, radio off, hold 1 and 6, then power on.
- On a sat nav car, hold the top of the seek and disc buttons and press the volume knob to reach the sat nav’s own serial.
- Both codes come back in the same email if you order the pair.
What your serial looks like
-
U2154 L2135HondaThe U and L numbers, or the serial on the label By email -
HO681AA9170550Honda Philips (early 1990s)14 letters and numbers starting HO Instant -
GNB22005937Honda sat nav8 numbers, sometimes with 3 letters in front By email
How to enter your Honda Accord radio code
- Most codes are 5 numbers. Press the button with each number on it, once.
- Touchscreens: use the on-screen keypad and press ENTER.
- Usually: press button 1, set the number with the tuning buttons, then press button 1 again.
- Do the same for all 4 numbers. The exact steps vary from radio to radio.
If your Honda Accord radio says LOCKED, WAIT or SAFE
| Radio | What to do |
|---|---|
| Honda | ERR — leave the ignition on for 1 hour. |
| Honda Philips (early 1990s) | Each wrong try adds a longer delay. Keep the radio switched on while it counts down. |
| Honda sat nav | After several wrong tries the sat nav stops accepting codes for a while. Leave the ignition on and try again later. |
What LOCKED, WAIT and SAFE mean, and how long to wait →
Honda Accord radio code questions
How do I get the serial on an Accord?
Hold buttons 1 and 6 with the ignition on and the radio off, then turn the radio on. The U and L numbers appear on the screen.
My Accord has sat nav as well.
That needs its own code from its own serial. You can order both together.
How long will I wait?
Honda codes are looked up by hand and emailed within 2 hours.
Can you do every Honda Accord radio?
For 1998–2002, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2003–2008, 2008–2015, by email within 2 hours. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my Honda Accord have?
It depends on the year. 1998–2002 (Sixth Accord): Honda radios built by Blaupunkt or Clarion. 2003–2008 (Seventh Accord): Honda audio, DVD sat nav on some cars. 2008–2015 (Eighth Accord): Honda audio, sat nav on some cars. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.
What does the serial look like on a Honda Accord?
1998–2002: On the label on the radio, or on the code card. 2003–2008: U and L numbers on screen; sat nav has its own serial. 2008–2015: U and L numbers on screen. For example U2154 L2135.
Do I have to take the radio out of my Honda Accord?
Usually not: with the radio on, hold 1 and 6 and the serial shows on the screen.
How do I enter the code on a Honda Accord?
Most Honda codes are five digits and go in on presets 1 to 6, one press per digit, with no confirm button. Touchscreen units have an on-screen keypad and an ENTER key.
Another Honda?
Every Honda radio we can unlock is on our Honda radio code page. Close to this one: CR-V, Jazz, Civic, Factory Radio.
Updated October 2026