Which radio is in your Honda Civic?
The Civic has had 5 sets of radios since 1995, from the Honda radios built by Blaupunkt, Clarion or Philips to the Honda touchscreen systems. 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 Civic 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 Civic
- Turn the ignition on with the radio off, hold buttons 1 and 6, then switch the radio on. Two screens swap back and forth: U2154 and L2135, for example.
- Write both numbers down — together they make the eight-figure serial.
- A car with factory sat nav needs a second code for the sat nav, and that has its own serial.
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 Civic 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 Civic 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 Civic radio code questions
How do I get the U and L numbers on a Civic?
Ignition on, radio off, hold buttons 1 and 6 together, then press the power button. The screen alternates between a U number and an L number.
Is the Civic code 4 or 5 numbers?
The radio code is 5 numbers. A sat nav code is 4.
My Civic is a 2018 and doesn’t ask for a code.
It won’t: from about 2016 Honda systems are matched to the car, so there is no code to buy.
Can you do every Honda Civic radio?
For 1995–2000, yes: the code appears on screen as soon as you have paid; for 2001–2005, 2006–2011, 2012–2016, by email within 2 hours; for 2017 on, not at the moment. The free check tells you which yours is before you pay.
Which radio does my Honda Civic have?
It depends on the year. 1995–2000 (Sixth Civic): Honda radios built by Blaupunkt, Clarion or Philips. 2001–2005 (Seventh Civic, including the Type R): Honda CD radios. 2006–2011 (Eighth Civic): Honda CD radios, sat nav on some cars. 2012–2016 (Ninth Civic): Honda audio, some with a screen. 2017 on (Tenth Civic on): Honda touchscreen systems. Radios were often swapped, so the serial on yours is what counts.
What does the serial look like on a Honda Civic?
1995–2000: On the label on the radio, or on the code card that came with the car. 2001–2005: Ignition on, radio off, hold 1 and 6: U and L numbers. 2006–2011: U and L numbers on screen; sat nav has its own 8-number serial. 2012–2016: U and L numbers on screen. For example U2154 L2135.
Do I have to take the radio out of my Honda Civic?
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 Civic?
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: Jazz, CR-V, Accord, Factory Radio.
Updated October 2026