How to Set a Car Clock: Your Helpful Guide

Here we are. Ready to “fall back” once again. What does that mean? It’s time to change the time on all your clocks (cue the ughhhhhh). 

The fact is most people don’t look forward to the twice-yearly Daylight-Saving time shifts. Sure, they come with their perks (an extra hour of sleep in the fall and more late-daylight hours in the spring). But nearly 80% of Americans are all for ending Daylight Saving Time altogether.   Until then, though, the time changes are a reality. And while you might be tempted to just leave that car clock untouched until it’s time to spring forward, knowing the right time is well worth those few quick button presses. Trust us.  

So, let’s dive into how to set a car clock, whether you’re a Toyota lover or a Honda fan. 

How to Set a Car Clock  

Keep in mind that some newer models may have automatically registered the time change. If your car isn’t the most recent one off the lot, though, you’ll probably have to step in.  

So, here’s how to set a car clock for vehicles from four popular manufacturers:  

How to Set a Toyota Clock

If your car has physical buttons for adjustments, follow the steps below:  

1. Locate the “H” and “M” buttons.  
2. Press the “H” button to advance the clock by one hour. 
3. Press the “M” button to advance the clock by one minute. 

Optional: If your car has the “:00” button, you can press it to round the clock to the nearest hour. 

If your car doesn't have physical buttons, follow the steps below:

1. Through the display screen navigate to “Settings,” “Date & Time,” “Daylight Savings”. 
2. Switch this on to enable automatic updates. 

If your car uses an in-car menu for adjustments, follow the steps below:  

1. Make sure your vehicle is stopped. 
2. Press and hold the “DISP” button on the steering wheel. 
3. Press and hold the “DISP” button to select “CLOCK.” 
4. Press the “DISP” button to advance the clock by one hour. 
5. When you’ve reached the correct hour, wait five seconds to lock it in. 
6. Press the “DISP’” button to advance the clock by one minute. 
7. When you’ve reached the correct minute, wait five seconds to lock it in. 

How to Set a Ford Clock

1. Locate your car’s clock. Most models will feature a clock near the center dashboard, but some Ford cars have clocks in their infotainment systems. 
2. Use your display screen or corresponding buttons to access the settings. 
3. Adjust the time using your touchscreen or corresponding buttons. 
4. Set the time zone (if your model allows). 
5. Make sure to lock in your settings before exiting. 
6. Test your handiwork! Restart the car and check to see that the clock is now displaying the right time. 

How to Set a Honda Clock

For a 1998-2005 Honda, follow the steps below:

1. Turn on your car. 
2. Press and hold the “Clock” button. You should hear a “beep” and the time display should start flashing. 
3. Press the “4” button to advance the hour and the “5” button to advance the minute.  
4. Press and hold the “Clock” button again to lock in the new time.  

For a 2006-2011 Honda, follow the steps below:  

1. Turn on your car.  
2. Press and hold the “Clock” button. The time display should start flashing.  
3. Press the “1” button to advance the hour and the “2” button to advance the minute.   

For a 2012-2015 Honda, follow the steps below:  

1. Turn on your car.  
2. Locate the clock stem via the instrument panel to the left of the steering wheel. Hold it down. 
3. Turn the stem to advance the hour. 
4. Once the hour is correct, press the stem down to switch to minute mode. 
5. Turn the stem to advance the minute.  
6. Press the stem down again to lock in the new time. 

For a 2016-2022 non-touchscreen Honda, follow the steps below:  

1. Turn on your car. 
2. Press and hold the “Menu/Clock” button.  
3. Twist the knob to advance the hour.  
4. Press the knob to switch to minute mode. 
5. Twist the knob to advance the minute 
6. Click “Set” to lock in the new time. 

For a 2016-2022 touchscreen Honda, follow the steps below:  

1. Turn on your car. 
2. Press “Home” on your touchscreen. 
3. Press “Settings,” “Clock,” “Clock Adjustment.”  
4. Adjust the time. 
5. Press “OK” to lock in the new time.  

How to Set a Kia Clock

1. Start your car or put it in accessory mode. 
2. Find and press your setup button. This might be just below or on the side of the display. If you have a touchscreen, select the setup icon on the home screen.  
3. Select “Date/Time”. 
4. Press the up and down arrows to change the time. Select “AM” or “PM” if needed. 
5. Exit the screen.

Optional: On the setup screen, you can turn on “GPS Time” if you’d like your car to automatically adjust the time moving forward.  

How to Set a Car Clock: Don’t be Intimidated!  

The fact is that cars (and their clocks) are all a bit different. Odds are there will be some changes between model years, and definitely between manufacturers. So, unfortunately, one size just won’t fit all. 

Don’t let the car smell your fear, though. If you’ve tried all the tips above and still can’t quite figure out your car clock, take to the user manual or pop over to the maker’s support site. You can poke around for a handy FAQ article or maybe even a live chat window. Good luck!