Benefits of Choosing Certified Pre-Owned

You want a new car, but without the steep price tag and the heart-stopping depreciation that often comes with one. You’re also wary of buying used, whether it’s the high mileage, overall condition, or the lack of a factory warranty that’s putting you off. Fortunately, there’s a third option: buying certified pre-owned.

Think of a certified pre-owned car as a used car, but better and with fewer worries. Most examples tend to be off-lease vehicles and trade-ins from original owners, but there’s more that goes into what makes certified pre-owned cars such a great buy. Let’s dive into it a bit deeper and check out the upsides of CPO vehicles.

Low Mileage

Some things get better with time – fine wine, gourmet cheeses, your favorite songs, those vintage baseball cards in the attic, etc. Sadly, cars usually aren’t on that shortlist, especially when they’ve racked up tens or even hundreds of thousands of miles on the odometer. Depending on the type of vehicle you’re looking for, finding a low-mileage example can seem like finding the proverbial needle in a haystack.

Choosing a certified pre-owned car narrows the field down to examples under a certain mileage threshold. Most CPO programs feature cars with fewer than 36,000 miles, although these limits can vary among manufacturers. That also means the average CPO vehicle is only two to three years old, with five years typically the maximum age for a qualifying car.

In short, going the CPO route makes it easier to find a nearly-new, low-mileage vehicle. Best of all, you’ll also avoid the sharp depreciation that often comes with rolling a brand-new car right off the lot.

Thoroughly Inspected

As you can already tell, certified pre-owned cars aren’t your average used cars. To even be considered eligible as a CPO vehicle, a promising candidate must not only be of recent vintage and have low miles but also undergo a thorough multi-point inspection and reconditioning process.

A factory-trained technician handles the manufacturer-sanctioned inspection process first by checking the VIN and the vehicle’s history report for any accidents or title issues that could send up red flags. Next up is a comprehensive checklist featuring anywhere from 50 to 300 separate items for technicians to double-check as part of the inspection process. This weeds out cars that have suffered major body damage, severe frame damage, and major mechanical faults.

The reconditioning process takes care of any minor issues that pop up during the inspection. For example, factory-trained technicians may touch-up minor scuffs, scrapes, and blemishes before giving their rides the certified seal of approval. No detail is too small to escape notice.

Backed by a Warranty

Just like a brand-new car, a certified pre-owned vehicle also comes with a manufacturer-backed warranty. Some automakers extend the vehicle’s original basic, powertrain and corrosion warranties for a specific period starting from the moment you bought your new-to-you car. Others instead transfer the remainder of the vehicle’s new car warranty to the new owner. Some warranties come with no mileage limit but last for the first year or two of ownership.

Chances are you won’t find such warranties with used cars, which gives certified pre-owned vehicles an advantage over their used competition. A factory warranty not only gives you greater peace of mind but also ensures you won’t run into any nasty surprises when it comes to unexpected repair costs.

Keep in mind that some dealerships may offer their own warranties on top of or in place of those offered by the automakers. However, such warranties are only valid at the dealership offering the warranty.

Special Financing Options

Buying a CPO vehicle gives you plenty of advantages when it comes to financing. While CPO vehicles typically cost a bit more than their used counterparts, buyers can qualify for finance rates similar to those offered for new vehicles. Banks and credit unions are also more likely to offer lower finance rates for CPO vehicles.

Free Perks

Buying a CPO vehicle has its perks. Most manufacturers offer free 24-hour roadside assistance to CPO car buyers, with many offering reimbursements for towing, flat tire repair, and rental cars in case of a breakdown. Some manufacturers even offer trip interruption reimbursement in case a breakdown puts a damper on your road trip.

Other worthwhile perks include free scheduled maintenance, free trial subscriptions to special services like satellite radio, and the ability to swap your CPO vehicle for another within the first few days or 100+ miles.