The Many Benefits of Certified Pre-Owned Cars

It may surprise you to learn that Americans buy more than three times as many used cars as new each year. One of the reasons that proportion has grown in recent years is that buying used vehicles is no longer as risky as it once was. Gone are the days when shoppers had to roll the dice and hope they didn’t end up with a lemon. An entirely new category of used cars has taken risk out of the equation.

Certified Used Vehicles (CPO)

When you buy a used car, there is absolutely no guarantee that it will be in excellent working order. Like most second-hand items, you buy it in “as is” condition. In other words, it can work great, or it can work like an old clunker. A certified vehicle is different. Because these cars have undergone extensive safety and performance inspections, the seller may offer some type of warranty.

Quality assurance

In most cases, a certified vehicle has:

– Subjected to a thorough inspection by a licensed auto mechanic;
– Has been serviced, repaired or reconditioned to bring it as close as possible to new vehicle standards;
– You have received an extended warranty from the dealer or manufacturer.

standards

Not all used vehicles are eligible for a certification program. Most of the time, CPO cars are less than five years old and have less than 75,000 miles on their odometers. Because these cars must be in excellent cosmetic and operating condition, they cannot have any major accidents on their record. Of course, the main reason these cars need to be in tip-top condition is that their manufacturers don’t want to pay for expensive repairs on products that are still under warranty.

Benefits

The popularity of the CPO program has been staggering. Most of the major car dealers now supply these coveted used cars to their customers. In addition to quality and performance guarantees, these cars also offer drivers the opportunity to purchase the car of their dreams at an affordable price. Why is this?

The average new car loses about half of its value in the first five years. This rapid rate of depreciation gives buyers the opportunity to purchase a car that might have been out of their price range when new. Not to mention the fact that the certification gives them some of the same guarantees that they would have received if they had bought a new version.

Drawbacks?

There really is only one. Since the seller paid for the inspections, repairs, and maybe even the warranty, he will invariably charge more for a certified car than for a regular secondhand one. On average, buyers should expect to pay an additional $1,000 to $3,000 for a CPO car or truck. As with any other car purchase, buyers are encouraged to shop around and negotiate for a better price.

Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles are a safe and reliable alternative to traditional used cars.