Certified Pre-Owned: What You Need To Know Before You Buy A Used SUV

If you’re looking to buy a high-quality pre-owned SUV with class-leading reliability, good looks, and plenty of available comfort and luxury features, you’re in luck. The used vehicle market is constantly refreshed with SUVs for a few reasons: first, so many buyers are choosing to lease, and with the average lease term sitting at three years, that means plenty of low mileage SUVs hit the market every year. Second, SUVs are the most popular category of vehicles sold today. Let’s say you want a used Chevy Equinox built between 2014 and 2016 as Chevy sold nearly 750,000 of them. If half were leased for three years or less, then nearly 375,000 used Equinox SUVs are going to hit the market.

The other benefit of purchasing a previously leased used SUV is that most lease terms require drivers to keep mileage under 15,000 miles per year, and low mileage is one of the criteria Chevy needs to qualify them for its Certified Pre-Owned program. In fact, Chevy’s GM Certified program puts prospective used vehicles through a rigorous inspection before qualifying them for Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) status. This benefits you because Chevrolet only accepts the highest quality vehicles for its CPO program. It’s the next best thing to buying a new car because CPO vehicles come with warranties and a whole host of other benefits.

Is a Certified Pre-Owned SUV right for you? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons so you’re fully informed before heading to our lot in Albany, NY.

Qualifying for the CPO Label

Let’s stick with Chevrolet. The company designed a Certified Pre-Owned inspection process that dealers use to qualify incoming used vehicles. It’s a multi-point inspection, during which every inch of the vehicle (bumper-to-bumper) is pored over and scrutinized. In fact, Chevy’s process includes a 172-point inspection by a certified, factory-trained technician. These inspections happen at the dealership.

Chevrolet sets a high bar for used vehicles to qualify, and that’s primarily due to the fact that each CPO vehicle comes with a 12-month/12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper limited warranty. It’s in Chevy’s best interest to not see that car at the service center, so the inspection process weeds out cars with potential mechanical problems.

What else is required for a car to pass inspection and receive the CPO badge? The vehicle must be less than six years old, have a clean title––meaning no accidents––and fewer than 75,000 miles. Technicians check to see if the car received regular maintenance. They can tell by checking the oil and filter, cabin filter, all fluids, the battery, brake pads, and tires. A road test is part of the inspection process, too. Technicians will put the vehicle through its paces, watching for any problems with the powertrain, monitoring steering and stability, and testing the heating and air conditioning systems.

On the inside, the vehicle must be clean, the seats free of damage, and all controls must be in working condition. Chevy even inspects the steering wheel for signs of wear. The vehicle’s exterior is also closely inspected for damage, scratches, or broken or non-working lights. Chevy expects its CPO vehicles to be nearly new, which means you won’t get tired, dirty cars that clearly weren’t maintained.

In addition to inspecting the vehicle inside and out, the dealer will perform any safety recall repairs, but it’s important to check the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s (NHTSA) website to learn of any recalls and confirm with the dealer that they’ve been addressed. The dealer should provide you with a CARFAX car history report, which lists any accidents in which the car was involved, as well as whether it has a salvage title or has been part of a fleet, such as a rental car.

Benefits of a CPO Vehicle

The best and most important benefit of buying a CPO vehicle is that your risk is significantly reduced. There are no guarantees, but a CPO vehicle is pretty close. What if you don’t like it after you drive it off the lot? Chevy has thought of that too. They offer a 3-day/150-mile exchange policy that allows buyers to return the vehicle and exchange it for another. That’s a pretty big deal because it demonstrates the dealer’s confidence in its CPO inventory. The truth is, you’ll pay more for a Certified Pre-Owned car, but the benefits and peace-of-mind that comes from knowing it passed a rigorous 172-point inspection may be worth the slightly higher price tag.

While that might sound pretty standard, Chevy throws in a handful of other money-saving benefits too. How about free roadside assistance for the length of the powertrain warranty? Included. OnStar’s Safety and Security Plan is free for the first month on 2015 and newer vehicles, including navigation services and 24/7 help in an emergency. Also included is a SiriusXM radio trial.

It’s important to remember that buying a CPO vehicle happens at the dealership. That means you can secure financing on-site, and the dealer will handle all paperwork on your behalf. In terms of convenience, you’re much better off buying a car at a new car dealership. In addition, you can establish a relationship with our service department and take advantage of the included two visits to our service center for routine maintenance within the first 2-years/24,000-miles of ownership.

Used Car Buying Can Be Risky

If you’re shopping for a bargain, the CPO path may seem out of reach because of the higher price tag, but it’s important to look at the cost of ownership too. If your used car doesn’t come with a warranty, you’ll be responsible for all repairs from the minute you drive off in your used car. If you’re unlucky, that used car may come with a chronic maintenance issue or other problem that wasn’t immediately obvious at the time you bought the car.

Buying a used car from a private party can also be unsafe. While most ads are legitimate, there is always the potential for fraud or something worse. You’ll have to find a neutral, safe, and convenient meeting spot and then determine how to test drive the car. Money must be exchanged and paperwork has to be in order. There are a lot of ways the deal can go wrong.

That’s why finding a used car on a classifieds page or used car buying app is tricky and time-consuming. You’ll need to do your own research, including pulling a CARFAX report, checking maintenance records, finding a mechanic to inspect the vehicle, and verifying that the price is reasonable. It takes a lot of time, work, and patience to go through this process, and if you miss a step, the consequences can be pricey.

After the sale, you’ll need to find a repair shop to deal with maintenance and repairs. This is yet another headache that will take time and research. Unfortunately, quality repair centers are hard to find because there is no oversight––you’re at the mercy of the owner to hire experienced technicians who can perform service on your vehicle correctly and professionally. Unless you have a stellar recommendation from a trusted source, you’re rolling the dice.

What’s the bottom line? Buying a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is a better option. Yes, you’ll pay a little more than a traditional used car, but if you consider the long term cost of ownership and the convenience of buying from a reputable new car dealer like our own dealership, DePaula Chevy, the choice is easy. Take the stress out of buying a used model and consider a CPO Chevy. They’re the highest quality used vehicles on the market, and the closest you can get to buying a brand new car.