Is It Worth it to Buy Certified Pre-Owned?

As if there weren’t enough questions to consider when you head to the car dealership – lease or buy, old or new, all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive – now you have to ask yourself: is it worth it to buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle? In fact, many people are completely unfamiliar with the term “Certified Pre-Owned” until they start browsing the used car lot – and that’s really not the time you want to start familiarizing yourself with new terms and changing the way you think about used car buying. However, it is absolutely worth it to take the time today to learn about why buying a Certified Pre-Owned car might be the best decision for you and your family. Read on for a crash-course in learning difference between buying pre-owned and buying Certified Pre-Owned.

Start with the Basics

So, first things first – a standard used car sale is typically what we refer to as simply buying pre-owned – essentially,what you see is what you get. Of course you are going to want to take your potential new car to a trusted mechanic to make sure that it’s running in good condition and that there are no obvious future issues brewing, but there’s also no guarantee (or, in this case, warranty) to protect you from having to foot the bill for any expensive repairs that might come barreling at you soon after you sign on the dotted line. That being said, some used cars certainly do still fall under basic and powertrain warranties that you can assume ownership of when you purchase the vehicle from the previous owner, but you definitely want to be sure you know what you’re getting into as far as warranties and coverage are concerned.

Manufacturer’s Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles

When you buy a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle with a manufacturer’s warranty, you are essentially buying a car that has gone through a standardized, rigorous inspection process set by the manufacturer itself – so in many ways, it’s almost like buying a brand new car. When you choose to buy a Manufacturer’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, you can rest assured that only cars that meet the strict standards will be able to boast the Certified Pre-Owned label.

It probably goes without saying, but every manufacturer and dealership has different standards for what constitutes a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle warranty. For example, Chevrolet Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are covered by “a new, longer 6-Year/100,000-Mile Powertrain Limited Warranty, exclusive CPO Maintenance Program with two included maintenance visits, and over $2,800 of Built-in Value,” according to Chevy’s website. Meanwhile, Ford states that it’s Limited Warranty Coverage includes:

• Comprehensive Limited Warranty Coverage for 12 months/12,000 miles* covering more than 1000 components
• More than 1000 components covered, including engine, transmission and more
• Powertrain Limited Warranty Coverage for seven years/100,000 miles* covering the engine, transmission and more
• Fully transferable manufacturer-backed limited warranty coverage on engine and transmission

Of course, there are pros and cons to every Manufacturer’s Certified Pre-Owned Warranty Coverage policies, so you’ll want to carefully compare and contrast several different manufacturers Certified Pre-Owned guidelines.

It can certainly be worth it to buy a Manufacturer’s Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, and not just for the extended warranty. Certified Pre-Owned vehicles have undergone rigorous inspections and most manufacturer’s also offer a free CarFax Vehicle History Report, which allows buyers to see if their prospective car has been in a reported accident or has suffered damage from a fire or flood. The CarFax report also gives buyers details on any title issues that may have occurred during the life of the car. Coupled with the in-depth inspection, buyers should feel confident that if a car is bearing a Manufacturers Certified Pre-Owned designation, it is of the highest standard of quality and is in perfectly acceptable condition.

Dealer Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles

Not all Certified Pre-Owned vehicles are Manufacturer-approved. In fact, this is an important delineation that buyers should be extremely cognizant of when it comes time to shop for their Certified Pre-Owned car, truck or SUV.

If a car doesn’t boast the Manufacturer’s certification but it is still called a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle, odds are that the dealership has deemed it certified by its own standards. While some dealerships offer exceptionally good Certified Pre-Owned vehicles with fantastic extended warranties, others know that it’s a pretty good and easy way to get consumers to shell out more cash – even if the vehicle itself hasn’t been held to standards that meet the Manufacturers, and even if the warranty isn’t that wonderful. Before you buy a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle from a dealership, be absolutely sure you understand what you are paying for. Take the time to compare the dealership’s criteria for what constitutes a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle as opposed to the Manufacturer’s criteria, and make sure the two sets of criteria are closely aligned.

Who Should Buy Certified Pre-Owned

Buying a Certified Pre-Owned car makes so much sense and offers so much additional coverage, it’s hard to believe that not every buyer takes advantage of it, right? Well, for some shoppers, the upfront cost simply doesn’t seem worth it – because make no mistake, a Certified Pre-Owned car, truck or SUV certainly will cost you more than a standard used car purchase. However, when it comes to car shopping, you need to take the long view – in this case, it may be cheaper in the present to buy a non-Certified Pre-Owned car, but what happens in a year or two if that car suffers from serious mechanical issues and you have no extended warranty to cover the damage or repairs? You’ll simply have to shell out the cash without the help of any additional coverage, which could cost you serious money. If you are a mechanic or are extremely confident that your used car is in pristine condition, then perhaps skip the Certified Pre-Owned designation and save some pennies. However, if the idea of paying a couple thousand of dollars for unforeseen repairs makes you recoil, do yourself a favor and spring for the Certified Pre-Owned car… you’ll thank yourself in the long-run.

Learn More About Certified Pre-Owned Cars

As we stated, there are a lot of different permutations of what “Certified Pre-Owned” really means when it comes to warranties and policies – and even when it comes to who is certifying the vehicle! The best way to learn more about Certified Pre-Owned cars is to simply stop by your local dealership and let them walk you through their process and their inventory of Certified Pre-Owned cars. Don’t let your questions about Certified Pre-Owned cars hold you back – simply contact your trusted dealership today!