New or used vehicle

What are Certified Pre-Owned Cars?

You may have noticed that many vehicles formerly known as "used" are now termed "Certified Pre-Owned" or "CPO." These programs originated in the Luxury category due to the high rate of off-lease vehicles populating the market in the past five years.

Because these vehicles were in such great shape and had lower mileage, manufacturers took a serious interest in ensuring that they delivered a positive purchase and ownership. This trend has been growing year by year and is quickly spreading to the majority of manufacturers who market their cars in the U.S.

What are the Advantages of CPO?

Most programs:

  • Include only vehicles that are under 5 years
  • Have mileage limits of under 100,000
  • Use only vehicles that have had no major bodywork from prior accidents
  • "Refurbish" the vehicle after a multi-step inspection (75 to 305 inspection points)
  • Provide an extended warranty

What Should You Look for in a CPO Program?

When checking out the CPO programs available, here are some tips to insure your own peace-of-mind in the transaction:

Tip #1: Inspect the points of the inspection. Each program boasts anywhere from 75 to 140 points of inspection. It is safe to assume that the vehicle has been refurbished in these areas if it passed the inspection through to certification. The key to looking at these points is in identifying the major fixes that would have otherwise cost you a bundle. Remember, many of these points would be covered in a tune up, detailing or might even be part of a state safety inspection required for all used cars sold by dealers.

Key inspection points:

  • VIN Inspection (emissions, service & recall, VIN code issues, etc.)
  • Road Testing (automatic transmission shift points/slippage, drive axle; clutch; steering; brakes/ABS, gauge operation)
  • Body Exterior (frame damage, accident repair)
  • Interior (airbag, dash light operation, smoker car?)
  • Powertrain (fluid leakages, water in oil, cylinder compression reading, timing belt)
  • Fuel System (fuel pump, fuel lines, oil pressure)
  • Suspension/Steering (control arms, ball joints, tie rods, tire wear, alignment)
  • Brakes (calipers/cylinders, rotor, hydraulics, etc.)

Tip #2: Get the warranty the vehicle warrants. Each CPO programs offers a specific, non-negotiable warranty. When reviewing the warranties offered, research whether the particular model has a history of maintenance issues or transmission failures and make a judgment call from that perspective. If the make of the vehicle is known for quality and low maintenance, it might justify a shorter warranty. Most programs offer an extended warranty beyond the CPO warranty, but each program differs in cost and features. You also may want to research whether the vehicle still has any of the original warranty left on it - this will only add to the length of the warranty overall.

Tip #3: Look for special incentives and finance deals One of the most unique features of CPOs is that finance and lease deals are being extended to a used vehicle. This was virtually unheard of in the past. This one key fact has turned many new car shoppers into used car buyers and continues to drive sales of CPOs at dealerships across the country.

Recap:

Certified Pre-owned vehicles offer additional flexibility to today’s car shopper. You can visit your preferred manufacturer’s website to find complete details of their Certified program.

Saturn of Columbus