Certified Pre-Owned Car (CPO) Explained

A certified pre-owned car, or CPO, is a vehicle that has been factor-certified and put up for sale by a branded dealership. This means it gets the benefits of manufacturer warranty coverage, and it is likely in a far better condition than your traditional used car. How is a CPO car better than a used car? Well, generally they have been repaired to get them as close to perfect condition as possible, while a used car will usually just be repaired enough to get it back on the road.

You can also avoid many scams by going with a CPO car; a regular used car doesn't go through the same stringent certification process, and is therefore more likely to have hidden damage or omissions in their accident history. With a manufacturer's guarantee, a lot of the stress associated with the car-buying process can be alleviated.

The difference between a certified pre-owned car and a regular used car is the process the vehicle goes through prior to sale. If you are lucky, a used car will go through an inspection and come with a complete history for you to look at. The unfortunate reality is that many sellers will omit certain facts about a vehicle to raise the sale price. With a regular used car, you can fall prey to scams like:

• Odometer Rollback
• Title Washing
• Lemon Sales
• Vehicle Tampering

With a regular used car, you have to trust the word of the salesmen or do extensive outside research to verify each vehicle details. With a certified pre-owned car, you can rest easier knowing a manufacturer has not only inspected the vehicle, but repaired it to the best condition possible.

For a vehicle to get certified by a manufacturer, it must go through an inspection and subsequent repairs to bring it up to that manufacturer's standard. This is one of the reasons car manufacturers choose lower mileage vehicles; it's much easier to make repairs on a car with less wear and tear, and therefore reduces the overall cost of certification.

The exact process of certification depends on which manufacturer you purchase your vehicle from. Some dealerships will put their vehicles through as many as a 160-point inspection, checking every single system within the car and ensuring they are functioning as close to new as possible.

Advantages of a CPO Car

• Lower Mileage: Depending on the car manufacturer, many pre-owned vehicles have to be under a certain mileage to be certified. On average, certified pre-owned vehicles had to be manufactured in the last 6 years and must be driven less than 85,000 miles. Setting a limit on age and mileage allows dealers to save money on repairs and guarantee a car will be drivable for multiple years after their sale.
• Dealership Inspected: No one knows a vehicle better than a brand-specific dealership, and a CPO car will get a full multi-point inspection before certification. A dealership will also look for certain elements of a vehicle's history, like any history of theft, major accidents, or severe system failure. This ensures that a CPO car has a far cleaner history than your traditional used car.
• Covered by a Warranty: One of the biggest advantages of purchasing a pre-owned vehicle is the manufacturer warranty. This gives your car extensive repair coverage; if you experience any issue with your CPO car you can take it into a nearby dealership to be fixed for free. This helps ensure the car remains in good condition, and can make the extra cost of a CPO car well worth the expenditure.

Disadvantages of a CPO Car

• Smaller Option Pool: Due to the more strict requirements for certified pre-owned vehicles, you will naturally have a less diverse array of options to choose from. If you have a specific vehicle in mind, you may need to look outside of the available CPO pool to find what you are looking for.
• Higher Sticker Price: The process to certify a vehicle takes time and money, and most CPO cars will carry a higher purchase price. Of course, you get a warranty and a near-perfect condition vehicle for that price; still, if your budget is strained, you may need to look elsewhere for a used vehicle.

To get more information about certified pre-owned cars, you'll need to use a vehicle research tool. These services can show you valuable information about almost any used vehicle so you can make a more informed purchase. By doing proper research, you can ensure you get a car that's long-lasting and reliable. Vehicle research tools can also help you avoid scams like odometer rollback, car title washing, and the purchase of a lemon car.

It's always better to go into any car-buying situation with all the knowledge available. Selecting a certified pre-owned vehicle is a good first step, but you still want to make sure you get all the facts before you buy.