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9 Best CPO Programs
By Eric C. Evarts | April Three, 2017
Our List Will Help You Buy a Used Car With Confidence
If the $33,560 price of an average fresh car last year makes your eyes bug out, you may be a good candidate for a certified pre-owned model. These are one-owner used cars sold by a franchised dealership that sells fresh cars of the same make and who can service and support the car just as if you had bought it fresh. One Boston-area Volvo dealership used to advertise them as «gently used» cars.
Almost all automakers suggest certified pre-owned cars; it`s one of the most profitable lines of their business.
The cars have to meet certain requirements to qualify as «certified»: They can only have had one prior retail proprietor, they must have been driven less than a certain number of miles (which varies by brand), they must not have been in a major accident, and they must have a clean title. Each automaker then requires the selling dealership to conduct a thorough used-car inspection to ensure it has no major problems, and any problems found must be corrected. Wear items such as tires and brake pads must also have adequate life left in them or be substituted.
Once the car clears all these hurdles, it receives extra warranty coverage from the automaker and is often eligible for lower finance rates (and sometimes even leasing programs) that ordinary used cars don`t get.
These quality checks, and minimal bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, give buyers more confidence in their purchase than ordinary used cars. However, buyers will pay for peace of mind. CPO vehicles are often priced higher than other used cars.
Not all CPO programs are created equal, however. Here are some of the features that separate the best from the rest.
More Slideshows
Finding the Best
When we explored the top-rated CPO programs to find the best of the best, we looked primarily at the length and terms of the warranty, but we didn`t stop there.
We also looked at the maximum possible warranty buyers can get if they find a car with the highest mileage allowable under the CPO program, because those are likely to be the most affordable cars and the ones on which the CPO warranty will provide the most value. The most significant question is how long the warranty lasts once you, the 2nd buyer, drive off in the pre-owned car.
We awarded extra points, however, for CPO programs like Porsche’s that include free maintenance – the longer the better – because even scheduled maintenance can get expensive on modern cars, especially at the 60,000-mile service interval that most certified pre-owned cars will cross while you own them.
A few certified pre-owned warranties come with $50 or $100 deductibles, unlike new-car warranties. We didn`t penalize those, because if your used car has a problem, that sum won`t cover even the most minor repair these days. At that point, we think the fifty bucks will be the least of your worries. You`ll very likely be glad to have any warranty at all.
We also considered the underlying reliability of the cars being suggested and noted brands that displayed poor reliability in surveys from numerous sources. Buying a money pit with an extended warranty is only going to delay your agony, and we don`t think that treatment will be satisfying in the long run.
More Slideshows
Inspections
Every automaker touts the hundreds of points that it inspects on used cars before they can be certified. We looked at the lists, however, and they`re all similarly thorough – just parsed differently. So just because one automaker says it inspects two hundred eighty points and another says it inspects one hundred seventy points, that doesn`t make one list better than the other. The more significant thing is to verify that the dealership has ended the inspection on the vehicle you`re considering and has addressed any issues it found.
More Slideshows
Roadside Assistance
Most CPO warranties also suggest free 24-hour roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty, should you have problems. Since they tend to be the same as the powertrain warranty, they didn`t provide any extra differentiation in our findings. They also seem overrated as part of a CPO program, because buyers are likely to keep their cars longer than the coverage lasts. And since CPO warranties have more exclusions than new-car warranties, the automaker can still reject towing coverage in some instances. Joining a regular auto club seems like a better long-term solution.
More Slideshows
Make Sure You Get the Real Thing
Some used car dealerships also sell ordinary used cars with aftermarket extended warranties and call them «certified.» Be careful of these programs. Many are just a way to inflate the price of used cars without meeting specific standards and without the backing of the manufacturer. To ensure you get a pre-owned car certified by the manufacturer, shop at a new-car dealership that sells the brand of car you desire.
It`s worth noting that no CPO program is flawless. Cars can and do slip through the cracks, as evidenced by the legions of lawsuits over cars sold as certified that should never have passed any CPO inspection. When buying any used car, buyers need to do their own homework and check satisfaction ratings with both the car dealership itself and the manufacturer that provides the CPO warranty. If you buy a certified pre-owned car, at least you have more recourse than you do with any other cheap used car.
9 Best CPO Programs, U
9 Best CPO Programs
If the $33,560 price of an average fresh car last year makes your eyes bug out, you may be a good candidate for a certified pre-owned model. These are one-owner used cars sold by a franchised dealership that sells fresh cars of the same make and who can service and support the car just as if you had bought it fresh. One Boston-area Volvo dealership used to advertise them as «gently used» cars.
Almost all automakers suggest certified pre-owned cars; it`s one of the most profitable lines of their business.
The cars have to meet certain requirements to qualify as «certified»: They can only have had one prior retail proprietor, they must have been driven less than a certain number of miles (which varies by brand), they must not have been in a major accident, and they must have a clean title. Each automaker then requires the selling dealership to conduct a thorough used-car inspection to ensure it has no major problems, and any problems found must be corrected. Wear items such as tires and brake pads must also have adequate life left in them or be substituted.
Once the car clears all these hurdles, it receives extra warranty coverage from the automaker and is often eligible for lower finance rates (and sometimes even leasing programs) that ordinary used cars don`t get.
These quality checks, and minimal bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, give buyers more confidence in their purchase than ordinary used cars. However, buyers will pay for peace of mind. CPO vehicles are often priced higher than other used cars.
Not all CPO programs are created equal, however. Here are some of the features that separate the best from the rest.
More Slideshows
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- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
Finding the Best
When we explored the top-rated CPO programs to find the best of the best, we looked primarily at the length and terms of the warranty, but we didn`t stop there.
We also looked at the maximum possible warranty buyers can get if they find a car with the highest mileage allowable under the CPO program, because those are likely to be the most affordable cars and the ones on which the CPO warranty will provide the most value. The most significant question is how long the warranty lasts once you, the 2nd buyer, drive off in the pre-owned car.
We awarded extra points, however, for CPO programs like Porsche’s that include free maintenance – the longer the better – because even scheduled maintenance can get expensive on modern cars, especially at the 60,000-mile service interval that most certified pre-owned cars will cross while you own them.
A few certified pre-owned warranties come with $50 or $100 deductibles, unlike new-car warranties. We didn`t penalize those, because if your used car has a problem, that sum won`t cover even the most minor repair these days. At that point, we think the fifty bucks will be the least of your worries. You`ll very likely be glad to have any warranty at all.
We also considered the underlying reliability of the cars being suggested and noted brands that showcased poor reliability in surveys from numerous sources. Buying a money pit with an extended warranty is only going to delay your ache, and we don`t think that treatment will be satisfying in the long run.
More Slideshows
- two thousand seventeen Audi S7: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
Inspections
Every automaker touts the hundreds of points that it inspects on used cars before they can be certified. We looked at the lists, however, and they`re all similarly thorough – just parsed differently. So just because one automaker says it inspects two hundred eighty points and another says it inspects one hundred seventy points, that doesn`t make one list better than the other. The more significant thing is to verify that the dealership has finished the inspection on the vehicle you`re considering and has addressed any issues it found.
More Slideshows
- two thousand seventeen Audi S7: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
Roadside Assistance
Most CPO warranties also suggest free 24-hour roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty, should you have problems. Since they tend to be the same as the powertrain warranty, they didn`t provide any extra differentiation in our findings. They also seem overrated as part of a CPO program, because buyers are likely to keep their cars longer than the coverage lasts. And since CPO warranties have more exclusions than new-car warranties, the automaker can still reject towing coverage in some instances. Joining a regular auto club seems like a better long-term solution.
More Slideshows
- two thousand seventeen Audi S7: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
Make Sure You Get the Real Thing
Some used car dealerships also sell ordinary used cars with aftermarket extended warranties and call them «certified.» Be careful of these programs. Many are just a way to inflate the price of used cars without meeting specific standards and without the backing of the manufacturer. To ensure you get a pre-owned car certified by the manufacturer, shop at a new-car dealership that sells the brand of car you desire.
It`s worth noting that no CPO program is flawless. Cars can and do slip through the cracks, as evidenced by the legions of lawsuits over cars sold as certified that should never have passed any CPO inspection. When buying any used car, buyers need to do their own homework and check satisfaction ratings with both the car dealership itself and the manufacturer that provides the CPO warranty. If you buy a certified pre-owned car, at least you have more recourse than you do with any other cheap used car.
More Slideshows
- two thousand seventeen Audi S7: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
The Top 9
Here are the nine best certified pre-owned programs suggested in the industry – those that suggest the most value on a reliable used car. Most are from luxury brands, which can be a fine way to get into a luxury car that you might not otherwise be able to afford.
More Slideshows
- two thousand seventeen Audi S7: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Dodge Charger September Five, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Ford Mustang GT: What You Need to Know September Five, 2017
- eight Alternatives to the two thousand eighteen Hyundai Elantra September Five, 2017
- nine Alternatives to a two thousand seventeen Toyota Highlander September 1, 2017
- ten Alternatives to the two thousand seventeen Volkswagen Jetta September 1, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for the Money February 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Cars for Families March 7, 2017
- two thousand seventeen Best Vehicle Brand Awards November 15, 2016
1. Lexus
Lexus offers two years of bumper-to-bumper coverage with unlimited mileage on all certified pre-owned Lexus models, embarking the day you buy the car, even if it`s already six years old and has 70,000 miles on it. That means you could end up driving a Lexus up to eight years old and still have bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage, no matter how many miles you`ve driven.
The warranty doesn`t commence until after the Lexus new-car bumper-to-bumper warranty expires, so if you buy a certified Lexus that`s still under the factory warranty, you still get the maximum value out of the certified warranty.
Lexus will also cover the very first four factory-scheduled services for the duration of the CPO warranty.
The only downside is that the warranty is not transferrable to a third proprietor if you determine to sell the car. Since Lexuses hold their value exceptionally well anyway, we don`t think that`s a superb loss. One reason that Lexus models hold their value so well is that they are known to be among the most reliable cars in the business.
Minimum extra CPO warranty: two years/unlimited mileage
Maximum bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage: six years/unlimited mileage
Original factory warranty: four years/50,000 miles
Maximum powertrain warranty coverage: six years/unlimited mileage
Free maintenance: four services over two years/20,000 miles
Eligibility: six years/70,000 miles
Extras: 24-hour roadside assistance for the duration of the warranty
