Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Explained

Like a lot of industries, the car industry is one where, when you’re working inside of it, there are so many insider terms that you just take for granted, but which may be confusing for those who don’t deal with cars every day like we do. That’s okay! It can be confusing, but our Cars.ca team wants your car buying experience to be anything of that sort. You surely know what a “used” or “pre-owned” vehicle is, it’s one that has been driven and owned by someone else before. But, if I slap the word “certified” in front of all that, I can see where some confusion may be. Don’t fret, read below as directly in the first section, I’ll break down exactly what the heck “certified” means, the benefits of certified pre-owned vehicles, and on the flip side, maybe why they may not be the cars for you.

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What the Heck Does “Certified” Used Vehicle Even Mean?

I’m building it up a little too much, but a certified used vehicle is a pretty simple concept to understand. These used vehicles are, basically, a step above your traditional used vehicles, as they have undergone a specific inspection, reconditioning and safety process by the dealership or manufacturer to reach a higher degree of quality. Many of these programs will come with additional benefits like a warranty, exchange privilege, roadside assistance, additional entertainment options, special financing offers and more. Let’s take the next section and break down a little more why it can be so worthwhile to explore certified used vehicle options.

What are the Benefits of a CPO Vehicle?

Yes, let’s get out right in front of it now, because of all this extra reconditioning, features and benefits, a certified pre-owned vehicle will cost you more than a regular used vehicle. All these pros below, however, could make that extra jump in the price tag disappear.

Should You Avoid a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle?

We don’t sugarcoat anything at Cars.ca, neither we hide behind one side, nor do I, so what are the downfalls of a certified pre-owned vehicle, and why may one not be for you? I mentioned above, but, firstly, to reiterate, you will see certified pre-owned vehicles at a higher price, which makes sense given all that’s gone into them and offered. As well, they’re still a used vehicle at the end of the day, and I get that if there’s still some reticence, as a manufacturer certification does not all of a sudden make it a “new’ car. Along with a limited selection of options compared to the traditional used market, you may also see shorter loan coverages and more limited warranties due to their still-used nature. Weigh these pros and cons and see if a CPO vehicle may just be the perfect match.

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