Buying a Used Car – Safely

There’s always the Big Question when buying a used car: has it had a mellow neatly-driven past or was it so severely abused that the owner does not want it anymore? This uncertainty can be eliminated with Certified Pre-owned Cars (CPOs).

Basically, CPOs are reconditioned used cars. They are late-model pre-owned vehicles, often recently returned at the end of a lease, that go through a complete auto inspection and are backed most of the times by the manufacturer. They come with an attractive warranty, a seal of approval and peace of mind.

CPOs began in the luxury car market, as a way of taking advantage of off-lease cars and offering a more affordable option to buying a brand new luxury vehicle.

The key advantage to purchasing a CPO vehicle is that you can have an almost-new car in perfect condition, without suffering the severe depreciation of the first few years. You can also be sure the auto you purchase is in perfect shape because manufacturer inspections are very thorough. Any repairs or adjustments that need to be done will be fixed before you even see the car.

These refurbished vehicles come with a warranty and other appealing perks, such as financing and road-side assistance, just in case.

Some CPO programs even offer a money back guarantee, but keep in mind that benefits vary depending on the program and carmaker. Before you buy, check out your manufacturer’s CPO website to see what kind of inspection its vehicles go through and what additional services are offered. In some cases, however, the car has not been certified by the manufacturer but by the car dealership. It’s important to always check who is certifying the car and what the certification process is for the car you’re interested in.

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