In today’s day and age, shopping for a car can be done in a number of ways. You can buy from a private seller or a dealership, you can lease, and you can choose whether to buy a new or used car. These are all decisions that you’ll need to think about before making your final choice.
A popular purchase is the certified pre-owned vehicle, or CPO. These tend to have many of the same perks a new vehicle comes with. Value is then combined with peace of mind!
In order to make an informed decision, let’s further explore CPOs below.
The Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle
Almost all car manufacturers out there have some kind of certified pre-owned program in place. Automakers have very different standards when it comes to CPO vehicle qualifications. Some of these categories might include:
- A thorough inspection
- A vehicle history report
- Necessary reconditioning, if any
- Necessary refurbishing, if any
- Powertrain coverage
- Roadside assistance coverage
- The deductible
The age of the vehicle will also be taken into consideration, as well as its mechanical condition.
Not surprisingly, while luxury vehicle manufacturers do have CPOs, their rules are far more strict. Mercedes-Benz, for example, has a program that includes:
- 24-hour roadside assistance program
- A one-year extended warranty
- A personal concierge service
- Unlimited-mile limit warranty for four years
Mercedes-Benz dealerships in Canada take this so seriously that they only accept vehicles that have a late model year with a maximum of 120,000 kilometres already on the odometer.
It should be noted that CPOs are not just exclusive to car manufacturers.
Factors To Consider In Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles
When a vehicle is certified pre-owned, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s reliable, so before you purchase one, make sure it’s been inspected. It’s important no matter what vehicle type (hatchback, minivan, sedan) is involved.
1. Look into the Inspection Report
When a vehicle gets inspected, it should not be assumed that it’s in perfect condition if it passes. If a vehicle turns out not to be up to standard, the vehicle inspection report should be asked for. Reports that are done well will go into particular detail on every inch of the vehicle, including tire tread depth and brake pad thickness.
Aside from the peace of mind of the customer buying the car, vehicle inspections are important for used cars because it adds to the industry reputation of the manufacturer or company.
2. The Warranty’s Fine Print
Warrants and warranty services are another product that give confidence to customers when purchasing a car Limited and extended warranties alike may not have the coverage a buyer thinks it does. Taking a closer look at the fine print and actually understanding it will go a long way. There should be a means to ask questions about it if there is an aspect that’s tough to unpack.
Another benefit of taking a closer look at the warranty’s fine print is that it can help if the CPO program has a certain maintenance plan requirement. The warranty may end up void if the regimen required is not followed.
Conclusion
Certified pre-owned vehicles are a good way to get a proper vehicle for good value. Practically all manufacturers have a CPO program in place. When buying a CPO vehicle, consider the inspection report and take a close look at the warranty’s fine print.
Trying to find a Hyundai dealer? Check out Ajax Hyundai today! We’re proud to provide outstanding service alongside competitive prices to drivers in Toronto and the surrounding area.