What Does Certified Pre-Owned Mean?

Car shopping introduces you to a whole new vocabulary of terms you don't use in everyday life. If you don't want a brand-new car, you may be looking at used and certified pre-owned inventories. But what does certified pre-owned mean? And how does a certified pre-owned-or CPO-vehicle differ from a used one?

Here, Scott Lot Pre-Owned breaks it down so you know what to expect when you're searching for a new-to-you car in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Emmaus.

Used vs Certified Pre-Owned Cars

Basically, certified pre-owned vehicles are used cars that have undergone a strict certification process. Think of it like buying a refurbished appliance: Even though it's not brand-new, it's been restored to high standards set by the manufacturer. As a result, you can enjoy nearly the same performance and quality you would expect from a new model.

Certified pre-owned vehicles are often seen as having the best of both worlds. Since they're not new, they've already depreciated in value, meaning you can get more for the price. At the same time, you get many of the benefits of a new car, like dependability and a manufacturer-backed warranty.

Benefits of Buying a Certified Pre-Owned Car

The specific rules for certified pre-owned cars vary between manufacturers, as each certifying authority outlines its own process. However, there are a few things you'll find in almost every CPO vehicle.

Low Mileage: Many manufacturers will only select a car for the certification process if it's a few years old or under a certain mileage. For instance, a Cadillac must be less than four years old and have less than 50,000 miles to qualify.

Reliability: Every certified pre-owned vehicle needs to pass a strict multi-point inspection, which often includes checking the car for open recalls. If this process brings up any issues, a factory-trained technician will repair the vehicle with genuine OEM parts.

Warranty: A manufacturer-backed warranty is arguably the most valuable aspect of a certified pre-owned car. Many CPO vehicles get an extension of the vehicle's original bumper-to-bumper or powertrain warranty, so if any issues arise after your purchase, you're covered.

Additional Benefits: Again, these vary between manufacturers. However, you'll often find additional CPO benefits such as roadside assistance, a free vehicle history report, complimentary maintenance for the first year, and more.

Shop Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles Today!

With a certified pre-owned car, you get the value of a used vehicle with the reliability of a new one. Now that you know what certified pre-owned means, it's time to start looking at CPO vehicles in Allentown, Bethlehem, and Emmaus.

Check out our selection at Scott Lot Pre-Owned today-browse our online inventory to see what's available, or simply come in to test drive some of our top models. And, as always, feel free to contact us if you have any questions!