What is a Certified Pre-owned Vehicle?
by: Lori Catz
Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2010 Time: 4:26 PM
For many buyers, certified used cars and trucks are an attractive option to buying expensive new vehicles. For a lot less money, you can get a quality car that is loaded and almost brand new, even if the odometer shows it has traveled 22,000 miles.
Certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles are generally tests and a dealership inspection. These cars are always examined by mechanics, who then repair anything that is wrong with the car.
CPO cars usually come with a factory warranty or service contract. Unlike other used cars, CPO cars are regularly maintained facts that can be verified independently with a vehicle-tracking service. This makes them a very good alternative to new models with high prices.
Many vehicles branded as CPOs were leased rather than sold. As such, they have been cared for by customers to avoid additional charges for wear and tear. This eventually became a popular way for manufacturers to get rid of low-mileage off-lease cars when the leasing boom of the 1990s ended.
If you decide that you are going to purchase a certified pre-owned car, make sure that you're getting your moneys worth first. Make sure you check out everything that the manufacturer has to offer. Aside from the standard warranty, a lot of CPO vehicles come with the option to return the vehicle if it doesn't meet your standards.
But these conditions vary greatly among dealers so read the contract carefully. Look around and compare polices. That way, you get a good deal. For instance, Lexus, a pioneer of CPO programs, has a three-year, 100,000-total-vehicle-mile limited warranty to its CPO cars. Not so with Chrysler that has different conditions. While it carries an inspection and a return policy, its CPO cars only have a three-month, 3,000-mile limited warranty and an 80,000-total-vehicle-mile drive train-only warranty.
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For more information on extended warranties, go to http://www.endurancewarrantyservices.com
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