What are the Requirements for a Used Car to be Labeled as Certified Pre-Owned?

Trade-ins and lease returns are two primary ways in which new and used car dealerships in Philadelphia receive used cars. These cars are immediately subjected to a rigorous inspection program administered by a factory certified technician. If the car meets the manufacturer's CPO qualifications, it is offered for sale as a CPO vehicle.  

 

The specific criteria list for a potential CPO car is long, but generally they must be in excellent condition, mechanically and cosmetically sound and have low mileage. If a car doesn't meet the CPO program requirements, it is either fixed or rejected from the program.   

The designation of Certified pre-owned vehicle is bestowed and backed by the original manufacturer and therefore must meet a long list of criteria to be eligible for certification. Despite the fact that each manufacturer’s specific criteria for their CPO cars can vary, they are all considered to be the highest quality used cars available.   

Mileage is one of the early indicators of whether a car can be certified pre owned by the manufacturer. While mileage eligibility varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, the norm is less than 60,000 miles and no older than five years.   

Since they are backed by the original manufacturer, CPO cars are subjected to a rigorous, multi-point inspection and come with an extended warranty from the original date of service good at any dealer in the country. As stated earlier, these multi-point inspections can vary in terms of specific number of points as well as the nature of each point.   

 

As an example, a certified pre owned Subaru must go through a 152-point inspection list. Some dealers have more while others have less. Generally, all of the cosmetic, mechanical and electrical components are part of every inspection list with differences often being dependent on the make or model.   

Although the dealer does the inspection and any repair work needed, the car is fully backed by the manufacturer just as if it were being sold new. A CPO car includes an extended warranty, a limited bumper-to-bumper warranty and a number of services, such as 24-hour roadside assistance. The new owner retains the balance of the factory warranty on the bumper to bumper coverage and has the option to “wrap” it and take the bumper to bumper warranty up to 100,000 miles for an additional charge.   

What is most important is who performs the inspection. This is where used car dealerships in Philadelphia may have variance beyond selection and pricing. That is one among many reasons why it’s important to read the full set of specific manufacturer requirements for pre-owned cars that they certify. Be prepared to discuss the specifics of a pre-owned car with your preferred dealership so that you can have a thorough understanding of their process as well as the experience and training of their technicians.   

A highly skilled, experienced and certified technician can perform any and all types of repairs on a wide range of cars and trucks from many manufacturers. They also have additional certifications in the specific manufacturer that the dealership represents.   

As an example, a Subaru dealership that sells new and used Subaru’s will have certified pre-owned Subaru technicians on staff that have any and all additional training and certifications from Subaru on all of their models.   

Just as with any car purchase whether it be new or used, it is the practices of the specific dealership that you choose along with the experience of the staff that will determine your car shopping experience. Doing your homework about the selection, pricing, and the experience of the service department staff are a good place to start.   

The history of the dealership itself will also provide clues as to where to begin your search. Finding the best track in terms of satisfied customers that are gathered from positive reviews and feedback from other buyers can help you to choose among the best new and used car dealerships in Philadelphia.