Before You Buy: Certified Pre-Owned Programs from Acura to Dodge

Acura requires its vehicles receive a 150-point inspection before they can be certified.

• All vehicles are under six years old and have less than 80,000 miles.
• Every buyer receives a 12 month/12,000 mile limited warranty and a 7-year/100,000 mile limited powertrain warranty.

It’s possible to get a pretty good deal on a five-year old TL, for example, and get strong warranty coverage. Acura’s CPO vehicles having up to 80,000 miles on them are testament to the brand’s reliability.

The reverse calculator on the site is a handy tool for figuring out what you can afford based on down payment and monthly payments.

An Audi can be certified pre-owned if it’s 5 years or newer and has less than 60,000 miles.

• A factory-backed limited warranty with coverage for up to six years or 100,000 total vehicle miles.
• The balance of the no-charge scheduled maintenance and the balance of the car’s 12-year Corrosion Perforation Limited Warranty, regardless of mileage.

  The warranty here is a little tricky.

  • It kicks in after the new car 4-year/50,000 mile warranty expires. It’s good for two years or 50,000 miles – whichever occurs first.
  • This warranty could work well if you put a lot of miles on your car.

To be eligible for enrollment in the Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Program, a late-model vehicle must be in service for at least six months or have more than 6,000 miles but less than 60,000 miles on the odometer.

With the BMW Certified Pre-Owned Warranty, you're covered for up to 6 years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Certified Pre-Owned makes a ton of sense with vehicles like BMW that can be expensive to maintain.

To be considered for the GM Certified program, a vehicle must be five years old or newer, with less than 60,000 miles.

• The vehicles get a 100,000-Mile/5-Year Powertrain Limited Warranty;
• 3-Month/3,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty Extension;
• 117-Point Inspection; and
• a Vehicle History Report.
• GM also says its offers like-new vehicle financing for qualified buyers but only on certain vehicles.

Take any financing claims with a grain of salt because manufacturer financing is a mercurial thing subject to change on the slightest whims.

Only Cadillacs less than 4 years (or 5 model years) and 50,000 miles are eligible.

• A Cadillac certified pre-owned vehicle comes with a 6 yrs/100,000 miles warranty from new vehicle delivery date.
• Cadillac uses a checklist of more than 110 quality points as a guide.
• When you purchase a 2006 or newer Certified Pre-Owned Cadillac, you'll get six months of OnStar's Directions & Connections Service. (Existing OnStar service agreement and prepaid calling minutes required for Personal Calling.

This is one of the older domestic luxury CPO programs with a start date in 1994.

To be considered for the GM Certified program, a vehicle must be five years old or newer, with less than 60,000 miles.

• The vehicles get a 100,000-Mile/5-Year Powertrain Limited Warranty; 3-Month/3,000-Mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty Extension;
• 117-Point Inspection; and
• a Vehicle History Report. [il]GM Also says its offers like-new vehicle financing for qualified buyers but only on certain vehicles.

So, forget about a 2004 Corvette Z06 at 2.9 percent financing. Take any financing claims with a grain of salt because manufacturer financing is a mercurial thing subject to change on the slightest whims.

To be considered, a vehicle must be 5 model years old or newer and have 65,000 miles or less. Other websites have it wrong that eight-year old vehicles are eligible.

• Each Chrysler certified pre-owned is factory backed, providing an 8-Year/80,000-mile limited warranty from the date the vehicle is sold as new.
• The limited warranty covers repair or replacement of most major powertrain components including transmission, engine and driveline.
• As with most warranties, it’s the mileage that’s important. Very few vehicles hit eight years with less than 80,000 miles.
• All vehicles must pass a 125-point inspection.

A vehicle must be 5 model years old or newer and have 65,000 miles or less. Other websites have it wrong that eight-year old vehicles are eligible. They’re not.

• Each Chrysler certified pre-owned vehicle is factory backed, providing an 8-Year/80,000-mile limited warranty from the date the vehicle is sold as new.
• The limited warranty covers repair or replacement of most major powertrain components including transmission, engine and driveline.
• As with most warranties, it’s the mileage that’s important. Very few vehicles hit eight years with less than 80,000 miles.
• All vehicles must pass a 125-point inspection.