Buying a Used Car? These 6 Certified Pre-Owned Programs Are Worth the Money

Buying a used car comes with pros and cons. The biggest pro is the cost savings compared to buying a new vehicle, but the potential con is that it may be prone to more issues.

To give you more peace of mind, it could be worth purchasing a used car through a certified pre-owned (CPO) program. Cars purchased through these programs have been through multi-point inspections and come with driver protections such as roadside assistance or even complimentary maintenance. Although purchasing a CPO vehicle might cost more than a traditional used car, the added costs could be worth it.

To find the CPO programs that are worth the added cost, U.S. News & World Report found the best programs by evaluating a range of coverages and benefits, including warranty coverage duration, trip interruption reimbursement, roadside assistance perks and more.

Here are the best certified pre-owned programs to consider if you are buying a used car.

What’s Included:

• Bumper-to-bumper coverage for up to six years or 72,000 miles from a new vehicle’s original purchase date
• Travel interruption reimbursement of up to $925
• 24-hour roadside assistance for the length of the warranty period

What’s Included:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty of up to five years from a new vehicle’s original purchase date (no mileage limits)
• 24-hour roadside assistance
• Reimbursement up to $1,000 in case of a travel interruption

What’s Included:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty of up to five years or 60,000 miles from purchase date of new vehicle
• Powertrain coverage that extends the warranty for up to seven years or 100,000 miles
• No deductible for covered repairs
• Two free oil changes during the first year of ownership
• 24-hour roadside assistance
• Travel interruption payment of up to $300

What’s Included:

• Warranty coverage for six years from the original in-service date of a new car. Vehicles certified with under 15,000 miles are covered for up to 75,000 miles, while vehicles certified above 15,000 miles receive coverage for unlimited mileage.
• Roadside assistance
• Complimentary service in accordance with the factory-recommended maintenance schedule
• No deductible for covered repairs

What’s Included:

• Bumper-to-bumper coverage for two years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first (total coverage of six years from the date of purchase of a new vehicle)
• Powertrain coverage extends one year from the purchase date, which amounts to a total of seven years from the date of purchase when the vehicle was new
• Free roadside assistance
• One free maintenance visit, which can include a complimentary oil change, tire rotation and brake fluid replacement
• No deductible for any covered repair
• Reimbursement of up to $300 a day for up to three days for travel interruption

What’s Included:

• Bumper-to-bumper warranty coverage for up to six years, starting from the date of purchase of a new vehicle (no mileage limit)
• No deductible for covered repairs
• Free service loaner vehicle for up to five days while your car is in the shop for covered repairs
• Up to $850 in reimbursement for travel interruption more than 100 miles away from a Lexus dealer
• Complimentary roadside assistance
• Complimentary scheduled maintenance, which includes oil changes and tire rotations

Editor’s note: Data was sourced from U.S. News and is accurate as of Nov. 21, 2024.