Certified Pre-Owned vs Used: Is It Worth It?

 With the shortage of new inventory, certified pre-owned and used vehicles are more in demand than ever. But is there a difference between being certified and not being certified? Is it just a word we’ve attached to make it look fancy? Let’s answer those questions.

Certified pre-owned vehicles come with extra perks when compared to buying a regular used vehicle at Landers CDJR. 

Check out our Certified Pre-owned Inventory

Before we talk about the difference between certified and used, what are the perks of buying a pre-owned or used instead of new? 

First, “pre-owned” and “used” mean the same thing. “Certified” is what makes all the difference here. Certified pre-owned vehicles have gone through extra steps, rigorous inspections and are only a few years old, while used cars don’t meet the extra qualifications to achieve certified pre-owned status.

Certified Pre-Owned 

So, what are the perks of buying a certified pre-owned vehicle? 

Warranty Information

There are options when it comes to which warranty may come with your certified pre-owned vehicle. Make sure you’re covered with one of these: 

• Three-month/3,000-mile maximum care warranty
• Up to seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty
• Lifetime certified upgrade plans

125-Point Inspection

Before you buy, know that your certified vehicle has gone through a checklist of 125 points. The sections each point fall under are: 

• Qualification Standards
• Ownership Materials
• Mechanical Standards
• Maintenance Standards 
• Appearance Standards
• Detail Standards 

Roadside Coverage

When you buy certified pre-owned, you also gain protection once you drive off the lot with Towing/Roadside Assistance and Car Rental Allowance. With Towing/Roadside Assistance, you’re covered with flat-tire service, gas delivery, battery-jump assistance, lockout service, and towing service. These services are available all 24 hours of the day. Alongside the assistance, you’ll also have a Car Rental Allowance that is taken into account when your vehicle needs repairs and has to be away from you overnight. 

Is buying a used car a bad idea? 

Nope. This article is going over the benefits of buying a certified pre-owned vehicle, but that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t buy a used car if you find one you like. Let’s go over what makes a used car a great car to buy from Landers CDJR. 

Carfax™ Vehicle History Report

Whether you buy certified pre-owned or used, Landers CDJR will make sure you know your car’s history. We supply a free Carfax report with every used vehicle listed for sale on our website. You’ll be protected from buying a car that may have a shady history or one that has been in un-reported incidents. 

Price

Used cars will be easier on the budget initially. The goal when buying a used car is to know your price range before you start looking. Our used inventory has a wider selection for any budget. 

So, is it worth it? 

Yes. A certified vehicle is one with more coverage. The certification comes with a glimpse of where your new-to-you vehicle has been, and protection for the roads you’ll drive in the future. We don’t use “certified” as a fancy word to tack onto pre-owned in hopes that you won’t read further. We would love to tell you more about the perks of buying a certified pre-owned vehicle. 

Read more about our certified vehicles.

Let’s discuss it in the comments! Do you think it is worth it?