Used vs Certified Pre-Owned Cars

August 14th, 2019 by Brad Paschal

Used Kia Sorento Louisville KY

At The Kia Store, we often have drivers from Louisville, Elizabethtown, and Clarksville ask us about the difference between used and Certified pre-owned (CPO) cars. As a used car shopper, this is an important distinction to know.

To help you out, we put together this used vs. Certified pre-owned cars comparison. Still have questions? Give us a call!

Benefits of Certified Pre-Owned Cars

While both used and Certified pre-owned cars offer some base-line benefits, CPO vehicles have an additional set of requirements they have to meet to be given this distinction. For example, Kia Certified pre-owned cars are five model years or newer and have travelled less than 60,000 miles.

While every Certified pre-owned program is different, the Kia CPO program also includes the following:

164-Point Quality Assurance Inspection

Every Certified Pre-Owned Kia car has to undergo a 164-Point Quality Assurance Inspection. This inspection covers everything from the engine compartment, to the external and structural appearance, to a road test done by an experienced and Kia-certified technician.

Two Factory-Backed Warranties and Roadside Assistance

With Your Kia CPO car, you’ll also get a 10-year/100,000-mile Certified Pre-Owned Limited Powertrain Warranty plus a 12-month/12,000-mile Platinum Coverage warranty. Should you run into any trouble, you can also enjoy perks such as 24-hour roadside assistance, rental car coverage, and towing coverage.

Complimentary CARFAX Vehicle History Report™

For your shopping convenience, Certified pre-owned Kia cars also include a complimentary CARFAX vehicle history report™. This report gives you a complete history of the Kia vehicle you’re considering, including number of previous owners, mileage, and maintenance records.

Benefits of Buying a Used Car

Whether you choose to shop in the used or CPO inventories, you’ll still enjoy all the benefits of buying a used car. For example, both used and Certified pre-owned cars tend to have a lower ticket price than they may have had when they were new.

Used Silver Kia Sorento This gives you some extra budgetary wiggle room to pay off your car sooner, pay a lower amount every month, or shop for a higher trim level or feature upgrade than you may have otherwise.

Also, since used cars have experienced a majority of their expected depreciation, they often retain more of their original value if you decide to trade it in again at a later date.

A final reason that local drivers love to shop for a used car is that they’re not limited to any particular model year. This means you might stumble across a rare make and model. You may also find a car with a discontinued feature or body style you love.

If you’re curious to see all the unique models available to you in the used car inventory at our dealership, you can start browsing our entire stock online at any time.

Related Post: Used Car Buying Checklist