Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned Cars: Yes, There is a Difference

If you’re looking for a car, and you feel like getting one that’s not brand-new makes the most sense, then you likely know that certified pre-owned and used are your two other options. You may feel they’re interchangeable. However, as it turns out, that’s not really the case.

You can always look at used cars, San Antonio residents, but maybe certified pre-owned will serve you better. What’s the difference? We will break that down right now.

Certified Pre-Owned Cars

Let’s start by talking about certified pre-owned cars. Certified pre-owned vehicles are often ones that are sold by the manufacturer, though not always. If you buy one, you are typically getting a gently used car that is not more than two or three years old.

Often, when you get a certified pre-owned car, it only had one previous owner. They likely leased the vehicle and then returned it at the end of that two or three-year lease. Because of this, the vehicle should still be relatively new and in pretty good shape. It should not have that many miles on it.

If you get a certified pre-owned car, that also means the selling entity gave it a rigorous, multi-point inspection before making it available for sale. You can usually also get a fairly generous warranty on it.

Used Cars

As for used cars, there is no guarantee if you buy one that it only had one previous owner. Maybe it had two, or three, or more than that. It may have many more miles on it than a certified pre-owned one.

Many times, the seller will not be the manufacturer. The car might be considerably older than two or three years.

Because of this, don’t be surprised if the cost of a used car is much less than what you would expect to pay for a certified pre-owned one. That’s potentially helpful to you as a consumer if you don’t have that much money to spend.

Keep in mind, though, that if you buy a used car instead of a certified pre-owned one, you might not get anywhere near as generous of a warranty. You might get a 30-day warranty in some cases instead of a two-year one.

Which One Works Better for Your Particular Situation?

When you look at which of these two options will work better for you, how much money you have to spend will more than likely come into play. If you have more cash to spend, then getting a certified pre-owned vehicle probably makes sense. You’re likely getting a longer warranty, a car with fewer miles, and newer safety components.

If you need a form of conveyance, though, and you have very little money, then buying used is probably your best bet. While you won’t have the benefit of that warranty, the asking price will likely be a lot less. You can probably get a vehicle that gets you out on the road, even if it is presumably not as dependable as its certified pre-owned counterpart.