Best CPO Warranties

Compare our picks for the best CPO warranties

Our top 5 CPO warranty picks

To select our top picks for the best CPO warranties, we considered factors like how long the CPO warranty lasts, whether it offers comprehensive coverage and if it offers any other benefits, like roadside assistance or trip interruption coverage.

Lexus

In terms of CPO perks and protection, Lexus leads the pack with its L/Certified program. If your certified pre-owned Lexus is still within its original factory warranty period of 4 years/50,000 miles, Lexus will extend that coverage up to 6 years/unlimited miles. If your original factory warranty has expired, Lexus will grant you an extra two years of warranty protection with no mileage limit.

You’ll also get benefits like complimentary maintenance for 2 years/20,000 miles, roadside assistance, a loaner car when your Lexus is in the shop for more than eight hours and trip interruption coverage.

Porsche

Porsche’s CPO warranty program is called Porsche Approved. All Porsche Approved vehicles come with a 2-year/unlimited-mile warranty. This CPO warranty either begins on the date you purchase the car or the date the original factory warranty expires, whichever comes later. For context, all Porsches come with a 4-year/50,000-mile factory warranty.

Plus, you’ll get benefits like roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and rental car reimbursement for eligible trip interruptions.

Genesis

Genesis, Hyundai’s luxury car brand, offers a strong CPO program with a 6-year/75,000-mile limited warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty, both of which are measured from when your vehicle was brand new.

For reference, Genesis offers a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. That means that its CPO program offers an additional 1 year or 15,000 miles of warranty coverage.

To qualify for Genesis’ CPO program, vehicles must be under five years old, have under 60,000 miles and pass a 191-point inspection. Its program also includes benefits like roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and rental car reimbursement.

Kia

Kia’s CPO program offers a 1-year/12,000-mile extension of whatever factory limited warranty you have left. For context, all new Kias come with a 5-year/60,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty and a 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty.

Other CPO benefits include roadside assistance for 10 years/unlimited miles, travel protection and rental car reimbursement. To qualify, vehicles must pass a 165-point inspection.

Hyundai

Hyundai doesn’t extend your vehicle’s existing factory warranty when you buy through its CPO program. Instead, you’ll get whatever’s left of the factory warranty, which is 5 years/60,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage and 10 years/100,000 miles of powertrain coverage. Considering that many competitors frequently offer only 3-year/36,000-mile factory warranties, Hyundai’s CPO program is still competitive.

To qualify for CPO status, Hyundais must be under six model years old, have fewer than 80,000 miles on the odometer and pass a 173-point inspection. Its CPO vehicles also offer benefits like roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage and rental car reimbursement.

What does certified pre-owned mean?

Certified pre-owned means that a used vehicle has met a specific standard for quality that’s set by a manufacturer. The exact standards used vary from manufacturer to manufacturer.

To be certified, a pre-owned vehicle typically must:

• Be within a certain age or mileage limit
• Pass a quality inspection at a licensed dealership

While CPO programs have traditionally been a way for manufacturers to stand by their own vehicles, some automakers also certify used vehicles from other brands.

Advantages of buying a CPO vehicle

CPO vehicles include some advantages over used vehicles. You’ll usually get:

• Additional warranty coverage: You’ll often get additional warranty coverage that extends the original factory warranty, which may include additional bumper-to-bumper coverage and powertrain coverage.
• Travel benefits: CPO vehicles often come with travel protection or trip interruption coverage for breakdowns that occur a certain distance from home.
• Rental car reimbursement: You’ll also typically get rental car coverage while your vehicle is in the shop for a warranty repair or if your car breaks down away from home.
• Roadside assistance: This typically covers flat tires, towing and other services.

» LEARN: How to find the right car for your budget

Are certified pre-owned vehicles worth it?

Buying a CPO vehicle can be worth it if you want to save money by buying a slightly older model and if you want quality assurance and a CPO warranty. CPO warranty coverage can protect you from expensive repair bills, especially if the vehicle you’re buying has a poor reliability rating or above-average repair costs.

However, just because a vehicle has passed a dealership quality inspection doesn’t necessarily mean a vehicle is in great shape.

For instance, Joe, a reviewer from New Jersey, said they bought a CPO Mercedes that shouldn’t have passed inspection given its issues.

“I bought a certified Mercedes E350 at a Mercedes dealership,” Joe said. “I was given the vehicle to take home[,] and since it was certified with a full warranty, I felt confident that the vehicle was in great condition with no issues. After all, the certified warranty has requirements the vehicle must meet before it can be certified. My vehicle must have been the exception. There was a long list of issues[,] which made it apparent that this vehicle shouldn't have been certified.”

CPO technicians can also make mistakes when certifying vehicles.

“I’ve inspected CPO vehicles in the past and none have passed with 100%,” said Eric Hamilton, owner of Whyte Knyte Inspections. “Technicians can make mistakes and often do on a CPO inspection. I know this because I was the CPO compliance inspector for seven manufacturer brands for over five years.”

Stories like these are why it’s best to get a pre-purchase inspection on any used car you’re considering, even if it’s certified pre-owned. An experienced and unbiased third-party mechanic may be able to provide a more honest and accurate assessment than the dealership that’s trying to sell you a car.

» MORE: How to buy a used car

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