Best CPO Warranties

Compare our picks for the best CPO warranties

Our top five CPO warranty picks

To select our top picks for the best CPO warranties, we considered factors like warranty length and mileage, whether it offers comprehensive warranty coverage and whether it offers any other program benefits, including roadside assistance and 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 four years/50,000 miles, Lexus will extend that coverage up to six 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 two 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, which provides a two-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 four-year/50,000-mile factory warranty.

Plus, you’ll get benefits like 24-hour 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 six-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 five-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 one year or 15,000 miles of warranty coverage.

To qualify for the Genesis CPO program, vehicles must be under 5 years old, have under 60,000 miles, have a clear vehicle history report 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 one-year/12,000-mile extension of whatever factory limited warranty you have left and reinstates the original 10-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty. For context, all new Kias come with a five-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 and have a clean vehicle history report.

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 five 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 three-year/36,000-mile factory warranties, Hyundai’s CPO program is still competitive.

To qualify for CPO status, a Hyundai 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
• Have a clean vehicle history report with few or no past accidents or major damages

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.
• Warranty transferability: Most CPO warranties are transferable, which can increase the vehicle’s resale value. Some CPO warranties can transfer to a new owner at no cost, while others may charge a fee.

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

CPO warranties for EVs and hybrids

When it comes to electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrids, the battery is a major component that poses a potentially costly expense if you end up needing to replace it. For this reason, the battery warranty is especially important to consider if you’re thinking about buying a CPO EV or hybrid.

The federal standard requires manufacturers to provide a minimum battery warranty of eight years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Most brands also guarantee the battery will retain at least 70% of its capacity through the end of the original warranty.

While auto manufacturers normally do not reinstate or extend the original battery warranty, many will honor whatever is left of the warranty coverage if you purchase a CPO EV or hybrid.

How to compare the best CPO warranty programs

While our list of the best CPO warranties can be a good starting point, it’s important to fully research and compare different manufacturers and their warranty coverage, program benefits and terms before buying a CPO vehicle.

A few important factors to consider when comparing CPO warranties include:

• Coverage: Look at which vehicle components the warranty covers, not just how long coverage lasts. Some CPO programs offer bumper-to-bumper or exclusionary coverage, while others mainly cover major powertrain components.
• Mileage limits and duration: The number of years of coverage is important, but the mileage limit is also worth prioritizing. Think about whether you are a high-mileage driver and how long you plan to own the CPO vehicle when comparing CPO warranty programs.
• Starting date: CPO warranty coverage may begin when you purchase the CPO vehicle or after the original factory warranty ends, depending on the manufacturer and warranty. Consider both the CPO warranty and the original manufacturer warranty to understand how long you’ll be covered.
• Deductibles: Some manufacturers charge a per-visit or per-repair deductible, while others offer $0 deductibles in their CPO warranty programs.
• Transferability: Some CPO warranties allow you to transfer coverage to a new buyer at no cost, while others require an additional fee or place restrictions on transfers.
• Perks and exclusions: Many CPO warranties offer benefits like roadside assistance, travel reimbursement and rental car allowance. However, these benefits may have usage or reimbursement limits. You should review these restrictions and any warranty exclusions when comparing CPO programs.

FAQ

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 prepurchase 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.

It’s also important to remember that CPO warranties typically do not cover routine maintenance, normal wear and tear or preexisting cosmetic damage.

» MORE: How to buy a used car