Many vehicle manufacturers offer a certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle program that includes an inspection process and a specialized CPO warranty. But which manufacturer has the best CPO warranty? This article compares CPO warranty programs from most major manufacturers and explains the advantages and disadvantages of buying a CPO car.
Our review team has conducted extensive research into the extended auto warranty industry. In addition to looking at manufacturer warranties, CPO warranties, and manufacturer’s extended warranties, we’ve reviewed many third-party vehicle service contract providers. You can get free quotes from the industry’s leading warranty providers below.
What Does Certified Pre-Owned Mean?
A certified pre-owned vehicle is a used car sold by the manufacturer that meets certain quality control standards. Each manufacturer has a different process for certifying vehicles, but common among most CPO cars are the following:
- The vehicle is less than 6 years old and has fewer than 80,000 miles. The exact numbers vary, but most manufacturers have this or stricter requirements.
- The vehicle has passed a quality-control inspection where any faulty or damaged parts were repaired or replaced.
- The vehicle is backed by a CPO warranty that includes the remainder of the new car factory warranty, an extension of the new car factory warranty, or both.
- The vehicle has a clean vehicle history report, which is provided to the customer.
While drivers may end up paying more for a certified pre-owned vehicle than a used car, CPO cars come with a stronger guarantee that there will be no mechanical issues.
Best CPO Warranty Programs
A CPO warranty can be viewed as the manufacturer’s guarantee that there are no defects in your CPO vehicle. These warranties promise to replace or repair any defective components free of charge.
Most CPO warranties offer the same or similar coverage. The best CPO warranty plans separate powertrain and bumper-to-bumper CPO warranties, while others bundle both together. Because most CPO bumper-to-bumper warranties cover the same parts, one way to distinguish between the worst and best CPO warranty programs is by length. The following vehicle manufacturers offer the best CPO warranty programs based on length and depth of coverage.
#1 Mitsubishi
Mitsubishi has one of the best new car warranty programs, and this coverage extends to CPO vehicles. The Mitsubishi CPO warranty covers powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles and all other parts for 5 years/60,000 miles from the in-service date.
If you buy an older Mitsubishi, there may be little warranty coverage remaining. Even so, the Mitsubishi CPO warranty is likely to be the longest protection you can find. It also does not include a deductible, which some CPO warranties do.
#2 Hyundai
Like Mitsubishi, Hyundai has one of the longest new vehicle warranties. This warranty protection is also extended to CPO Hyundai cars. The Hyundai CPO warranty is similar to the Mitsubishi CPO warranty in that it covers powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles and all other parts for 5 years/60,000 miles from the in-service date. The Hyundai CPO warranty, however, comes with a $50 deductible.
#3 Kia
The Kia CPO warranty covers powertrain components for 10 years/100,000 miles from the in-service date. Other components are protected for 1 year or 12,000 miles from the car purchase date.
Depending on the age of the CPO vehicle, this could be a better deal than the Hyundai warranty, which only covers powertrain components starting at the in-service date. The Kia warranty also includes a $50 deductible.
#4 Lexus
Many CPO warranties increase the remainder of the new vehicle limited warranty by one year, but the Lexus CPO warranty provides bumper-to-bumper coverage for two years after the purchase date (or six years from the in-service date, whichever occurs later). The Lexus CPO program also includes two complimentary maintenance visits, which is a rare perk. It’s the best CPO warranty among luxury brands.
#5 Land Rover
Land Rover offers an impressive CPO warranty term of 7 years/100,000 miles of bumper-to-bumper coverage from the vehicle’s in-service date. Most CPO warranties offer five or fewer years of bumper-to-bumper coverage.
CPO Warranty Comparison
Mitsubishi, Hyundai, Kia, Lexus, and Land Rover have the best CPO warranties in the industry, but many other automakers offer long terms and generous perks. Here’s a look at the top 30 manufacturers and their warranty terms for pre-owned vehicles.
| Manufacturer | CPO Warranty Coverage | Deductible | Extras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | Powertrain: 10 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years or 60,000 miles from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Hyundai | Powertrain: 10 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years or 60,000 miles from in-service date | $50 | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption coverage |
| Kia | Powertrain: 10 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | $50 | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption coverage |
| Lexus | Bumper-to-bumper: 6 years from in-service date or 2 years after purchase date, whichever occurs later, regardless of mileage | None | Roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage, loaner car, complimentary maintenance |
| Land Rover | Bumper-to-bumper: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance, trip interruption coverage |
| Jaguar | Bumper-to-bumper: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Acura | Bumper-to-bumper: 6 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | None | Complimentary maintenance, roadside assistance, concierge service |
| Honda | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Mazda | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Toyota | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,00 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | $50 | Roadside assistance |
| Ford | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | $100 | Roadside assistance |
| Porsche | Bumper-to-bumper: 6 years after in-service date or 2 years after purchase date, whichever occurs later | None | Roadside assistance |
| Mini | Bumper-to-bumper: 6 years from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Buick | Powertrain: 6 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles after new car warranty expires (4 years/50,000 miles) | None | Roadside assistance, complimentary maintenance |
| Chevrolet | Powertrain: 6 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | None | Roadside assistance, complimentary maintenance |
| GMC | Powertrain: 6 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year or 12,000 miles from purchase date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Lincoln | Bumper-to-bumper: 6 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | $100 | Roadside assistance, loaner car, complimentary car wash |
| Audi | Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years from in-service date or 1 year from purchase date, whichever occurs later | $85 | Roadside assistance |
| BMW | Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years from in-service date or 1 year from purchase date, whichever occurs first | None | Roadside assistance, loaner car |
| Mercedes-Benz | Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years from in-service date or 1 year from purchase date, whichever occurs first | None | Roadside assistance |
| Cadillac | Bumper-to-bumper: 1 year after new car warranty expires (4 years/50,000 miles) | None | Roadside assistance |
| Volkswagen | Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years/62,000 miles from in-service date or 1 year/12,000 miles from purchase date, whichever occurs later | $50 | Roadside assistance |
| Volvo | Bumper-to-bumper: 5 years from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance |
| Tesla | Bumper-to-bumper: 4 years or 50,000 miles from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance, free supercharging |
| Chrysler | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 3 months or 3,000 miles from purchase date | Varies | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement |
| Dodge | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 3 months or 3,000 miles from purchase date | Varies | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement |
| Jeep | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 3 months or 3,000 miles from purchase date | Varies | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement |
| Ram | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date Bumper-to-bumper: 3 months or 3,000 miles from purchase date | Varies | Roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement |
| Subaru | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | None | Roadside assistance, $500 owner loyalty coupon |
| Nissan | Powertrain: 7 years or 100,000 miles from in-service date | $50 | Roadside assistance |
Should You Buy A CPO Vehicle?
Buying a CPO vehicle is usually a safe bet. CPO vehicles are thoroughly inspected by manufacturers and always include some amount of warranty coverage. When shopping for a CPO car, consider how long you plan to own the vehicle. If you hope to keep your car for many years, buying new may be the better option.
Of course, this depends on the price you are able to find. In many cases, CPO cars are sold at a considerable markdown from newer vehicles, and some CPO cars are less than one year old. Carefully consider price, age, and CPO warranty coverage before making a decision.
Like with any used car, the best approach to take is to treat each CPO vehicle on a case-by-case basis. A CPO vehicle is more likely to be in better shape than a traditional used car, but this is not a guarantee.
Top Recommendations For Extended Car Warranties
It’s generally a good idea to maintain warranty coverage for used vehicles. Even the best CPO warranty will expire at some point. That’s when it can be a good idea to look into extended car warranty coverage. Providers like Toco, CarShield, and autopom! offer high mileage limits for pre-owned vehicles. Two companies that our review team recommends specifically for used vehicles are CARCHEX and Endurance.
Endurance: Best Coverage
We rated Endurance as offering the best coverage because of its long term limits, extensive contract options, and comprehensive benefits. Endurance offers six contracts that range from exclusionary bumper-to-bumper warranties to powertrain coverage designed for high-mileage vehicles. Some contracts also include maintenance coverage for routine services like oil changes.
In our Endurance warranty review, we rated Endurance 4.6 out of 5.0 stars, as we found that many Endurance customers are impressed by the company’s customer service and appreciate the peace of mind that Endurance provides.
Other Endurance highlights include:
- Available in every state except California
- Contract terms up to 8 years or 200,000+ miles
- All contracts include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, trip interruption allowance, and 1-year of Endurance Elite Benefits.
- Deductible options of $0, $50, $100, or $200
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Sample contracts available online
You can get a free Endurance quote to see how much coverage would cost for your vehicle by clicking below.
CARCHEX: Best For Used Cars
CARCHEX did exceptionally well in our industry review. The provider scored highly in all of our review categories, including industry standing, coverage options, cost, transparency, and customer service. Overall, we rate CARCHEX 4.4 out of 5.0 stars, and we aren’t the only ones to praise CARCHEX service.
The provider is accredited and holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB). It has also been endorsed by industry leaders such as Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, and CARFAX. Other CARCHEX highlights include:
- Covers vehicles up to 20 years old
- Contract terms up to 10 years or 250,000 miles
- All contracts include roadside assistance, rental car reimbursement, and trip interruption coverage
- Deductible options of $0, $50, $100, or $200
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Sample contracts available online
Read our CARCHEX review for more information, and click below to get a free quote.