Ten Used Luxury Car CPO Programs

The used luxury car market has grown dramatically thanks to the introduction of certified previously owned (CPO) programs. Premium car companies are offering CPO cars, trucks and crossovers that have been inspected and given warranties that are in some cases similar to that provided with a new vehicle. This has created a steady stream of high quality used luxury cars destined to be sold alongside brand new models at dealerships across the country. Let’s take a look at 10 luxury car CPO programs.

Photos courtesy of respective manufacturers

BMW Certified Pre-Owned automobiles are selected from a pool of used cars that must be at least six months old and have between 6,000 and 60,000 miles on the odometer. A CARFAX history report confirms that there are no ghosts lingering in the vehicle’s past that could disqualify it from CPO certification (such as title irregularities or a record of serious damage), and each automobile also undergoes an extensive technical inspection that addresses all aspects of its performance and aesthetics.

The BMW CPO warranty consists of two years or 50,000 miles of comprehensive bumper-to-bumper coverage that picks up when the original new car warranty leaves off, creating a six-year / 100,000 mile warranty period from the date the vehicle was first sold. Two years of roadside assistance with no mileage limitation also comes with each CPO car.

In order to qualify for the Acura Certified Pre-Owned program, cars must be younger than six years old and show less than 80,000 miles of use. In addition, they must pass a VIN inspection (where Acura techs validate the presence and correct numbering of all VIN plates on the automobile) as well as a detailed CARFAX vehicle history report. Once past these initial steps, it is time for the Acura CPO 150-point inspection which is designed to reveal any vehicle defects and repair them if necessary.

The Acura Certified Pre-Owned program provides a 12-month / 12,000 mile warranty on each CPO vehicle (starting from the expiration of the new car warranty), as well as seven years or 100,000 miles of powertrain warranty coverage dating back to the day the vehicle was first put into service. 24-hour roadside assistance and concierge services are also provided for the term of the CPO limited warranty.

The Lexus Certified Pre-Owned program is open to used Lexus cars that are less than six years old and which have not traveled more than 70,000 miles. A CARFAX vehicle history report further weeds out any potential trouble cars by eliminating automobiles with accident, damage or theft records or odometer discrepancies. Following their initial selection, each Lexus CPO candidate is put through a 161-point inspection by Lexus technicians with an eye towards detecting and repairing any potential problems before the car makes it to the lot.

The Lexus CPO warranty is almost identical to a new car warranty, as it covers all CPO vehicle systems with no deductible for a period of three years or 100,000 total miles, starting from the date of purchase. Roadside assistance – provided free of charge – also comes with the Lexus CPO warranty.

Every Audi Certified Pre-Owned vehicle candidate is screened via a CARFAX history report that highlights any instances of flood, fire or theft damage, as well as any accident records filed at the DMV or insurance company or any title issues or odometer discrepancies. In addition, Audi CPO automobiles also face a mileage limit of 60,000 miles and cannot be any older than five years. A 300-point mechanical inspection, during which all vehicle flaws are found and refurbished, rounds out the CPO inspection and selection process.

Audi Certified Pre-Owned cars and crossovers come with a 24-month / 50,000 mile comprehensive warranty that offers bumper-to-bumper protection as soon as the initial new car limited warranty expires. If the new car warranty has already expired, then the comprehensive warranty starts from the purchase date, with a cap of 100,000 total miles. 24-hour roadside assistance is also provided during the warranty period.

Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned automobiles can be drawn from a list of vehicles that are six years old or less and which have passed through a 160-plus point inspection that examines every single aspect of a candidate, from looks to mechanicals to feature functionality. Any problems are repaired using Mercedes-Benz parts, and the vehicle’s cosmetics are brought back to like-new status.

Every Mercedes-Benz CPO car comes with a 12-month / 100,000 total mile limited warranty that begins where the vehicle’s original five-year / 50,000 mile new car warranty left off. If the previous warranty is no longer valid, then the sale date is used as the starting point for the limited warranty. There is no deductible associated with repairs. Each Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned automobile also comes with a seven-day / 500 mile exchange option should owners be dissatisfied with their purchase, as well as roadside assistance and trip interruption services.

The Infiniti Certified Pre-Owned program is open to Infiniti models which are less than four years old and which display fewer than 60,000 miles on the odometer. Infiniti also puts each vehicle through a comprehensive 145-point inspection process as well as a title search through the TitleGuard+Plus service that together reveal any flaws or problems with a vehicle that could disqualify it from CPO participation.

Infiniti’s CPO warranty is very inclusive, as it extends the original new car warranty to a period of 72 months past the original in-service date, or 100,000 total miles – whichever comes first. Infiniti also provides 24-hour roadside assistance as well as trip interruption reimbursement for breakdown expenses that are incurred more than 100 miles away from home.

Cadillac offers a Certified Pre-Owned program that encompasses vehicles which are either four calendar years or five model years old and which have yet to reach 50,000 miles on the clock. A vehicle history report is generated to further pare down the list of contenders so as to exclude any automobiles with major damage or title issues in their past. Once past the initial selection, Cadillac puts CPO candidates through a 117-point inspection that pinpoints any areas that need to be refurbished or repaired.

Cadillac’s CPO warranty extends for six years from the date the vehicle was originally purchased or until 100,000 total miles have been traveled, whichever comes first. The limited warranty includes bumper-to-bumper protection, features no deductible and also comes with a roadside assistance service.

Lincoln’s Certified Pre-Owned program is open to automobiles which pass a detailed vehicle history search that aims to discover any hidden issues in the automobile’s past (title problems, accident records, insurance claims, etc). A 169-point inspection is also part of the CPO package, revealing any mechanical issues or cosmetic problems with the car in question, which are then taken care of before the vehicle is put up for sale.

Lincoln offers a six-year / 100,000 mile warranty on its CPO automobiles which starts from the date of initial sale. This warranty provides full coverage of almost every non-maintenance related problem (more than 500 parts), and also comes with 24-hour roadside assistance including travel expense reimbursement in the event that a CPO Lincoln leaves its owner stranded more than 100 miles from home.

Jaguar Certified Pre-Owned or Select Edition cars must pass through a demanding 140-point inspection prior to making their way into showrooms. This inspection sees Jaguar technicians go over each Select Edition candidate with a fine-tooth comb in order to pinpoint and deal with any problems that might require reconditioning. Jaguar CPO cars also see their title and insurance claim history examined through a CARFAX vehicle history report.

Jaguar’s Select Edition Warranty adds two years to the original new vehicle limited warranty that comes with every automobile built by the luxury brand. This makes for six-year / 100,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that starts from the day the vehicle first left the dealer lot. A roadside assistance service is also part of the Jaguar CPO package, but only during the term covered by the remainder of the new vehicle warranty.

Porsche Approved Certified Pre-Owned cars are used Porsche models which have gone through a 111-point inspection and which have been thoroughly reconditioned so that they display and drive as new. Not only are the engine, drivetrain and suspension gone through, but also so are the interior and the exterior in terms of appearance and feature functionality.

Each Porsche Approved model comes with a limited warranty that serves to cover every important component and vehicle system. The CPO limited warranty starts as soon as the automobile’s new car warranty ends, and lasts for a period of two years or 50,000 miles. If the new car warranty has already expired, then the CPO warranty begins immediately upon purchase. In total, Porsche Approved vehicles are covered for a period of six years or 100,000 total miles from their initial date of purchase.