How to Buy a Certified Pre Owned Auto

The used car market is overwhelming, that is a fact, fortunately a certified pre owned auto makes the process a little easier. When looking to buy a used car, a consumer is usually looking for a guarantee that the vehicle will run as well as it did for the previous driver, if not better. The problem is guarantees are usually nothing but gimmicks to trick drivers into buying a car. There is a way to ensure the vehicle you are in the market for is everything you hope for it to be. Buying a certified pre-owned vehicle provides you with such a guarantee.

Step 1

Finding a car that has been certified by the manufacturer is pretty simple, and usually involves going to a dealer that sells that make. For instance, if you are in the market for a certified used Honda, you would want to go to a Honda dealer, as they would have the widest selection. The same goes for a Toyota, GM or any other make. Once you have searched the databases these dealers post on their website, you can begin to compare other things that you look for in a car. Mileage and accessories are usually listed along with price and some pictures on the dealer website.

Step 2

If you are not comfortable going to a dealer, and few customers are, you can use a national used car magazine or website to search for vehicles and dealers local to you. In the search criteria on these websites, and listed in the descriptions in the magazines, you will be able to see if a car is a certified pre-owned auto or not. The Internet is easier to use to filter these out, as magazines are loaded with listings you may not be interested in at all. Not to mention they can be overwhelming.


Certified pre-owned vehicles provide consumers with a seal of approval that this is a good solid car. These certified cars often come with manufacturer’s warranties, just to add to the confidence that you have found a diamond in the rough.