If you’re curious about whether a certified pre-owned vehicle is worth buying, then Panama City Toyota can help you make that critical decision. Unlike traditional used cars, a certified pre-owned vehicle (CPO) often has a number of additional advantages similar to what you might find if you were to buy an expensive new vehicle. We’ve compiled a list of the significant benefits you can gain when purchasing a certified pre-owned car.
High-Quality Vehicles
Image via Unsplash by shadowmousses
Although pre-owned vehicles are used, they must meet all the rigorous requirements to qualify for the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle (TCUV) program. These vehicles need less than 85,000 miles to be eligible for certification, and they must be a model newer than six years old.
You can rest assured that any vehicle you look at in this program has undergone an extensive vetting process. Only the best pre-owned vehicles are certified, meaning you’re getting a car that closely matches the quality of its newer counterparts. If a vehicle doesn’t meet the program requirements, it cannot become a certified pre-owned vehicle.
Due to the higher quality, you’re much better off buying a CPO vehicle than a standard used car that doesn’t have a warranty and hasn’t undergone a comprehensive inspection. Most CPOs also have a clean history and have never been in any major accidents. So, you’re less likely to encounter any critical hidden issues when purchasing a run-of-the-mill used vehicle.
Comprehensive Inspection
Panama City Toyota uses a 160-point system to ensure that vehicles in the TCUV program are in the most pristine condition. Inspections test the car’s exterior to make sure the overall appearance is free from dents, scratches, or other signs of damage. They also check the frame, underbody, and overall structure of the car, van, or SUV.
After a vehicle’s exterior inspection is complete, the engine undergoes testing for performance quality and damages. This test includes analyzing the oil and fluid levels for the power steering, transmission, brakes, and clutch components. Testing the total steering feature is especially important to ensure that a vehicle can drive straight on standard-level roadways. Any critical adjustments to these components are made accordingly.
It’s then necessary to inspect the brake system and the transmission. Following industry safety standards, brake pads must maintain at least 50% of their total wear. Tires are checked for model uniformity, damage, and vehicle compatibility. Finally, a vehicle’s interior is inspected to ensure the physical condition and visual appearance are acceptable.
Warranty And Buyback Protection
You can rest easy when you buy a CPO vehicle because the TCUV program provides a 12-month 12,000-mile complete warranty starting on the date of purchase. This benefit, combined with knowing that your vehicle went through a comprehensive inspection, illustrates how much care is put into each vehicle that goes through the certification process.
Furthermore, you also gain access to a seven-year powertrain warranty on your CPO vehicle. This warranty covers critical components like your transmission, engine, and other internal parts. You may benefit from travel protections that reimburse you for lodging if a powertrain problem occurs while you’re within 150 miles from home.
As a CPO buyer, you may also benefit from a return policy. This means that the dealership buys back the vehicle if the odometer rolls back or if it’s been exposed to severe fire or flood damage. You generally have a set amount of days or miles to decide whether you want to keep your new pre-owned vehicle or swap it out for a different model.
Roadside Assistance
Toyota provides all certified pre-owned vehicles with a full year of roadside assistance. This benefit begins on the vehicle purchase date and includes various services like jump starts, lockouts, and tire blowouts. The roadside assistance program also covers the cost of fuel delivery and towing services through a reimbursement program with the nearest Toyota dealership.
There is absolutely no cost to using roadside assistance. It’s available 24 hours a day, all year round. You simply have to call the toll-free number to access the service. These are the types of benefits you often get when purchasing a new vehicle, but you get these services without the new vehicle price tag.
If your vehicle is out of commission, you might also receive a car-rental allowance so you can continue handling urgent business with minimal disruptions. The Toyota-certified pre-owned vehicle program has been in operation for over 20 years. A large part of its success is attributed to all the additional protections and services customers receive.
Cost-Effective
If you consider the roadside assistance, warranties, and other protections you receive when buying a certified pre-owned vehicle, that is a tremendous amount of savings. Furthermore, it’s very common for a CPO listing to be much lower than a new vehicle of the same make. Even buying a pre-owned model from the current year will be cheaper than when it was newly released just mere months before.
Aside from the cost-savings, a CPO vehicle helps you avoid substantial car value depreciation, often seen with new vehicles as soon as they drive off the lot. Choosing a pre-owned vehicle is incredibly beneficial since you can buy it at a lower price, saving money in the process.
The money you save from buying a CPO vehicle can be used for other circumstances, like an unexpected car repair or cosmetic alterations. These are just some of the reasons why the TCUV program is so advantageous. Trust that buying a more cost-effective vehicle while still gaining the benefits of a new one is a win-win situation.
As you can see, there are many poignant reasons why it’s worth it to buy a certified pre-owned vehicle. Without having to spend extensive amounts of money or sign up for a hefty long-lasting loan program, put your mind at ease that the CPO vehicle you purchase is affordable, protected, and in like-new condition. Contact Panama City Toyota today to get started. We can’t wait to help you purchase the vehicle of your dreams.
