Individuals who are looking for cars for themselves or their families need to consider several different factors. They must think about how much money they have to spend, what kind of vehicle fits their needs best, and where they should go to find the best selection. They will certainly want to decide whether buying new, used, or certified pre-owned makes the most sense for them.
If you are looking for the best used cars for sale, Waxahachie residents, there are several locations near you that might suit your needs. However, do you think it’s best to go with a used vehicle over a certified pre-owned one?
There is a difference between these two car categories, even if some consumers don’t know it. Let us talk about whether it is worth it to go with a certified pre-owned vehicle over a used or brand-new one.
What Are the Benefits of Buying a Brand-New or Used Car?
First, we should briefly mention why you might want to get a brand-new or used car. If you get a brand-new car, it usually costs the most out of these three options. You’re getting the vehicle fresh off the assembly line. Because of that, while the price tag is higher, you can enjoy a generous warranty and the latest technology.
As for buying a used car, the reason why so many people like to do it is because it’s usually the cheapest option of these three. If you purchase a used car, it might cost a fraction of what a brand-new vehicle from the same company could cost. The average used car also does not cost as much as what you will pay for a certified pre-owned one.
However, if you buy a used car, while you may save money upfront, it’s more liable to break down. You probably won’t get a very lengthy warranty with a used car. If it had multiple previous owners and has seen a lot of use, the chances are also high that you will need to repair it at some juncture.
That leads us to the certified pre-owned option. While going this route means you will not have the benefits that come with a brand-new car, there are some viable reasons why you might prefer this method over getting one used.
What Does Certified Pre-Owned Mean?
Certified pre-owned means that the vehicle had a previous owner. Most cars that can be considered certified pre-owned only had a single previous owner, unlike if you buy a used car. If you buy a used vehicle, it might have had any number of individuals who owned it before it came into your possession.
Usually, if you buy a certified pre-owned vehicle, it is being sold to you by a company that is run directly by the manufacturer or that has a formal agreement with them to sell their vehicles. For instance, a car lot that’s in an official relationship with the Ford brand might sell certified pre-owned Ford vehicles.
A certified pre-owned vehicle is also usually one that’s not more than 1-2 years old. In 2025, you might get a certified pre-owned vehicle that is from 2023 and had only one previous owner.
There will probably not be many miles on the car. There may be fewer than 50K, for example. What all this amounts to is that you are getting a vehicle that’s relatively new, that doesn’t have very many miles on it, and that only had one previous owner.
What Are Some Unique Attributes That You Get if You Buy a Certified Pre-Owned Car?
All of that might sound pretty good when you look at a certified pre-owned car vs. one that is simply considered used. Again, with a used car, you might be looking at three previous owners, a history of multiple accidents, and 150K miles of drive time on it.
Apart from what we’ve mentioned so far with certified pre-owned cars, part of what sets them apart from used ones is the inspection process that the seller puts them through before they make them available for sale again. While any car lot will look over a used vehicle carefully before they put it up for sale, with certified pre-owned, there is a meticulous inspection of every part of the vehicle. Only once it has been detailed and every part checked and rechecked will it be made available to consumers.
Also, you get a much more generous warranty with a certified pre-owned vehicle than what you can expect with a used car. That makes a huge difference. While you might get a one-year warranty on parts and labor with a certified pre-owned car, you may get only 30 days with a used one.
That should allow you to buy a certified pre-owned car with much more confidence. You will know several things going into the purchase.
You’ll know the vehicle had one previous owner. It won’t have many miles on it. You’ll get a generous warranty, and you’ll also know the manufacturer checked it inside and out before they made it available for sale.
Is a Certified Pre-Owned Car the Best Choice for You?
For most consumers who understand what the term “certified pre-owned” means, these cars occupy a place in between used and brand-new. They’re probably not quite as desirable as the latter, but they’re often much better than the former.
Of course, their price is going to reflect this. Where you might pay $5K for a used car, a certified pre-owned one from the same manufacturer may cost $15K-$20K.
That’s a significant difference, but a vehicle from that same company may cost closer to $30K if it’s brand-new. That’s why certified pre-owned might make sense if you’re an individual who needs a car that you’re certain will be reliable, but you don’t want to pay top dollar for it.
It’s absolutely worth it to buy a certified pre-owned car if you can afford one and you can find a make and model that appeals to you.
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