So, it’s time to replace your vehicle, and you’re deciding if it’s better to get a pre-owned or certified pre-owned vehicle at a used Chevy dealership in Savanna. What’s the difference between certified and pre-owned? Will the more affordable option be as reliable? Is certified pre-owned just a marketing tool to make the vehicle sound more dressed up? (No, but for the sake of this conversation, it’s a rhetorical but understandable question.)
In this guide, we’ll go over the pros and cons of pre-owned and certified pre-owned vehicles to help you decide which one is right for your needs and your budget.
Pre-Owned Vs. Certified Pre-Owned
Pre-Owned Vehicle Pros
The biggest pro for pre-owned vehicles is their lower price. New cars, trucks, and SUVs devalue quickly once they’re driven off the lot, and the older the model and how more miles are on it, the lower the overall value of the vehicle becomes. That isn’t to say that there isn’t plenty of life left in them; it’s just that the new MSRP drops off within the first few years and continues to lower over time. When you purchase a pre-owned Chevy, the value of the vehicle won’t dip much more than when you first drove away in it.
There are also a number of pre-owned vehicles to choose from, so you often have a varied selection of makes and models available when you visit your local Savanna dealership. As such, you may be able to find a gem or two of used Chevy vehicles that have higher-end features without the new car sticker price.
Lastly, the peripheral costs of a pre-owned vehicle, particularly the insurance costs, will be lower compared to those of a new vehicle.
Pre-Owned Vehicle Cons
While the selection may vary widely, there is minimal, if any, room for customization or upgrades. In essence, what you see is what you get. You’ll have to sift through numerous vehicles to find the features you want and need.
Once you select a vehicle, there likely won’t be any warranty to go along with it. When repairs rear their head, the payment and responsibility is solely on you. Additionally, with pre-owned vehicles, you don’t know what issues lie in wait. No matter how clean the vehicle history is, simply due to use and the passage of time, a mechanical issue will arise, and you’ll need to visit a service center.
Lastly, the older a vehicle is or the more miles it has on it, the closer it is to the end of the road. Regular maintenance can help keep it running, but it’s best to understand that an expensive repair may be around the corner. Not today, not tomorrow, but time comes for us all.
Pros of a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle
As we mentioned earlier, the title Chevy certified pre-owned, or CPO, isn’t just a marketing tool to dress up a pre-owned vehicle. To be considered a CPO Chevy vehicle, the car, truck, or SUV in question must:
- Be less than six years old
- Have less than 75,000 miles on it
- And pass Chevrolet/GM’s 172-point inspection process.
Another benefit to Chevy certified pre-owned vehicles is the fact that they’re much newer (on average) compared to ordinary pre-owned cars, so they’ll have more modern and updated comfort, safety, and tech features. They’re essentially new vehicles with a lower price tag.
Remember how we mentioned vehicles typically depreciate once you drive off the dealership lot? The brunt of that depreciation is within the first few years, so CPO vehicles benefit from newer tech and lower mileage without the new vehicle cost. They’re the perfect intersection between new and pre-owned vehicles.
You’ll also (in most cases) benefit from a Chevy certified pre-owned warranty (compared to pre-owned vehicles). Upon purchasing a Chevy CPO vehicle, the warranty extends to six (6) years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. You also enjoy a one-year, 12,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty that begins on your purchase date. For savvy shoppers, this is a welcome peace of mind.
Cons of a CPO Chevy
Because of the rigorous standards, there are fewer Chevy CPO vehicles compared to standard pre-owned vehicles. Like pre-owned vehicles, there isn’t room for customization in the available selection.
While more affordable than new Chevy vehicles, Chevy CPO will cost more than a pre-owned vehicle, and the insurance cost will be higher than a pre-owned Chevy. However, given the fact that you’re getting a newer model at a fraction of the cost, it’s a worthwhile investment.
Explore Our Pre-Owned Chevy Stock
The difference between certified and pre-owned vehicles becomes clear when you speak with a sales expert and go over your preferences, needs, and budget. For some, a pre-owned Chevy will do the job just fine and be more affordable, for others, the security and coverage certified autos provide is worth the higher price.
If you’re still unsure whether you should choose a pre-owned vs certified pre-owned vehicle, contact us or call us at 866-426-8396 to speak with a sales representative and to schedule a test drive to find the ideal vehicle for driving in and around Savanna.
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