3 Levels of Ford Certified Pre-Owned Cars Explained
Shopping around for a used car brings the risk of buying a model with serious mechanical issues, a lemon, or unseen wear and tear that could prove problematic, quite literally, down the road. As such, many automakers are now offering “certified pre-owned,” or CPO, cars. Effectively, these are used models that meet certain criteria intended to showcase that they are still in good overall condition. Ford CPO cars have three such “levels” of certification. Here’s a rundown of each and what they mean.
Ford CPO cars have different levels
Ford offers three tiers of CPO cars: Gold Certified, EV Certified, and Blue Certified. Each level outlines specific qualities of the model and denotes the extensiveness of its inspection or length of its warranty. Here are the criteria for each:
Gold Certified
- Must be a Ford model
- Models can be up to six years old with less than 80,000 miles
- Must pass a 172-point inspection
- Must include a 12-month/12,000-mile limited warranty (whichever comes first)
- Must include a seven-year/100,000-mile powertrain warranty (whichever comes first)
- Must include a 14-day/1,000-mile money-back guarantee
- Includes 24/7 roadside assistance
- Includes 22,000 FordPass Reward Points that can be redeemed during the model’s first two maintenance appointments.
EV Certified
- Must be a Ford model
- Must be a fully electric model up to six years old with less than 80,000 miles
- Must pass a 127-point inspection
- Must include a 12-month/12,000-mile limited warranty (whichever comes first)
- Must include an eight-year/100,000-mile EV limited warranty coverage
- Must include a 14-day/1,000-mile money-back guarantee
- Includes 24/7 roadside assistance
- Includes 22,000 FordPass Reward Points that can be redeemed during the model’s first two maintenance appointments.
Blue Certified
- Can be any make or model
- Models may be up to 10 years old with less than 150,000 miles
- Must pass a 139-point inspection
- Must include a 90-day/4,000-mile limited warranty
- Must include a 14-day/1,000-mile money-back guarantee
- Includes 24/7 roadside assistance
- Includes 11,000 FordPass Reward Points that can be redeemed during the model’s first maintenance visit
Gold Certified Ford CPO models are the most “prestigious” level, though it’s important to note this designation can only be given to Ford models. A Chevy model, for instance, on a Ford dealer’s used car lot could be in pristine condition, but it will not achieve “gold” certification. Subsequently, it won’t come with the same level of benefits like added warranty coverage.
Pros and cons of opting for a CPO car
The most notable benefit to purchasing a certified pre-owned car, truck, or SUV is an assurance the vehicle has been thoroughly inspected. Therefore, it has no outward serious mechanical issues. Buyers have more confidence that their purchase is less likely to be riddled with sudden needed repairs.
Another benefit is warranty coverage, which many non-certified used cars don’t offer. Required repairs can be covered under various warranties.
The most significant downside to CPO cars is that they will generally cost considerably more than non-certified used models. Companies like Ford are investing in inspection costs so that the model is less likely to encounter problems it will need to repair under warranty coverage through certification. This investment is passed on to consumers. For instance, a 2020 Ford Expedition with 50,000 miles that isn’t certified is likely to cost less than the same model with the same mileage that isn’t certified pre-owned.
Buyers should also understand that certification does not mean the car may not have underlying mechanical issues or could need significant repairs down the road.
Source: Ford
