When you need an auto loan with bad credit, you may think you need to give up your dreams of a nice car. While a "nice" car means something different to everyone, features like reliability, style, and technology can still be yours even if your credit is suffering. A certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicle might be just what you're looking for – you just need to know where to go.

Sacrifice Price, Not Quality

Certified Pre-Owned Cars: Good Quality for a Good PriceOne way to get the quality you need from a used car is to opt for a certified pre-owned vehicle. With a CPO car, you get some of the benefits of a new vehicle without the high price tag.

In order to become certified, cars have to meet certain standards for model year and mileage – typically no more than 60,000 to 80,000 miles and no more than five years old, though the specifics vary by manufacturer.

CPO vehicles are inspected, refurbished, and come with a manufacturer-backed warranty of some kind. Many of these cars come to dealerships off-lease, which usually makes them three years old or less, in good shape, and with many of the newer safety and technology features buyers are looking for.

Even though you're not paying sticker price for these gently used vehicles, they still cost a bit more than the average used car. Are they worth the bump in price?

CPO Vehicles vs. Standard Used Cars

Let's compare CPO vehicles to standard used cars:

   

  CPO Vehicle 

  Used Car 

Multi-point inspection

Yes

Maybe

Refurbishment

Yes

Maybe

Manufacturer-backed warranty

Yes

Remaining

Service at any dealership nationwide

Yes

Yes

Vehicle history report included

Yes

Maybe

Lower mileage

Yes

Maybe

Less than seven years old

Yes

Maybe

Like any used vehicle, there are pros and cons to buying a CPO car. Even though a CPO vehicle has been through an inspection by a manufacturer-certified service technician, you still need to be diligent in your test drive. For true peace of mind, you should have a trusted, certified mechanic inspect the CPO car like you would with any used vehicle.

Ready to Find a CPO Vehicle near You?

To sum up: certified pre-owned cars come with some form of manufacturer warranty, have been refurbished, and can save you money compared to buying a new vehicle.

Often off-lease cars, these vehicles are usually around three to five years old, have lower mileage, and are in good condition. CPO cars can be a great way to get the reliable model you need. Sounds simple right? Now you just need to go out and buy one ... but where do you do that if you have bad credit?

Bad credit doesn't have to stand in your way when you need auto financing, and Auto Credit Express can help by finding a special finance dealer in your area that has the needed lenders ready. Bad credit, no credit, and even bankruptcy is okay when you work with the right lender for your situation. Simply fill out our easy, fast, and free car loan request form to get the process started right now!