There’s confidence in your product. And then there’s “we’ll provide a warranty on this 10-year-old product” confidence.
Toyota has perhaps the auto industry’s best reputation for reliability, and they know it. The Japanese automaker is adding a new level to its certified pre-owned (CPO) car program, providing warranties on cars up to 10 years old with as many as 125,000 miles on the odometer.
Related: Certified Pre-Owned Pros and Cons
Two Levels of Certification
Toyota dealers will now sell two levels of CPO cars — Gold Certified and Silver Certified.
Gold Certified models may be up to 6 years old, with 85,000 miles or less on the odometer. They will qualify for a comprehensive warranty good for 12 months or 12,000 miles of protection and an additional powertrain warranty protecting cars up to 7 years old or with 100,000 miles. Toyota provides roadside assistance for the same period.
Silver Certified cars may be up to 10 years old, with between 60,000 and 125,000 miles on the odometer. Toyota will cover Silver Certified cars with a 12-month, 12,000-mile powertrain warranty. The company offers roadside assistance for the same period.
Gold Certified models get a 160-point inspection, while technicians inspect 136 aspects of Silver Certified cars.
Toyota has already launched the program, though dealers have few Silver Certified models in stock because they’ve just begun inspections. We expect inventory to grow rapidly as dealers inspect older models on their lots.
Toyota Not Alone
Several automakers have lengthened CPO coverage in recent years, but only Toyota and Honda certify cars as old as 10 years.
The quality of new cars has improved in recent years. However, long-term dependability studies are just beginning to account for vehicles built early in the COVID-19 pandemic when factory closures and parts shortages may have impacted quality. The average vehicle on American roads is now 12.5 years old.
