What does the Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-Owned warranty cover?

What a car needs to be certified

Mercedes-Benz USA sets the bar, and the dealer's technicians do the work. To be certified, a car must be:

• Six model years old or newer
• Under 75,000 miles
• Serviced according to the maintenance schedule
• Accompanied by a CARFAX vehicle history report
• Passed through a 165+ point inspection, which covers the body, the interior finishes and seat belts, and the engine, transmission, electrical systems, fluids and filters. Electric models get their own list of inspection points.
• Road tested for steering, brakes, suspension, noise and vibration

How the coverage stacks up, year by year

Think of it as three layers, used one after another.

First, the car keeps the rest of its original New Vehicle Limited Warranty, which runs 4 years or 50,000 miles from the day it was first sold. A two-year-old car with 20,000 miles still has that layer.

Second, when the factory warranty ends, the Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty takes over for 12 months with no mileage limit.

Third, you can buy a Certified Pre-Owned Extended Limited Warranty for one or two more years, also with unlimited miles. Mercedes-Benz USA describes the whole stack as coverage for up to five years.

The unlimited miles matter more than they sound. Once the factory warranty is used up, a high-mileage driver commuting up and down I-95 is covered the same as someone who drives to brunch on weekends.

What the CPO warranty covers

Under the Certified Pre-Owned Limited Warranty, any Mercedes-Benz dealer repairs or replaces parts with defects in material or workmanship. Mercedes-Benz USA lists these systems, among others:

• Engine and powertrain components
• Battery state of health, on electric models
• Suspension and steering
• Brakes, except normal wear of discs and pads
• Electrical systems, climate control, audio and navigation
• Central locking, and the convertible top where the car has one

The extras that come with it

Three benefits ride along with the warranty:

• A 7-day exchange: within 7 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first, you can exchange the car for another Certified Pre-Owned or new Mercedes-Benz of equal or greater value. It is an exchange, not a refund.
• Roadside Assistance, around the clock, for a jump-start, a flat tire or running out of fuel
• Trip interruption: if the car breaks down more than 100 miles from home, Mercedes-Benz reimburses travel expenses, up to $300 per day for three days

CPO or a regular used car: how it works at my store

At Mercedes-Benz of Pompano, the used cars that are not certified are sold as AutoNation 1Price vehicles. The price is posted online and on the window, with no back-and-forth. The store's page says each one comes with a 5-day, 250-mile money-back guarantee, a limited warranty and a CARFAX report.

So the two programs protect you in different ways. CPO gives you the long, factory-backed coverage and the 7-day exchange for another Mercedes-Benz. A 1Price used car gives you a shorter window, but the option to hand it back.

My rule of thumb: if the car is a Mercedes-Benz within the CPO age and mileage limits and you plan to keep it past the factory warranty, the certified one is usually the one I would point you to. If it is older, has more miles, or is another brand, the 1Price car is the path.

Is the extended CPO warranty worth it?

It depends on how long you will keep the car after the 12-month CPO layer ends. If you trade every two or three years, you may never use it. If you keep cars for a long time, it is worth getting the exact price and terms in writing and weighing them against the repairs you would be paying for yourself.

Either way, look at the dates. Ask for the car's original in-service date and current miles, and work out when the factory warranty ends. That tells you how much of each layer you are actually getting.

Questions people ask

How long is the Mercedes CPO warranty?

The rest of the 4-year/50,000-mile factory warranty, then 12 months of Certified Pre-Owned coverage with unlimited miles, plus an optional 1 or 2 more years.

Does the CPO warranty cover brakes?

Brakes are covered, but normal wear of brake discs and pads is not.

Can I return a certified Mercedes?

The CPO program offers an exchange within 7 days or 500 miles for another CPO or new Mercedes-Benz of equal or greater value. It is not a cash refund.

How old can a Certified Pre-Owned Mercedes be?

Six model years or newer, with under 75,000 miles.

Models in this guide

• Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• Mercedes-Benz GLC
• Mercedes-Benz GLE

Keep reading

• See the used and certified cars on the lot
• Florida car sales tax, title and registration fees
• Buying at Mercedes-Benz of Pompano: what to expect