What Is GMC Certified Pre-Owned?

Careful vetting and reassuring warranties can take some of the worry out of buying a used SUV or truck.

Sami Haj-Assaad | 
Mar 9, 2023 | 3 min read

2023 GMC AcadiaGMC

Buying a used car from a stranger or a used-car dealer can be stressful. Can you really trust that the car you’re buying won’t turn out to be a money pit? And if it does, who’ll be on the hook for repairs?

Shoppers who seek peace of mind might consider buying a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) vehicle instead. CPO vehicles are the next best thing to new, having been carefully vetted for both aesthetics and mechanical soundness. Plus, they include a warranty.

The majority of automakers offer CPO programs. Buyers looking for a tough and rugged SUV or truck might want to check out GMC’s CPO offerings.

GMC CPO Eligibility

Not all GMCs can be sold as CPO—only select vehicles like the 2023 GMC Acadia are eligible. To qualify they must be less than 6 years old and have no more than 75,000 miles on the odometer.

Beyond that, the vehicle must have a clean title, all safety recall services performed, and it must pass a 172-point inspection. The inspection checklist is exhaustive. It covers superficial concerns such as the quality of the paint and smell of the interior, as well as mechanical evaluations of the suspension, chassis, brakes, transmission, engine, and all major systems.

GMC CPO Benefits

GMC offers a number of benefits beyond that 172-point inspection to further reassure prospective buyers.

For starters, all vehicles come with a free Carfax vehicle history report so you can verify that the vehicle you’re buying hasn’t had any concerning collisions, repairs, or ownership oddities. And if you have second thoughts after you drive off the lot, no worries. If you’re not satisfied with your CPO GMC vehicle, you can exchange it within three days or 150 miles for one that better meets your needs.

The GMC CPO program also includes warranties. Every GMC CPO vehicle comes with a limited bumper-to-bumper warranty for 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. What’s nice about this warranty is that it’s applied in addition to any remaining coverage from the original factory bumper-to-bumper warranty. So, if your vehicle still has some of its original coverage, this warranty extends that coverage further.

GMC vehicles also come with a six-year/100,000-mile powertrain limited warranty, which carries over to CPO vehicles. But this coverage starts from the original in-service date, which means the powertrain is covered for six years/100,000 miles from when it was purchased as new.

Trials and Freebies

The GMC CPO program also includes a few nice perks, including maintenance freebies. For example, all GMC CPO vehicles receive one month of GM’s OnStar Premium Plan coverage, which is typically $49.99 a month. The plan includes cool features such as remote access, stolen vehicle assistance, and automatic crash response. CPO buyers also get a three-month trial of SiriusXM radio.

And there’s one last perk: Every GMC CPO vehicle purchase includes two scheduled maintenance visits, so you can get that oil and filter change or tire rotation on the house.

Written by humans.
Edited by humans.

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Sami Haj-Assaad

Sami Haj-Assaad is an award-winning automotive journalist who has contributed to several automotive, electric vehicle, luxury lifestyle, and technology publications. His work isn't just limited to the written word, as he's also hosted YouTube videos and podcasts. Having grown up in the '90s, he has a strong sense of attachment to that era's style, though he also loves to geek out about the modern, futuristic tech and powertrains rolling out today.


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