We have a new Certified Pre-Owned center over at UsedCars.com! You can get the skinny on all the different manufacturers’ CPO programs, and what exactly a car needs to be the cream of the crop. Usually, CPO cars are off-lease, which means they have really low miles and have been maintained by the dealership. That means you’re getting an essentially brand-new vehicle without having to shoulder all the depreciation. Now that UsedCars.com has a special CPO center, you can easily tell which vehicles on the site are certified – identifiable by special badges – and which aren’t.

There is a big difference in the type of certification used cars carry. While manufacturers maintain strict standards with long lists of check points, mileage stipulations and repair history parameters, local used car dealers can have their own CPO programs. Many times, local programs are less strict when it comes to what vehicles make it into the pool and as a result, you may end up with a car that could be more of a headache than a help. Fortunately, UsedCars.com’s newest CPO center only picks manufacturer-backed vehicles to help you find the perfect CPO car or truck in a hurry.

Aside from knowing your CPO vehicle has been given an extensive once-over by the manufacturer, there’s another reason to go certified. Most CPO cars and trucks carry a factory warranty, which is better than most used vehicles out there. That means if you encounter a mechanical problem, just take it back to the dealer and everything should be squared away at a fraction of the cost of a normal repair. So, if you’re looking to get into a great used car sometime soon, check out UsedCars.com’s CPO center to get started.

If you haven’t been fortunate enough to get a taste of Satellite radio, trust us when we say it’s a great thing. No matter what you like to listen to, there’s a station out there that makes your daily commute or long-distance haul that much more enjoyable. Car manufacturers have been throwing in trial subscriptions to satellite radio like SIRIUS and XM for years now, but it’s a perk that runs out once the vehicle changes hands. Or at least it used to be that way.

Volkswagen has partnered with SIRIUS to offer customers who buy certified pre-owned, or CPO cars, the same 3-month trial. While that’s not likely to be enough of an incentive to get a buyer to change from one brand to another, it is a neat offering that used-car buyers deserve. If the used car or truck you’re buying is satellite radio capable, why not take full advantage of the equipment?

While Volkswagen is currently the only carmaker to offer the free trial, it wouldn’t surprise us to see other manufacturers jump on the CPO-satellite band wagon. Before long, you may be able to score a free trial of your favorite music from just about any company out there, giving you one more reason to skip over a new car all together. Not too bad.