You will find approved used cars for sale at franchised main dealerships, They are generally available with a range of finance options, and any approved used car should have been prepared to a very high standard and come with a manufacturer-backed warranty, as well as breakdown cover, and a comprehensive inspection and history check.
As with any used car warranty, you should always check the T&Cs to ensure everything you expect is going to be covered, and consider taking out a service plan to ensure your car stays in good shape.
Approved Used Warranties Compared
- Abarth
- Alfa Romeo
- Alpine
- Aston Martin
- Audi
- Bentley
- BMW
- BYD
- Citroen
- Cupra
- Dacia
- DS
- Ferrari
- Fiat
- Ford
- Genesis
- Honda
- Hyundai
- INEOS
- Jaecoo
- Jaguar
- Jeep
- Kia
- Land Rover
- Lexus
- Maserati
- McLaren
- Mazda
- Mercedes-Benz
- MG
- MINI
- Nissan
- Omoda
- Peugeot
- Polestar
- Porsche
- Renault
- Rolls-Royce
- Seat
- Skoda
- Smart
- Subaru
- Suzuki
- Tesla
- Toyota
- Vauxhall
- Volkswagen
- Volvo
Abarth
Abarth’s parent company, Stellantis, introduced a new approved used warranty scheme for most of its brands back in 2022, called Spoticar. There are a handful of exceptions, which we’ll get to below, but the majority of manufacturers in the Stellantis camp are now covered by this plan. It includes between 6- and 12 months of warranty cover, depending on the age of the car, the same amount of breakdown cover and a 30-day exchange promise. The exchange promise means that should the car develop a serious fault within 30 days or 1,000 miles – whichever comes first – you can exchange it for a similarly priced car. Every car offered goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo is another member of the Stellantis group we were talking about just now, but is also one of the handful of in-house brands - along with DS and Maserati - to not take part in the Spoticar approved used scheme. That's because these brands are held up as premium brands, and thus get their own dedicated approved used offering. The warranty cover you get is more generous, to, with between 12- and 24 months depending on the age of the car, and you get a corresponding amount of breakdown cover, too. Otherwise, the benefits are very similar, with a 120-point pre-sale inspection, a 30-day exchange promise and a history check.
Name : Alfa Romeo Certified | Warranty duration: Between 12- and 24 months’ warranty | Breakdown cover: Between 12- and 24 months roadside assistance | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, history and provenance check
Alpine
Alpine is part of the Renault Group of brands, so it's no surprise that the French sports car brand uses the same approved used programme. It's called Renew, and it provides fully checked and inspected vehicles with a minimum 12-month warranty, as well as breakdown assistance for 12 months. There’s a 30-day exchange policy, along with drive-away insurance which covers you for the drive home and for five days after that.
Name : Renew | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ breakdown cover | Inspection: Mechanical and safety inspection | Additional benefits: 30-day exchange policy, accident support line, history check, five days’ drive-away insurance
Aston Martin
The Timeless Certified Pre-owned warranty programme from Aston Martin is available for any qualifying used Aston up to 10 years old, giving you a wide range of choice, aside from ‘special project’ cars such as the Vulcan and One-77. Cars offered under the Timeless scheme are only available from authorised Aston Martin centres, which carry out a series of mechanical and cosmetic checks. Each car is inspected, certified, and backed up with a 12-month unlimited-mileage warranty, as well as 12 months’ roadside assistance. A range of extra benefits are included, too, such as a 12-month subscription to AM Magazine and discounts on accessories.
Name : Timeless Certified Pre-Owned | Warranty duration: 12 months, unlimited mileage | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multipoint pre-delivery check by Aston technicians, only genuine Aston parts used | Additional benefits: MOT test cover for cars over two years old, independently certified history and mileage inspection, 12-month subscription to AM magazine
Audi
The Audi Approved warranty programme applies to main dealer cars up to eight years old and with less than 100,000 miles on the clock. Every car listed has to pass up to 150 checks, which include mechanical, interior and on-road assessments, and any issues will be rectified with genuine Audi parts. All cars sold under the scheme undergo a full history check, come with a 12-month warranty. It’s worth bearing in mind, however, that the warranty will expire should the car’s mileage exceed a total of 100,000 miles in that timeframe. You also get 5 days of drive-away insurance thrown in, and there's also a 30-day exchange plan.
Name : Audi Approved | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance| Inspection: Up to 150-point check, including a separate mechanical, exterior and interior check, a road test and a written report; work carried out using original Audi parts | Additional benefits: Service history certificate detailing all routine work, key cover, history and mileage checks and five-day drive-away insurance
Bentley
Buying a Bentley is by no means a casual affair and, if you’re concerned about reliability and ongoing quality, it’s perhaps best to consider a car from the official Certified by Bentley warranty scheme. Each used car offered by Bentley goes through a detailed inspection by factory-trained technicians, in which the car is carefully checked against its original specifications and build records. A 12-month warranty is included, which can be extended on application, as is roadside assistance. Customers also get an invitation to a guided factory tour, as well as free subscription to the owners’ magazine.
Name : Certified by Bentley | Warranty duration: Minimum of 12 months | Breakdown cover: Minimum of 12 months roadside assistance | Inspection: Comprehensive check and reconditioning process | Additional benefits: Certificate of authenticity for the car, guided tour of the Bentley factory in Crewe, subscription to the Bentley owners’ magazine
BMW
BMW Approved Used can be applied to every model in the BMW range, and offers buyers reassurance that a car will be prepared to BMW’s own standards. This includes a full vehicle inspection and road test, a mileage and history check and a minimum 12-month warranty. It is worth noting that BMW also offers a warranty product for used cars not bought through its approved used programme, provided the car in question falls within age and mileage limits and has been maintained according to the manufacturer’s criteria.
Name : Approved Used BMW | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: Minimum 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 120-point inspection by BMW technicians, only genuine BMW parts used | Additional Benefits: 12 months’ MOT cover, full road test, mileage and vehicle history check, five-day drive-away insurance
BYD
BYD does offer approved used cars, but the additional benefits of the scheme appear minimal. On the plus side, cars are checked by technicians for faults, which are then rectified using certified parts, and cars are also history-checked. However, no additional warranty cover is provided - you get the remaining balance of BYD’s six-year/93,750-mile new-car warranty, and eight-year/155,350-mile battery warranty - and there’s no breakdown cover, either. Nor is there any mention of drive-away insurance or an exchange promise.
Name : BYD Certified | Warranty duration: Remaining balance of standard six-year, 93,730-mile new-car warranty | Breakdown cover: N/A | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: N/A
Citroen
Citroen is one of the many Stellantis manufacturers to get the group’s Spoticar approved used car warranty. As with its sister brands, this scheme offers a warranty of at between 6- and 12 months, and the same amount of roadside assistance. There’s also a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange promise, which means you can exchange the car if it develops an unfixable fault for a similarly priced car within that time and mileage limit. Every car goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Cupra
Along with sister brand Seat, Cupra once had one of the best approved used car offerings in the business, because it included a 24-month warranty and 24 months’ roadside assistance. However, that's now been cut down to 12 months for each, which is more in step with the wider industry. You do, however, get a multi-point quality check, a verified service history and history check, one free MOT and five days of free drive-away insurance. There’s a 30-day exchange agreement, too.
Name : Cupra Approved | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multi-point check by Seat technicians | Additional benefits: Five-day drive-away insurance, full history check, 30-day exchange policy, 12 months’ MOT cover up to £750
Dacia
Dacia’s approved used car offering is similar to its parent brand Renault’s. Known as Dacia Approved Vehicles, cars that benefit from the scheme come with minimum 12-month warranty as well as breakdown assistance for 12 months. Each car is put through a comprehensive series of checks, including a history check, and there’s a 30-day exchange policy, along with drive-away insurance which covers you for the drive home and for five days thereafter.
Name : Dacia Approved Vehicles | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ breakdown cover | Inspection: Mechanical and safety inspection | Additional benefits: 30-day exchange policy, accident support line, history check, five days’ drive-away insurance
DS
Along with Alfa Romeo, DS is the second of the premium Stellantis brands with its own approved used car warranty scheme, instead of the group’s generic Spoticar approved used warranty. The DS programme is called DS Certified, and it offers a longer period of cover for certain second-hand models that meet specific criteria. Cars up to four years old with no more than 50,000 miles on the clock get a minimum 24-month warranty, while those between four- and seven years old that have covered up to 100,000 miles receive a minimum 12-month warranty. Breakdown cover matches the warranty – either 24 months or 12 months depending on the car – and there’s a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange promise and a pre-sale inspection.
Name : DS Certified | Warranty duration: Cars up to four years old/50,000 miles – minimum 24 months; cars four-seven years old up to 100,000 miles – minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12/24 months roadside assistance in tandem with warranty | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, seven-day drive-away insurance
Ferrari
The extensive Ferrari Approved certification and warranty programme is offered for Ferraris up to 15 years old. Each car offered undergoes a comprehensive check by Ferrari technicians, in which the car in question is also carefully prepared to ensure that it meets the brand’s standards. Up to 24 months’ unlimited-mileage warranty is offered in the UK, along with up to 24 months of Ferrari roadside assistance. The warranty excludes wear-and-tear parts but it does guarantee a cost-free repair using genuine parts and fitment by Ferrari-trained technicians.
Name : Ferrari Approved | Warranty duration: Up to 24 months, unlimited mileage | Breakdown cover: Up to 24 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 200-point check by trained technicians, along with road test | Additional benefits: Provenance and maintenance check, with detailed documentation provided for each car
Fiat
Fiat is one of the many Stellantis brands that uses the Spoticar approved used warranty. As with the other manufacturers, it includes between 6- and 12 months’ warranty cover, the same amount of breakdown cover and a 30-day exchange promise. The exchange promise means that should the car develop a serious fault within 30 days or 1,000 miles – whichever comes first – you can exchange it for a similarly priced car. Every car offered goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Ford
Ford’s approved used warranty is one of the more generous schemes among the major manufacturers, because it offers double the amount of cover for the two core elements – warranty and breakdown cover. Known as Ford Direct, the programme includes two years’ warranty and one year of roadside assistance, along with three days’ drive-away insurance and a 30-day exchange plan. However, it's only offered on cars up to 24 months old, with less than 24,000 miles on the clock. The manufacturer used to have a second approved used warranty scheme, called Ford Approved, which applied to its dealers’ own vehicles and offered a lower level of cover than that of the Ford Direct scheme, but that ceased at the end of 2022.
Name : Ford Direct | Warranty duration: 24 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 75-point inspection | Additional benefits: 30-day/1,000-mile exchange plan, three days’ free drive-away insurance, full service history, mileage checked and outstanding finance checked
Genesis
Hyundai’s luxury brand offers a selection of models under the Genesis Certified programme. Qualifying cars must be less than four years old and have driven less than 50,000 miles. The cars are inspected and refurbished in the usual way, and are sold with the reminder of the original 5-Year Care Plan offered from new. This provides five years’ worth of warranty, servicing, breakdown cover, and software updates. There’s no mileage limit on the plan, either. It also includes a designated ‘personal assistant’ to deal with any and all of your enquiries, as well as personally collecting your car for routine servicing or repair work, leaving you with a courtesy car, and delivering it back to you afterwards. For cars where the remainder of the plan is less than two years, the cover is topped up to that as a minimum.
Name : Genesis Certified | Warranty duration: Remaining balance of standard five-year, unlimited-mileage new-car warranty, with minimum of two years | Breakdown cover: Remaining balance of standard five-year cover, with minimum of two years | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Remaining balance of standard Five-year Car Plan, including servicing and personal assistant service
Honda
If you’re looking for a Honda that’s up to eight years old, it’s worth checking out the company’s Honda Approved used warranty scheme. It offers an extensive range of used Hondas, ranging from the practical-yet-compact Jazz to the family-friendly CR-V SUV, each of which goes through a comprehensive 100-point check before being offered with a minimum of 12 months’ warranty. Like many others, Honda also offers a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy. Should you encounter a problem, and you’re not happy with the car, you can simply exchange it with the dealer for another. Warranty extensions are also available, granting peace of mind if you intend to keep the car for longer. Customers also get a verified service history and access to Honda’s finance solutions.
Name : Honda Approved | Warranty duration: Minimum of 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multi-point pre-sale check | Additional benefits: Extendable warranty, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, full valet, assured vehicle history and mileage certification
Hyundai
New Hyundais come with five years’ warranty, and now used examples can, too. Opt for a car from the Hyundai Promise approved used scheme, and it will come with 24 months of warranty, which can be upgraded to five years of cover for an extra cost. To qualify, the car in question has to be less than three years old, and have fewer than 60,000 miles on the clock. For cars older than this, there’s then the Hyundai Approved Used scheme, which includes the balance of the manufacturer warranty, plus an additional top-up used car warranty if necessary, to take you up to a minimum of 12 months’ cover. Cars on both schemes also get 12 months’ roadside assistance, and each car also has its history extensively checked, to avoid any frights later down the line. You’ll benefit from a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, too.
Name : Hyundai Promise / Hyundai Approved Used | Warranty duration: Hyundai Promise: 2 Years / Hyundai Approved Used: minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Comprehensive check by Hyundai technicians | Additional benefits: Independent mileage and history checks, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy
INEOS
INEOS vehicles are already pretty sturdy, but to make sure that used examples haven’t been damaged by overly hard use, the Certifies by INEOS programme ensures that specialist technicians carry out an extensive inspection of the mechanicals and bodywork, fixing any defects with genuine parts. Provenance checks are also undertaken by the retailer, and the car is then sold with the remainder of the car’s original five-year, unlimited-mileage warranty, although this isn't topped up in any way. No additional roadside assistance is provided, either, but INEOS will take care of any servicing or maintenance required within three months of the handover.
Name : Certified by INEOS | Warranty duration: Remaining balance of standard five-year, unlimited-mileage new-car warranty | Breakdown cover: N/A | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Provenance check, cover of routine maintenance work within three months of handover
Jaecoo
The Jaecoo and Omoda brands are both part of the Chery Group from China, and both run an approved used scheme called OJ Approved. Interestingly, the Chery brand doesn’t yet offer an approved used scheme in the UK, but it hasn’t been operating over here for as long, so maybe a scheme will be offered in future. OJ Approved cars are subjected to 120 individual checks, and are sold with a year’s free RAC breakdown cover. However, the warranty picture isn’t as rosy, with no additional cover over and above whatever’s left of the seven-year, 100,000-mile new-car warranty. That doesn’t sound like much of a problem initially given the apparent generosity of the new-car offering, but be aware that a large number of important (and expensive) components drop off the cover at just three years and 40,000 miles.
Name : OJ Approved | Warranty duration: Remaining balance of standard seven-year, 100,000-mile new-car warranty | Breakdown cover: 12 months | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: N/A
Jaguar
Jaguar Approved is a used approved warranty programme that offers an extensive range of used Jaguars up to seven years of age. Each is put through an extensive 165-point inspection by Jaguar technicians, and faults are rectified using official parts. The cars are then offered with a minimum of 12 months’ warranty, as well as 12 months’ breakdown cover and a host of other benefits, including a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange plan.
Name : Jaguar Approved | Warranty duration: Minimum of 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 165-point inspection, with repairs carried out using genuine parts | Additional benefits: MOT test cover up to £750, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, professional valet, inspection certificate
Jeep
Jeep is among the Stellantis brands with the Spoticar approved used warranty, so it gets the usual fare of a minimum of a 6-to 12-month warranty depending on the age of the car, the same amount of breakdown cover and a 30-day exchange promise. The exchange promise means that should the car develop a serious fault within 30 days or 1,000 miles – whichever comes first – you can exchange it for a similarly priced car. Every car offered goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Kia
If you’re looking for a hassle-free used car purchase, make a beeline for the Kia Approved Used warranty scheme. It offers cars of up to 20 months old, with less than 20,000 miles on the clock, with a whopping seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty, which is the same amount that the manufacturer provides with its brand new cars. You also get two years’ roadside assistance, MOT test cover of up to £1,000 and five days’ drive-away insurance. Kia offers an Assured Used programme, too, featuring cars sourced by dealers that are offered with the balance of the original seven-year, 100,000-mile warranty. These come with similar benefits, such as the drive-away insurance, but advantages such as the roadside assistance are often optional.
Name : Kia Approved Used / Kia Assured Used | Warranty duration: Seven years, up to 100,000 miles for cars up to 20 months old with 20,000 miles | Breakdown cover: 24 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multi-point inspection and test | Additional benefits: Five days’ free drive-away insurance, Experian history checks, one years’ MOT cover up to £1,000, Kia accident aftercare
Land Rover
If you’re looking for a Land Rover that’s less than seven years old and has covered fewer than 100,000 miles, take a look at the Land Rover Approved used car warranty. It offers cars from the brand’s entire line-up, from the Defender to the Range Rover, and each one is put through a 165-point inspection, which includes a road test. A minimum of 12 months’ warranty is included, as is a minimum of 12 months’ roadside assistance. The cars also benefit from independent history checks, while customers receive further bonuses such as a half-day off-roading experience. Plug-in hybrids also include the balance of the battery warranty, which extends to six years and 60,000 miles from new.
Name : Land Rover Approved | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months’ warranty | Breakdown cover: Minimum of 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 165-point inspection, with required works carried out using genuine parts | Additional benefits: Mileage and history check, part-exchange service, £750 MOT test warranty, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, complimentary half-day Land Rover experience, seven days’ drive-away insurance
Lexus
Each of the cars offered in the Lexus Select Approved Pre-Owned warranty scheme is subject to a 150-point check, including a hybrid system health check for hybrid models, and receives a comprehensive valet – as well as a history check. Each is then retailed with a minimum of 12 months’ warranty, as well as 12 months’ roadside assistance. Lexus and its sister brand Toyota have a real edge on the warranty front, too. Anyone with a Lexus that is less than 10 years old and with less than 100,000 miles on the clock can have their car’s warranty topped up by one year and 10,000 miles if they have it serviced at a franchised Lexus dealer once a year.
Name : Lexus Select Approved Pre-owned | Warranty duration: Minimum of 12 months, unlimited mileage | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 150-point check interior and exterior valet | Additional benefits: 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, full service history on each vehicle
Maserati
Maserati is technically part of the Stellantis stable, but naturally, operates its own approved used scheme outside of the generic Spoticar one used by most of the company's other brands. The Maserati Approved warranty scheme is available on cars that are under four years old, and each one undergoes a 121-point test, which includes a road test and background checks. Vehicles are offered with an unlimited-mileage warranty of up to 24 months, and activation only takes place when the balance of the original new car warranty expires (three years, unlimited-mileage as standard, but can be extended to 4- or 5 years at extra cost). Customers can also specify an optional Maserati Maintenance Programme, which offers a range of pre-paid service packages that can further help control costs.
Name : Maserati Approved | Warranty duration: Up 24 months in tandem with warranty | Breakdown cover: 24 months roadside assistance | Inspection: 121-point inspection by Maserati technicians with work carried out using genuine parts; vehicles road tested before sale | Additional benefits: Vehicle history and service history check, new MOT, optional maintenance programme
Mazda
Those in the market for a used Mazda, provided it’s done fewer than 100,000 miles, may be able to find what they’re looking for via the Mazda Approved Used Cars warranty scheme. It’s designed to offer buyers peace of mind by offering all types of Mazda, from the Mazda 2 hatchback right up to the CX-80 SUV, with a 12-month, unlimited-mileage warranty, and 12 months’ roadside assistance. Cars offered through the scheme undergo a comprehensive check before sale, in which faults are rectified using original parts, and the history and mileage is independently verified. There’s also a 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange policy, so if you discover a fault then you’ve the opportunity to swap the car for something else.
Name : Mazda Approved Used Cars | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Comprehensive multi-point check, with faults rectified using genuine Mazda parts | Additional benefits: Independent mileage and history checks, Mazda accident aftercare, five-day drive-away insurance cover on application, 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange policy, £750 MOT protection
McLaren
If you’re forking out what it costs for a McLaren - even a used one - you want some peace of mind. The McLaren Qualified Pre-Owned provides it by giving all eligible cars a thorough inspection and mending any defects with official McLaren parts. They’ll also take care of any routine maintenance due within three months of the handover. On top of that, you get 12 months of roadside assistance, plus a minimum of 12 months of warranty, with the option to extend that to 24 months for an extra fee.
Name : McLaren Qualified Pre-Owned | Warranty duration: 12 months minimum, with the option to extend to 24 months at extra cost | Breakdown cover: 12 months | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Provenance and and history checks, cover of all servicing and maintenance work due within three months of handover
Mercedes-Benz
The Mercedes-Benz Approved Used warranty offers an extensive range of Mercedes and Mercedes-AMG cars, each of which comes with a 12-month warranty and 12 months’ roadside assistance. Every vehicle goes through a comprehensive check before being offered for sale. The history is also checked, along with the mileage, before the car is sold. Other benefits are also included, such as MOT cover and five days worth of drive-away insurance.
Name : Mercedes-Benz Approved Used | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance (AMG models 24 months) | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Independent mileage and history checks, key insurance, five days’ complimentary car insurance, MOT test cover for first test after purchase
MG
MG does have an approved used car warranty programme of a sort, but it’s less comprehensive than the industry standard. Known as MG Approved Used, second-hand cars sold via the scheme get ‘the remainder of the new car warranty’ according to the manufacturer, so there is no dedicated warranty for used models. There is also no driveway insurance and no exchange policy. However, MG does provide 12 months’ roadside cover when one of its cars is serviced at a franchised dealer, so that’s something.
Name : Approved Used MG | Warranty duration: Remainder of new car warranty but no used-car specific warranty | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside cover when a car is serviced at an MG retailer
MINI
The Approved Used MINI warranty scheme requires cars to pass an extensive series of tests and checks, and any faults are repaired using original MINI parts. The cars are then offered via franchised dealers with a minimum of 12-months unlimited-mileage warranty, 12 months’ roadside assistance and 12 months’ MOT cover. If the car is less than two years old and had covered less than 20,000 miles, then the cover is extended to two years for both the warranty and the roadside assistance. Five days’ drive-away insurance are included, along with a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy.
Name : Approved Used MINI | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months’ warranty, unlimited mileage | Breakdown cover: Minimum of 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 120-point check; faults repaired using genuine MINI parts | Additional benefits: Minimum 12 months’ MOT and MOT cover, full service history, independent history and mileage checks, five days’ driveway insurance, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy
Nissan
The Nissan Intelligent Choice is an approved used car warranty scheme comprises a history check for the car, followed by a 100-point inspection and a road test by Nissan technicians. The cars are then offered for sale with a minimum of 12 months’ warranty if they're less than three years old, or six months if they're between three and eight years old. Your cover can also be extended by six-, 12- or 24 months at extra cost. If the car is older than two years at the time of sale, Nissan will also cover the cost of any repairs should the car not pass its subsequent MOT. The manufacturer also offers a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy if a fault develops.
Name : Nissan Intelligent Choice | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months; warranty can be extended at extra cost | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 100 points | Additional benefits: MOT cover up to £750, 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, up to five days’ driveway insurance
Omoda
As mentioned previously when talking about Jaecoo, the two brands share an approved used scheme called OJ Approved. Cars are inspected, refurbished and history-checked, and sold to customers with 12 months of RAC roadside assistance. You also get what’s left of the car’s seven-year/100,000-mile new car warranty, but all is not what it seems, because an abnormally large amount of important and expensive components (including brake calipers, the air-con compressor, the catalytic converter, the entire exhaust system, and the infotainment system) fall off the cover at just three years and 40,000 miles. No additional approved used warranty cover is provided on top of that.
Name : OJ Approved | Warranty duration: Remaining balance of standard seven-year, 100,000-mile new-car warranty | Breakdown cover: 12 months | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: N/A
Peugeot
Like many of the brands owned and operated by Stellantis, Peugeot has the group’s Spoticar approved used car warranty. As with the others, this scheme offers a warranty of between 6- and 12 months, plus the corresponding period of roadside assistance. There’s also a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange promise, which means you can exchange the car for a similarly priced one if it develops a serious fault within that time and mileage limit. Every car goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Polestar
Cars sold through the Polestar Pre-owned Programme undergo an extensive 111-point inspection by Polestar technicians. The results of the inspection are provided to the customer in advance of the purchase, and if anything needs replacing, the official Polestar parts are used. Mileage is verified and history is checked so there are no nasty surprises, and cars are handed over with two years’ worth of warranty and roadside assistance. There’s also a 14-day money back guarantee if you change your mind.
Name : Polestar Pre-owned Programme | Warranty duration: 24 months | Breakdown cover: 24 months | Inspection: 111-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Independent mileage and history checks, 14-day money back guarantee
Porsche
Porsche actually has one of the most of the most generous approved used car warranty schemes. Known as Approved Pre-Owned Cars, it covers cars up to 15 years old and includes a 24-month warranty and 24 months’ roadside assistance as standard. That’s generous for any manufacturer, especially a premium one known for its conservative attitude to standard equipment and charging more for optional extras. Every car offered is subject to a 111-point check by Porsche technicians, and rectification work is carried out using official Porsche parts. A new MOT is included if the car is more than three years old.
Name : Approved Pre-Owned Cars | Warranty duration: 24 months | Breakdown cover: 24 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 111-point check by Porsche technicians, with rectification works carried out using genuine parts | Additional benefits: MOT where applicable, full valet and quality inspection
Renault
Renault was a latecomer to the approved used car warranty scene, but its Renew approved used programme brought it into line with its contemporaries. A minimum 12-month warranty and 12 months’ breakdown assistance is provided, abut it's worth bearing in mind that some or all of this warranty may be made up by the balance on the car's existing warranty, topped up where necessary to give a minimum of 12 months. Each car is put through a comprehensive series of checks, including a history check, and a 30-day exchange policy is also included, along with five days’ drive-away insurance.
Name : Renew | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ breakdown cover | Inspection: Mechanical and safety inspection | Additional benefits: 30-day exchange policy, accident support line, history check, five days’ drive-away insurance
Rolls-Royce
When a car company has standards as exacting as Rolls-Royce’s, you’d expect its approved used scheme to be pretty meticulous as well. And indeed it is. The firm’s Provenance scheme ensures that all qualifying cars are rigorously checked by Rolls-Royce technicians, and are restored as closely as they can be to the condition they were in when they left Goodwood for the first time. You can even tailor your car in many of the same ways as you can with a new one, with a range of bespoke features on offer: for instance, you can have your headrests embroidered with the family crest, or your Spirit of Ecstasy reimagined in the precious metal of your choice. And once the car has been handed over, you’re sent on your merry way with two years of warranty, two years of roadside assistance, two years of servicing, and membership of the exclusive Whispers members’ club, with access to specialised experiences, connections and a 24/7 concierge service.
Name : Provenance | Warranty duration: 24 months | Breakdown cover: 24 months | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: 24 months of servicing included, bespoke features available, access to Whispers private members club
Seat
Seat’s approved used car offering is identical to that of sister brand Cupra, which is no surprise really given the two brands share some of their model ranges and are usually found for sale in the same showrooms. It’s not as generous as it once was, though, with the previous 24 months-worth of warranty and breakdown cover now having been cut back to 12 months apiece. You do, however, get a multi-point quality check, a history check, a verified service history, one free MOT and five days of free drive-away insurance. There’s also a 30-day exchange agreement to fall back on as well.
Name : Seat Approved | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multi-point check by Seat technicians | Additional benefits: Five-day drive-away insurance, full history check, 30-day exchange policy, 12 months’ MOT cover up to £750
Skoda
The Skoda Plus Approved Used warranty programme comprises a comprehensive check with 12 months’ warranty and 12 months’ breakdown cover, as well as benefits such as five days’ drive-away insurance cover. Skoda will also service the car if there are less than six months until its next scheduled maintenance is due. Along with the usual collection of history and security checks – it claims to inspect more than 100 points on the car – Skoda also offers a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy. There are a couple of nice extra perks, too; firstly the supplying dealer will cover the cost of the car’s next MOT, and electric cars will come with a certificate of their battery’s state of health.
Name : Skoda Plus | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Over 100 points checked | Additional benefits: Next MOT free at supplying dealer, £750 MOT cost covers within warranty, vehicle history check and 30-day/1,000-mile exchange plan, five days’ drive-away insurance
Smart
The reimagined and revitalised Smart brand, with all its ludicrously named hashtag models, doesn’t currently operate an approved used scheme. Oddly, though, you can still buy approved used versions of the brand's older pre-relaunch cars - such as the electric versions of the ForTwo Coupe, ForTwo Cabrio, and ForFour - through the Mercedes-Benz scheme, which was Smart’s previous parent company (it’s now a 50/50 joint venture between Mercedes and Chinese company Geely). As such, the terms are the same as with Mercedes cars, so expect a thorough pre-sale inspection and repair, 12 months of warranty, 12 months of roadside assistance, MOT cover and five days of drive-away insurance.
Name : Mercedes-Benz Approved Used | Warranty duration: 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months | Inspection: Multi-point check by certified technicians | Additional benefits: Independent mileage and history checks, key insurance, five days’ complimentary car insurance
Subaru
The Subaru Proven approved used car warranty programme offers a range of used Subarus that have passed a comprehensive pre-sales inspection, including a road test, and the body is refinished to what Subaru describes as “exacting standards”. Each one comes with a minimum 12-month warranty, as well as 12 months’ roadside assistance. Independent history and mileage checks are carried out and a 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange policy is also included. The scheme applies to cars up to 10 years old with no more than 80,000 miles on the clock.
Name : Subaru Proven | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Mechanical check | Additional benefits: 30-day/1,000-mile exchange policy, full provenance and mileage check, body refinished
Suzuki
A host of second-hand Suzukis up to to eight years old and have covered less than 70,000 miles are offered with what the company dubs its Approved Used Car Promise. Every car offered through the scheme receives a minimum 12-month warranty and 12 months’ roadside cover. The vehicle also undergoes a comprehensive inspection, including checks on the powertrain, electrics and general condition. Genuine Suzuki parts are also used to correct any issues. Both the mileage and history of each car is checked, and a full valet is also covered. Worth noting is Suzuki’s Service Activated Warranty, which kicks in after the initial three-year/60,000-mile new car warranty and covers vehicles up to ten years/100,000 miles, providing they are serviced on schedule at a franchised retailer.
Name : Suzuki Approved Used Car Promise | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months’ warranty | Breakdown cover: Minimum 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Multi-point check by Suzuki technicians; repairs using genuine parts | Additional benefits: Vehicle history and mileage check, MOT test cover
Tesla
Tesla sells cars directly and does not operate a traditional franchised retail model, so you won’t find approved used warranty schemes offered via dealers as you would with other manufacturers. Under its Certified Pre-Owned scheme, however, it does refurbish its used cars before reselling them, and conducts inspections of the battery and drive unit, the suspension, the brakes, the electrical system, and the interior and exterior, fixing any defects with original parts. Qualifying cars will have covered less than 90,000 miles. You'll get whatever's left of the car's original four-year, 50,000-mile warranty, plus an addition 12 months, 10,000 miles once that expires, plus the equivalent amount of roadside cover.
Name : Tesla Certified Pre-Owned | Warranty duration: 12 months, 10,000 miles | Breakdown cover: One year’s roadside assistance alongside the warranty | Inspection: Checks as detailed above | Additional benefits: n/a
Toyota
The Toyota Approved Used scheme is pretty much industry-standard. Used car buyers get a minimum 12-month warranty, 12 months’ roadside cover, and a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange agreement. Each car is also given a thorough 145-point inspection and brought up to scratch before it’s offered to customers. However, the big news here is the ability to extend the warranty. As with its sister brand Lexus, anyone with a Toyota that is less than 10 years old that has less than 100,000 miles on the clock can have their car’s warranty topped up by one year and 10,000 miles if they have it serviced at a franchised Toyota dealer once a year.
Name : Toyota Approved Used | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months’ warranty; can be extended by one year/10,000 miles with annual service at Toyota franchise, up to maximum of 10 years/100,000 miles | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: Technical check, vehicles fully refurbished | Additional benefits: 30-day/1,000-mile exchange scheme, vehicle history and mileage check, MOT cover for the duration of the warranty
Vauxhall
Vauxhall pioneered the approved used car warranty format, when it launched the Network Q scheme in 1990. However, as with most of the Stellantis brands, Vauxhall now has the group’s Spoticar approved used car warranty. This scheme offers a warranty and roadside assistance of between 6- and 12 months, depending on the age of the car. There’s also a 30-day/1,000-mile exchange promise, which means you can exchange it for a similarly priced car within that time and mileage limit if it develops a fault that can't be fixed. Every car goes through a pre-sale inspection that includes any due servicing, a full valet, a test drive and recall checks.
Name : Spoticar | Warranty duration: 6-12 months | Breakdown cover: 6-12 months | Inspection: Pre-sale check by franchised dealer | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1,000-mile exchange promise, five-day drive-away insurance
Volkswagen
All of Volkswagen's approved used cars are less than eight years old, and have covered fewer then 100,000 miles. All are offered with extensive checks having been made on the vehicle, its history and its mileage, and it's covered by a 12-month warranty with no mileage cap, and the same amount of roadside assistance. You also get five days' worth of drive-away insurance, and Volkswagen also operates a 30-day/1,000-mile 'No Qibble' exchange policy.
Name : Volkswagen Approved Used | Warranty duration: 12 months, unlimited mileage | Breakdown cover: 12 months’ roadside assistance | Inspection: 142-point check by Volkswagen technicians, repairs carried out using genuine VW parts | Additional benefits: 30-day, 1000-mile no-quibble exchange policy, 12 months’ MOT cover service history and vehicle identity checks, independent mileage and history checks, five days’ drive-away insurance for free
Volvo
The Volvo Selekt approved used scheme offers a range of used Volvos. Volvo starts by selecting the best used examples around, and then puts them through a check that assesses more than 150 areas of the vehicle. Any required repairs are then carried out, using genuine Volvo parts. Theres cars are then offered for sale with a minimum 12-month warranty, with unlimited mileage. Customers also get 12 months’ roadside assistance, MOT test cover and a 30-day/1,500-mile (500 miles more than most) satisfaction guarantee. The maximum age and mileage of vehicles offered through the scheme is 10 years and 100,000 miles.
Name : Volvo Selekt | Warranty duration: Minimum 12 months | Breakdown cover: Minimum 12 months | Inspection: 150+ points, genuine Volvo parts used for repairs | Additional benefits: 30-day/1,500-mile guarantee, cover for one MOT test up to £750
