Audi Certified Pre-Owned vs. used: what’s the difference?
Both can be great buys. Certified adds an Audi inspection, extra warranty coverage and roadside help. Here’s exactly what you get. Updated November 2026.
Side by side
Program details from Audi USA and subject to change. See our Audi CPO program page for full terms.
Which one is right for you?
- Choose Certified if you want extra warranty coverage and an Audi-standard inspection.
- Choose used if you want the lowest price, an older model or a different brand.
- Look at Nearly New if you want a low-mile 2025 with most of the new-car warranty left: our retired courtesy fleet.
Trading in? See how we value your trade.
How to check any pre-owned Audi
Certified or not, run through this list before you buy.
- History report: look for accidents, title problems and how many owners it’s had.
- Service records: regular maintenance is a good sign.
- Tires and brakes: check how much life is left. They’re a real cost if they’re worn.
- Both keys: a replacement key can be expensive.
- Test drive: include highway speed and a few bumps. Listen for noises and watch for warning lights.
- Warranty: ask exactly what coverage is left, and when it ends.
How the CPO warranty works, in one example
Certified coverage stacks on top of whatever new-car warranty is left. Here’s how it plays out on a typical car.
- A new Audi comes with a 4-year or 50,000-mile New Vehicle Limited Warranty, whichever comes first.
- Say you buy a certified Audi that’s 2 years old with 20,000 miles. About 2 years or 30,000 miles of that new-car warranty are left.
- When the new-car warranty ends, the Audi CPO Limited Warranty adds 1 more year or 20,000 more miles, whichever comes first.
- You also get 1 year of 24-hour roadside assistance, including trip interruption.
When regular used is the smarter buy
Certified isn’t always the right call. A regular used car can make more sense if you want an older model, a car with higher miles at a lower price, or a different brand. In that case, the checklist above matters even more, and a clean history report and service records are worth asking for.
Tell us your budget and we’ll show you certified, Nearly New and used options side by side.
Financing and trading in on a pre-owned Audi
Buying pre-owned works the same way as buying new. You can finance or pay cash, and you can trade in your current car toward it. In Pennsylvania, you pay sales tax on the price minus your trade value, which can lower your total cost. If you still owe money on your trade, we pay off your lender and show you the numbers before you decide. Ask us for current finance rates on certified models, since they can differ from rates on regular used cars.
Frequently asked questions
Keep reading
More plain-English guides from Audi Sewickley.
Find the right pre-owned Audi
Call 412-324-2509 or send us a question. We’ll match you to certified, used or Nearly New.
Audi Sewickley
