Buying used should not mean crossing your fingers and hoping the last owner kept up with oil changes. Ford Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles come with a factory inspection, real warranty coverage, and a return window, which is one reason so many shoppers near Indianapolis, Indiana, start here at Ray Skillman Hoosier Ford.
We think about certification the same way our customers do. It means someone qualified went through the vehicle before it ever reached our lot. Every Ford Blue Advantage vehicle passes a multi-point inspection, and anything that falls short of Ford standards gets repaired or replaced before the keys change hands.
That process matters more than most shoppers realize. A clean exterior and a fresh detail can hide worn brake components or a transmission that has gone too long between services. Certification takes the guesswork out of it and hands you documentation you can read.
Drivers coming off the I-465 loop or heading south on State Road 37 have no shortage of used car lots to pick from. What separates Ford Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles is the backing of Ford Motor Company itself rather than a promise written by whoever sold you the car. The coverage travels with the vehicle, so warranty service is available at any Ford dealer in the country.
Our certified selection spans Gold, EV, and Blue Certified, which means you might find a low-mileage F-150 parked next to an Explorer or a well-kept sedan from another brand that still cleared Ford’s standards. Browse our certified listings online and flag the ones worth a closer look.
Roadside assistance is the benefit nobody thinks about until a tire goes flat on the way to work. Gold Certified vehicles carry that coverage for 7 years, EV Certified for 8 years, and Blue Certified for 90 days. Every certified vehicle also arrives with a CARFAX vehicle history report and a 90-day trial of connected services, so you know the vehicle’s past and have the app features running from your first drive.
Our finance team works with national banks and local lenders, and we have found workable terms for buyers across every credit situation. Certified vehicles frequently qualify for rates that standard used cars do not, which has a way of putting a better vehicle within reach. Fill out the finance application on our site, and we will have options lined up before you walk in.
If your current vehicle is part of the plan, we pay top dollar and put the figures in writing. Get a free, no-obligation estimate through our website, then let us apply that value to whatever you drive home. There is no obligation attached and no pressure if the timing turns out to be wrong.
Certification tells you what a vehicle went through before you saw it. What happens after you sign is a separate promise, and that is where a hometown dealership either earns your trust or loses it.
The three levels differ mainly in age, mileage, and the duration of protection. Gold Certified applies to Ford models only, EV Certified covers Ford’s electric lineup, and Blue Certified opens the door to other brands. Here is how the three compare with each other and with a used vehicle carrying no certification at all.
| Coverage Detail | Gold Certified | EV Certified | Blue Certified | Standard Used Vehicle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligible vehicles | Ford models | Ford electric models | Any make | Any make |
| Maximum age | 6 years | 6 years | 10 years | No limit |
| Maximum mileage | Under 80,000 | Under 80,000 | Under 150,000 | No limit |
| Factory inspection | 172-point | 127-point | 139-point | Not required |
| Limited warranty | 12 months / 12,000 miles | 12 months / 12,000 miles | 90 days / 4,000 miles | Remaining factory coverage, if any |
| Powertrain or EV battery coverage | 7 years / 100,000 miles | 8 years / 100,000 miles (BaseCARE EV) | Included in limited warranty | Remaining factory coverage, if any |
| 24/7 roadside assistance | 7 years | 8 years | 90 days | Not included |
| Money back guarantee | 14 days / 1,000 miles | 14 days / 1,000 miles | 14 days / 1,000 miles | Not included |
| CARFAX vehicle history report | Included | Included | Included | Varies by seller |
| Ford Rewards Points | 22,000 | 22,000 | 11,000 | Not included |
| Reconditioning parts | Manufacturer-authorized | Manufacturer-authorized | Manufacturer-authorized | Varies by seller |
One line in that chart deserves a second look. The money back guarantee applies at every certification level, so if the vehicle turns out to be the wrong fit after two weeks of real driving, you can bring it back within 14 days or 1,000 miles. Very few used car lots put anything close to that in writing.
Ray Skillman Hoosier Ford built its name on straight answers and no cheesy sales pitches. As part of the Ray Skillman Auto Group, we back every sale with a service department staffed by factory-trained technicians using genuine Ford OEM parts, so the vehicle you buy keeps running right long after the paperwork is filed.
Stop by and take a certified Ford out on the road. We will walk you through the coverage line by line, answer whatever comes up, and give you room to decide without anyone hovering over your shoulder.
Gold Certified is the top tier of the Ford Blue Advantage program. To qualify, a Ford model has to be no more than six years old, carry fewer than 80,000 miles, and pass a 172-point inspection performed by factory-trained technicians. It comes with a 12-month or 12,000-mile limited warranty plus 7-year or 100,000-mile powertrain coverage.
The difference is the factory backing. A standard used car is typically sold with whatever original warranty is left on it, and the rest is up to you. Certified vehicles carry a fresh limited warranty, 24/7 roadside assistance, a CARFAX vehicle history report, and a 14-day or 1,000-mile money back guarantee.
Ray Skillman Hoosier Ford keeps a rotating selection of Gold, EV, and Blue Certified vehicles on the lot, and we are an easy drive for shoppers coming down State Road 37. You can filter our certified listings online before you visit. Our team can also let you know when something specific is on its way in.
Yes. All three Ford Blue Advantage certification levels include a 14-day or 1,000-mile money back guarantee, whichever comes first. The vehicle has to come back in the same condition it left in, minus normal wear. It gives you real time behind the wheel instead of one quick loop around the block.
It does. Blue Certified applies to any make up to 10 years old with fewer than 150,000 miles, as long as the vehicle passes the 139-point inspection. That means a Honda, Chevrolet, or Toyota on our lot can carry the same certification standards. Gold and EV Certified are reserved for Ford models.
Often, yes. Certified vehicles are eligible for rates and terms that standard used cars usually are not, and our finance team at Ray Skillman Hoosier Ford works with both national banks and local lenders to find the best fit. We have helped buyers across every credit situation. Fill out an application online and we will have numbers ready before you arrive.
Absolutely, and we hope you will. Our service department is staffed by factory-trained technicians who work with genuine Ford OEM parts, whether your week is mostly highway commuting or weekend runs through the Brown County hills. Warranty work on a certified vehicle can be handled at any Ford dealer nationwide, but we would rather it be us.
