(January 15, 2019) ATLANTA — Automakers finish each year with a flurry of ads and deals, but for car shoppers who delayed their purchase, January can be a good time to take advantage of a typically slow month for dealership sales. In particular, certified pre-owned vehicles are worth checking out with most dealerships likely seeing an influx of trade-ins from the close out of the previous year.

"January can be a good time to shop for a car without all the busyness of the holiday season," said Brian Moody, executive editor for Autotrader.

"For car buyers looking to start off the year with a budget-smart choice, certified pre-owned vehicles should be at the top of their shopping list. These vehicles can provide great value at a lower price while offering a like-new model that's been thoroughly inspected and carries warranty coverage."

The editors at Autotrader have rounded up some of the best CPO deals to help shoppers find that perfect certified pre-owned vehicle this month.

Autotrader Editors' Top Picks for Certified Pre-Owned Deals for January

Audi's certified pre-owned program offers one year of additional comprehensive coverage on its vehicle with no mileage limit — and shoppers can purchase more coverage if they so desire. This month, Audi is offering 1.99 percent interest for up to 24 months on all certified pre-owned vehicles to qualified buyers — a short term, but a great interest rate for shoppers looking to take advantage.

Ford's certified pre-owned program offers two warranties. One extends the powertrain warranty for 7 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date, while the other adds a year of comprehensive coverage to the original factory warranty. Through the end of the month, certified pre-owned Ford models are offered with 4.49 percent interest for up to 60 months to qualified shoppers. While that rate isn't as low as some of the other offers here, it's a longer term, which helps keep payments down — a desirable trait for most car shoppers.

Jaguar's certified pre-owned program is among the best in the industry, as it boasts 7 years or 100,000 miles of comprehensive coverage from the original sale date. In January, the best deal is for qualified shoppers willing to finance over 24-month terms, as Jaguar is offering 0.9 percent interest on most certified pre-owned models for that term — an excellent incentive. For longer terms, interest rates vary from 1.9 to 3.9 percent, depending on the specific vehicle and model year.

Lexus's certified pre-owned program is among the best in the car industry, as it boasts coverage for up to 6 years with no mileage limit. For drivers interested in a certified pre-owned Lexus, the brand currently has three strong offers available for qualified shoppers looking to finance a vehicle. Lexus is offering 1.9 percent interest for up to 60 months on NX, and RX models, along with 1.9 percent for up to 48 months on ES models — all good bargains for desirable vehicles with long warranty coverage.

Mazda's certified pre-owned program touts comprehensive coverage for an additional year beyond the new factory warranty, along with powertrain coverage for up to 7 years or 100,000 miles from the original sale date. In January, Mazda is also touting an extra incentive for its certified pre-owned program: through the end of the month, shoppers can get 0.9 percent interest for up to 36 months on most certified pre-owned Mazda models — an enticing offer and term.

Subaru's certified pre-owned program boasts 7 years or 100,000 miles of powertrain coverage from the original sale date, though the program doesn't add any additional comprehensive coverage after the original factory warranty expires. Still, Subaru's CPO program boasts an excellent deal this month: through the end of January, qualified shoppers who choose a CPO Subaru can get interest rates from 1.99 percent for up to 36 months — a strong deal on a used car.

Volkswagen's certified pre-owned program is a bit hard to understand, as it offers different warranties based on the age and powertrain of the vehicle in question — but the gist is that it touts extra coverage than you'd get if you bought a traditional used car. In January, VW's CPO program also offers another benefit: a special interest rate offer. Through the end of the month, qualified shoppers interested in getting a certified pre-owned VW can get 3.49 percent interest for up to 60 months, which is a good rate over a desirable long term — especially for a used vehicle.

Volvo's certified pre-owned program is among the best in the industry, as it touts 7 years or 100,000 miles of comprehensive coverage from the original sale date — a surprisingly long term. In January, qualified shoppers can get a certified pre-owned S90 Inscription with 0 percent interest for up to 24 months, while drivers can get a certified pre-owned V60 Cross Country with 0 percent interest for up to 36 months — both excellent deals for used cars, which rarely see 0 percent interest offers.