Today, the words Certified Used Vehicle or Certified Pre-Owed Vehicle seem to accompany many of the car dealership advertisements that we hear on the radio or see on TV. However, many customers simply do not know what the term “Certified” means when it comes to cars. Who certified it, and what exactly does it guarantee me, are certainly valid questions that a smart buyer would ask. Let’s explore exactly what certified means when it comes to used car sales so that you can cut through the dealer gobbledegook and find out if you are getting a great deal or not.
Actually, certified really is a guarantee that you are getting a great used car. This is primarily because the manufacturer is the one who decides what the standards are for the certified pre-owned vehicle. There are limits in place by the vehicle manufacturer regarding mileage and wear and tear and the vehicles must undergo and pass an extremely thorough inspection in order to be deemed “certified”. Therefore, if you are dealing with a reputable dealer, and the car has been certified, you can usually rest assured that you aren’t purchasing a lemon.
One thing to keep in mind, is that the dealership may attempt to offer you what is commonly called an extended warranty or aftermarket warranty. The basic premise is that the dealership will cover a certain number of repairs, or on certain things, which should all be explained in the terms of your warranty. While there is nothing compellingly wrong about this practice, you should be aware that purchasing a certified used car means that you likely won’t experience any of the problems that the warranty would cover, and is basically some extra cash in the pocket of the dealership.
You should also be aware that the original warranty may still be in effect for the certified pre-owned automobile that you are purchasing and therefore do not need any sort of extended or after market warranty. Another word that you may hear instead of warranty is service contract, which is essentially the same thing, guaranteeing that the dealer will foot the bill or make the repairs for anything that goes wrong that is covered by the service contract. Whether or not you decide to purchase this product is up to you, depending upon the value you place on it.
The main thing to keep in mind here is that no matter what name they file your extended service contract under, you don’t need it if you are purchasing a certified pre-owned vehicle from a reputable dealer that you can trust to actually follow the standards and inspection practices set forth by the vehicle manufacturer. Also be aware that a car being “certified” by no means guarantees that you will not have to make any repairs to the vehicle ever, or that they will be covered by the manufacturer when you do. All cars need repairs eventually. Buying certified just means that you will be paying for normal repairs and wear and tear rather than getting taken by a auto dealership.