Certified preowned cars are vehicles that have undergone rigorous scrutiny from top to bottom in an effort to re-establish that vehicle to as close to being new as possible. Certified preowned car programs came about as a glut in the used-car lots were occurring.
Consumers were trading their old cars in and buying new, but their old cars were going nowhere. Used cars had gotten a bad rap as most used cars received minimal repair and when resold turned out to be a terribly lousy investment for the consumer. That changed with the certified preowned cars program.
The Trend
In the 1990’s, the trend was leasing cars. As they were turned in, they had minimal mileage and were in pretty decent condition. To set the decent used cars apart from the not so decent, plentiful used cars, the certified preowned cars program was developed.
How an Automobile Qualifies for the Certified Preowned Program
In order to qualify for the certified preowned cars program, the vehicle has to meet criteria as set forth by the manufacturer. The vehicle is allowed to have a maximum number of miles on it, must fall within a certain age range and only have a certain number of past owners. Typically, the allowed mileage is between 50,000 to 75,000 miles and be no more than 5 model years old. It has to be owned by the last owner for at least 12 months.
For vehicles that meet the requirements, the vehicles condition is then evaluated, and the vehicle is put through an inspection process. Any item on the car that is compromised will be repaired as well as any item that is about to be compromised. The ultimate goal is bring the used car back to as new as possible and hopefully be attractive, certified preowned cars car for the consumer.
Certified preowned cars come with warranties, to add to the attractiveness of the deal. They are typically a 1 or 2 year, 24,000 mile warranty that covers the electrical system, air conditioning and the power train along with 24 hour road side assistance valid for one or two years. Before buying certified preowned cars, check the warranty to see if it is a dealer or manufacturer warranty. A dealer’s warranty will require the owner to return to the place of purchase to have certified preowned cars repaired under the warranty. If it is a manufacturer’s warranty, the owner will be able to go to any certified mechanic for warranty repair.
Watch Out For Dealer Certified Vehicles
In the world of used cars, there are two types of certified pre-owned cars. One is backed by the manufacturer and the others are certified by a third party. Some independent used car lots, as well as, dealers simply put a “certified” sticker on the car and call it a day. Pre-owned cars certified by the dealer tend to have less strict inspection policies and shorter extended warranties than manufacturer warranties.
Only a branded dealership can sell their own manufacturers certified vehicles. If a Chevrolet dealership is trying to sell a Ford certified vehicle, something is wrong with the picture. If you are looking for a pre-owned car at an independent car lot and they are selling manufacturer certified cars, they probably are not what they are claimed to be. They are probably selling dealership certified cars. If there is a question about any car you are interested in, ask to see the paper work that guarantees the car is backed by the manufacturer. To learn more about buying certified pre-owned cars, visit "Buying Certified Pre-owned Cars"
Colleen Kelley - I have been a freelance writer since 2000. I write, edit and publish newsletters for four non profit organizations and several ...
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