Certified Cars and Trucks: The Scoop

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Certified Cars: The Scoop

Most manufacturers have a Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle program nowadays. This a program that requires the dealer to do a list of checks and inspections in order for it to be considered Certified. The first step is usually to do a Vehicle History Report. If the history report is clean and no issues of any kind there is an inspection process that usually checks from 120 to 180 items or points based on the manufacturers requirements. The vehicle must have be serviced and if there are any items that do not meet minimum specifications they must be replaced with factory original parts.   

 The manufacturers require that all these items and checkpoints are done and done thoroughly. When the vehicle is “Brand Certified” the factory is standing behind this vehicle, Not the Dealer. Therefore the manufacturer is very tough on this subject. Some of the manufacturers actually have people that come out to the dealership from time to time to make sure things are being done properly and following every aspect of the program. I mentioned on another page how the manufacturers are cracking down on the way dealers do business, especially when it reflects the brand.

*A Certified Vehicle usually includes a 3 month to 1 year Comprehensive Warranty from the date you purchase the vehicle and a 5, 6 or 7 year or 100,000 mile engine and drive train warranty that starts from when the vehicle was originally purchased (the first buyer). Many will also include Roadside Assistance, Trip Interruption, Preferred financing rates (if you qualify), and other benefits.
(* There is and overall statement, Every Manufacturer’s Program is different, you will need to do your research that we talked about) You can access the details of each manufacturer by going to their website from the links on our Resources Page.

BEWARE of DEALER CERTIFIED:

There are dealers out there that sell some their used cars as “Certified”. These vehicles are Dealer Certified, whatever program they have put together is what makes them certified. They determine that is done, and what qualifies them to be “Certified”. When they call them certified they buy an extended warranty to put on the vehicle. The Manufacturer is not standing behind the Certified Vehicle. Don’t get me wrong there are many very good and reputable dealers out there selling used vehicles. They do all the inspections and make sure it is a good vehicle. They provide extended warranties and additional benefits. But some are not so reputable, so it goes back to doing business with a good dealership and being aware of the possible scams.