When I was a little kid, there were two different ways to buy a car.  One would either buy new, or buy used.  For the most part, the path of buying used was a spread of options, ranging from buying a used car at a new car dealership for a price that would often be too high for the market, buying from a shady dealer in an even shadier area (Big Paulie’s Used Car Barn!  Everyone is approved! No credit? No problem!  Right in Newark’s West Ward!), or buying from a private seller (which would often prove to be either the very best or very worst option, depending on the seller or the car).  Now though, as has been the case for at least the past ten years, the “Certified Pre-Owned” programs are everywhere.  So, what exactly are they?

In order to understand these specialty programs, one must take into account the biggest issue with buying used.  Anyone who wants a used car has to worry about a lot more than a person who’s buying a car new–mechanical issues, missing parts, and a murky history all become very real problems.  Over time, manufacturers became aware of the fact that customers looking for a used car were a serious source of income, and the idea of “reconditioning” these cars came to light.  There are a lot of aspects regarding a car that claims to carry a “Certified” label, so without further ado, let’s go into them.

First off, it’s clear that not every car on the market can be a certified vehicle.  For all manufacturers, an age and mileage limit apply, and a car that’s not for sale at a new-car dealership will not be certified.  Often, a vehicle which is off-lease and still in good condition may become a good candidate for the manufacturer’s program, which will involve a long checklist of important information.  Each car or truck in the program receives a multi-point inspection (usually over 100 criteria are evaluated at a time), involving the general condition of the car, its history, mechanical problems, damage, and any shady title history (theft, a loan or lien on the car, bank repo, frame damage, etc).  When the car gets an approval, it’s usually completely reconditioned to as-new condition in the most extensive way possible.

There are a lot of perks to buying a car that’s been manufacturer certified.  The first, and probably most important aspect, is the fact that these used cars come with extended warranties.  The warranty is usually transferable as well, and covers the car from the moment of purchase.  Also, most (if not all) certified cars usually have their original books and all necessary maintenance records, giving extra piece of mind to the buyer.  These cars are often cleaned up and any broken parts that were present on trade-in are always replaced as well.  The trade-off, of course, is that certified cars do cost more than their normal, lesser brothers and sisters.  And of course, the cars may be better, but the sellers are the same, so any used-car selling trickery still comes into play.  So, don’t just assume that because a car is “certified” means that the dealer experience will be different by default–in fact, it probably won’t be.  So, the car’s condition and credentials give plenty of peace of mind, but as a buyer, don’t let your guard down.

-Al