Is a Certified Car The Right Choice For Your Next Purchase?
Purchasing your next vehicle is a big decision. Finding the right balance of virtues between value pricing and the tempting technology in the latest models is a delicate task. If you buy a model that is too old but modestly priced, you run the risk of paying more down the line in maintenance and repairs. However, if you buy a model that is too new, you might be biting off more than you can chew in monthly payments, maximum insurance rates, safe storage, and maintenance.
For many drivers, it makes sense to keep fixing the vehicle that they've been driving until they take a test drive and compare it with the latest models. If you don't know what you are missing by carting around in that old rust bucket, you might not think that the grass really is greener on the other side of the fence.
But what if you could find an affordable used car that was thoroughly screened by professional mechanics. What if they analyzed the service history and ensured that everything was in impeccable condition. That would solve a lot of worries, wouldn't it?
What is a Certified Car?
A certified car is a vehicle that fits that sweet spot, right in the middle of a used car deal and brand-new. Certified vehicles have some gentle miles on them and may have a little bit of wear and tear that is normally incurred with daily driving. What they don't have is a lot of question marks. Every inch of these vehicles is quality-inspected for warranty purposes.
You will often find certified cars at most major dealerships. These may be vehicles that were leased out and well cared for or vehicles that were traded in by their top customers. The certified lot is usually a few specials that generally can be negotiated down to a fair out-the-door price, like most other vehicles.
Certified vehicles may also be listed under featured vehicles or specials. The dealerships are generally trustworthy with ensuring the quality of these products and want to impress you as a means of ensuring return business and word-of-mouth referrals.
What is the Difference Between a Certified Car and a Used Car?
When you are buying a used vehicle, you may not have a full service history or any assurances regarding its true value. Two identical vehicles can be parked side-by-side and be difficult to compare without a certification process.
A used vehicle is sold in a virtually unknown state. Although you can pay a car shop to inspect a vehicle before you buy it, an independent mechanic who doesn't specialize in these vehicles may not know what to look for as they age. Buying a certified vehicle from a specialist who deals in the particular models is a wise strategy.
Unlike your typical used automobile, a certified vehicle is guaranteed to have low mileage, no accident history, and no problems. A dealership will recondition a certified vehicle to be like new again.
A used vehicle is often sold “As Is” and comes with no security for the high payments. The owner may have driven the vehicle without changing the oil or overheated the engine at some point. It could have water damage that causes electrical gremlins to pop up down the road. Anything is possible.
How Does a Car Get Certified
The certifications process usually involves hours of meticulous inspections for brake wear, ball joint play, loose tie rod ends, hidden damage, driving performance issues, etc. The automotive service technician usually follows a checklist that can have 172 specific items or more. The focus of the process is to ensure that the vehicle has minimal wear and tear or that the vehicle is, otherwise, restored to prime condition.
The dealerships have automotive technicians on payroll and salary. Investing their time in certifying a used vehicle saves you time and money by obtaining the professional care you need at wholesale prices. It is hard to find a reasonably priced mechanic.
Certified vehicles are becoming increasingly popular because customers can purchase a vehicle that is of the same generation and nearly identical to the latest model year, but at a song of a price. Since synthetic oils and engineering have improved over the decades, vehicles are holding up a lot longer with proper maintenance. Therefore, the difference between a brand-new and certified vehicle may be negligible.
