Buyer Beware!

Not all third-party warranties are “certified”. Unless the vehicle is truly factory-certified, the vehicle’s manufacturer is not standing behind the “warranty”, ultimately this means that you lose if something should happen. Third-party warranties are really just extended service contracts that the buyer must purchase at an additional cost. You can purchase this for any vehicle, but you must be sure that you understand that you are on your own when it comes to the manufacturer backing you up. Any coverage offered or promised aftermarket service contract. A true warranty offers coverage that is included in the original purchase price.

So the benefits of purchasing a certified pre-owned car versus a used car from a private party or used car lot are obvious. You have the factory standing behind the certified pre-owned car, plus you’ll be buying a car that the original manufacturer has inspected to ensure that it is worthy of certification. The only downside to certified pre-owned cars is that they are generally more expensive than other used cars. But in this case, the benefits may outweigh the cost — for many buyers, the peace of mind alone is enough to justify the extra money.

The attraction to certified used vehicles is clear — new car benefits at a used car price. With a used car purchase that has been factory certified and provides a warranty is the sweet deal however, in spite of what was said about getting the new car benefits in a used car body, for a true certification, you may have to pay more for the car but of course it will still be less than it was brand new. I’m sure that we can agree, the benefits far outweigh the cost of the car. For many buyers, the peace of mind is worth whatever extra they have to pay for the certification from the manufacturer.