PDR Technicians: What Does Factory-Certified Mean? Part I

certified used cars

Certified used vehicles affect you and your business on a few levels. If you’re working at a dealership, it will be paramount that you understand what is expected of you while working in the body shop of a used car dealership. Whether you are there full-time or just swing by once or twice a week, during your time working there, you must uphold the law and do only what you are allowed to do on a vehicle. There was a J.D. Power and Associates study that showed that the sales of certified used cars have increased 46% since 2000. Certified used cars have become affordable alternatives to a new car. These certified used cars feature warranties that extend beyond the initial “when new” coverage.

To be a “certified used” vehicle, the warranty has to be backed by the vehicle manufacturer. The original manufacturer takes this quite seriously and uses its dealer network to inspect the car, determine if it is worth certifying and then offer support for the vehicle for a period of time beyond the original warranty. It’s important to note that not all used cars can qualify for certified pre-owned programs, and terms are not across the board for all vehicles, they vary from one brand to the next. If you find that the car you or a customer are buying is not qualified to be certified, well then the dealership should still be able to provide you with proof of a 100-point inspection of the car. During the inspection of the car, if the car presents problems, the factory trained technicians will fix it or disqualify the car from the program. In addition, the certified warranty protection is typically implemented once the vehicles original factory warranty expires. When the used car warranty begins, it is usually good for a number of years or miles, whichever comes first.

 

 

Help Your Customers Understand How To Buy A Used Car Part I

Used cars

Buying a used car can compare to walking through a mine field. You have to pay attention to where you are stepping and have to be hyper-alert to what you are being told. So how does your customer locate, price and negotiate for a used car? Understanding these the questions and then providing the answers could very well set you up for all future work on a used care. Not to mention, if you’re planning on working at a used car dealership, this information could be valuable to you. Understanding how a dealership operates will prove useful for both you and your customer. If you have ever bought a used car or are thinking about buying one, these are things that you probably never considered, but should. 

Buying a used car is generally a very smart decision. You can get an almost new car that’s very close to perfect without having to suffer the depreciation of the car when first leaving the the lot with a new car. You can find a car that is only a year old that is now 20-30 percent cheaper than a year earlier in its brand-new state. There are more good reasons for buying a used car from a used car dealership:

  • The money that you save on insurance alone is worth buying used
  • If you shop smart, the possibilities of finding an amazing bargain are greater
  • Used cars are far more reliable than ever before (We’ll talk about that later)
  • Some of the used cars are still covered by the factory warranty
  • Most, if not all, used car dealerships now have to sell certified used cars, which includes warranties (More on this later)
  • You can track the vehicle history by using the vehicle identification number (VIN)
  • Buying from a private party is extremely risky but less stressful

Follow me to Part II to learn more about used car risks and values.