| Thinking about a used car extended warranty? | | | | out, you'd better have a used car extended |
| Nervous about what's under the hood? Used car | | | | warranty. |
| dealers are feeling your pain all the way to the bank. | | | | "Certified" Used Car Warranty Coverage under the |
| In an ironic twist, "pre-owned vehicle" dealers have | | | | Hood |
| found a way to profit from their bad reputation. | | | | The implied selling point of "certified" used cars is |
| No, they're not just selling overpriced used car | | | | they won't break. That kind of makes used car |
| extended warranties anymore. They're charging a | | | | extended warranties seem unnecessary. Naturally, |
| 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) | | | | some buyers may wonder what will be happen if |
| not to be pieces of junk. The accompanying | | | | something does break anyway. In order to ease |
| "certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry | | | | those inquiring minds, "certified" used car warranties |
| much less protection than the best used car | | | | often come included, or are at least implied. Sadly, |
| warranties, which you can buy yourself online. Who | | | | too few people will inquire further about what the |
| needs a used car warranty if your jalopy is a | | | | "certified" used car warranty covers. |
| "certified" machine? | | | | *Does certified mean "under warranty"? Not |
| But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate risk. | | | | necessarily. The major manufacturers' "certified" |
| Thorough extended warranties for used cars are | | | | programs usually include some extended warranty |
| necessary, "certified" or not. In some cases, a | | | | protection. But oftentimes, "certified" cars sold |
| half-hearted inspection means the certification may | | | | outside of manufacturers' programs do not come |
| not be worth the paper it's written on. Used car | | | | with any extended warranty coverage. If it does |
| problems often only appear months or years after | | | | break, tough luck. |
| purchase. That's why even for mint used cars, used | | | | *How good's the warranty? The GM Certified Used |
| car extended warranties are essential. | | | | Vehicle Warranty is only for 3 months or 3,000 miles! |
| Worse, "certified" used cars don't always come with | | | | Ford offers longer "certified" warranties. But they |
| any extended used car warranty coverage. When a | | | | generally aren't bumper-to-bumper, covering only the |
| "certified" used car warranty is included, it usually has | | | | "power train." Forget about the little extras like the |
| much less coverage than a new car warranty. Even | | | | roof or the doors. Right off the internet, you can |
| most standard pre-owned vehicle extended | | | | buy extended warranty used car coverage that is |
| warranties offer much more protection than most | | | | generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several years. |
| "certified" used car warranties. | | | | "Certified" Used Cars: Extended Warranties Still |
| You can almost always do better on your own. An | | | | Needed |
| independent inspection and a used car extended | | | | "Certified" used cars offer two things: an inspection |
| warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a | | | | and a used car extended warranty. Arguably, neither |
| lower price. | | | | is worth the price. |
| Certified Used Car Inspection: Used Car Extended | | | | *Inspection. Let's face reality. The junky used car |
| Warranties Still Needed | | | | problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections. |
| The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is | | | | Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a) The |
| the supposedly super-thorough inspection. There are | | | | defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. |
| good reasons to think that the inspection does not | | | | b) The dealer is trying to sell a car whose defects |
| replace an independent inspection or used car | | | | were already known. Or sometimes c) the buyer |
| extended warranty coverage. | | | | knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful |
| *Are inspections really added value? Don't you | | | | thinking. In none of these cases will a "certified" |
| wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars | | | | inspection provide the protection of an independent |
| before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't | | | | inspection and extended used car warranty. |
| idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to | | | | *Warranty. A "certified" used car will often cost |
| haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question | | | | 10%-25% more. For a $10,000 used car, that's |
| is whether the dealership will disclose everything it | | | | $1,000-$2,500. An extended used car warranty from |
| knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars. | | | | an independent auto warranty company will often |
| *Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people | | | | cost about the same. But the best used car |
| who are trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" | | | | warranties will provide a lot more protection than |
| it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually | | | | "certified" used car warranties. Given that fact, you |
| done by the dealership selling the car. If there's any | | | | may end up getting an independent extended car |
| manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional | | | | warranty anyway. |
| inspection of the dealer's inspection. | | | | Worst of all, certified used cars come with an |
| *Duplicate inspection. You should have any used car, | | | | expensive risk. They tempt you to let your guard |
| "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an | | | | down. Ford even issued a press release headlined |
| independent mechanic. You're up against an industry | | | | "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer |
| that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness | | | | Buyer Beware." As if that were a good thing. |
| as, well, used car dealers. Do not give up your first | | | | Of course, in the end, you may buy a "certified" used |
| line of defense. | | | | car anyway. These days it seems there are fewer |
| *Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can | | | | and fewer used cars that aren't "certified." Just make |
| foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, | | | | sure to get an independent inspection and an |
| something that breaks a few months after purchase | | | | independent used car extended warranty. "Certified" |
| really was fine when the car was sold--or was | | | | or not, it's still a used car. |
| virtually undetectable. When--not if--something gives | | | | |