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Used Cars: "Certified" No Substitute for Extended Warranties

   

Thinking about a Used Car?  Nervous about what's under the hood?  Used Car Dealers are feeling your pain all
the way to the bank.  In an ironic twist,
"pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad
reputation. 

 

No, they're not just selling overpriced Used Car
extended warranties anymore.  They're
charging a 10%-25% markup on Used Cars "certified" (by them) not to
be pieces of junk.  The accompanying
"certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less
protection than the Best Used Car warranties, which you can buy yourself
online.  Who needs a used car warranty if
your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

 

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate
risk.  Thorough extended warranties for
used cars are necessary, "certified" or not.  In some cases, a half-hearted inspection
means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on.  Used car problems often only appear months or
years after purchase.  That's why even
for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

 

Worse, "certified" used cars don't
always come with any extended used car warranty coverage.  When a "certified" used car
warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a New Car
warranty.  Even most standard pre-owned
vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified"
used car warranties.

 

You can almost always do better on your
own.  An independent inspection and a
used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower
price.

 

"Certified" Used Car Inspections
Inspected

 

The cornerstone of a "certified" used
car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection.  There are good reasons to think that the
inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended
warranty coverage.

Are inspections really added value?  Don't you wonder why dealers aren't
inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves?  Car Dealers aren't idiots, at least not with
cars.  Anyone who's had to haggle over a
trade-in knows that.  The big question is
whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows.  Trust is still an issue with
"certified" cars.

 

Certified by whom?  Think about it: the same people who are
trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it.  Yes, you read right: the "certification"
is usually done by the dealership selling the car.  If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's
often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

 

Duplicate inspection.  You should have any used car,
"certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent
mechanic.  You're up against an industry
that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car
dealers.  Do not give up your first line
of defense.

 

Limits of inspections.  No inspection in the world can foresee every
possible problem.  Oftentimes, something
that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was
sold--or was virtually undetectable. 
When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended
warranty.

"Certified" Used Car Warranty
Coverage under the Hood

 

The implied selling point of
"certified" used cars is they won't break.  That kind of makes used car extended
warranties seem unnecessary.  Naturally,
some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway.  In order to ease those inquiring minds,
"certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least
implied.   Sadly, too few people will
inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty
covers.

Does certified mean "under
warranty"?  Not necessarily.  The major manufacturers'
"certified" programs usually include some extended warranty
protection.  But oftentimes,
"certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come
with any extended warranty coverage.  If
it does break, tough luck.

 

How good's the warranty?  The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is
only for 3 months or 3,000 miles!  Ford
offers longer "certified" warranties.   But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper,
covering only the "power train." 
Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors.  Right off the internet, you can buy extended
warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several
years.

"Certified" Used Cars: Extended
Warranties Still Needed

 

"Certified" used cars offer two
things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty.  Arguably, neither is worth the
price.

Inspection. 
Let's face reality.  The junky
used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections.  Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a)
The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is
trying to Sell A Car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the
buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking.  In none of these cases will a
"certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent
inspection and extended used car warranty.

 

Warranty. A "certified" used car will
often cost 10%-25% more.  For a $10,000
used car, that's $1,000-$2,500.  An
extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often
cost about the same.  But the best used
car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified"
used car warranties.  Given that fact,
you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.

Worst of all, Certified Used Cars come with an
expensive risk.  They tempt you to let
your guard down.  Ford even issued a
press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer
Beware."  As if that were a good
thing.

 

Of course, in the end, you may buy a
"certified" used car anyway. 
These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't
"certified."  Just make sure to
get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended
warranty.  "Certified" or not,
it's still a used car.

Thinking about a used car?  Nervous about what's under the hood?  Used car dealers are feeling your pain all
the way to the bank.  In an ironic twist,
"pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad
reputation. 

 

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car
extended warranties anymore.  They're
charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to
be pieces of junk.  The accompanying
"certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less
protection than the Best Used Car warranties, which you can buy yourself
online.  Who needs a used car warranty if
your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

 

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate
risk.  Thorough extended warranties for
used cars are necessary, "certified" or not.  In some cases, a half-hearted inspection
means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on.  Used car problems often only appear months or
years after purchase.  That's why even
for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

 

Worse, "certified" used cars don't
always come with any extended used car warranty coverage.  When a "certified" used car
warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a New Car
warranty.  Even most standard pre-owned
vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified"
used car warranties.

 

You can almost always do better on your
own.  An independent inspection and a
used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower
price.

 

"Certified" Used Car Inspections
Inspected

 

The cornerstone of a "certified" used
car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection.  There are good reasons to think that the
inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended
warranty coverage.

Are inspections really added value?  Don't you wonder why dealers aren't
inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves?  Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with
cars.  Anyone who's had to haggle over a
trade-in knows that.  The big question is
whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows.  Trust is still an issue with
"certified" cars.

 

Certified by whom?  Think about it: the same people who are
trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it.  Yes, you read right: the "certification"
is usually done by the dealership selling the car.  If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's
often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

 

Duplicate inspection.  You should have any used car,
"certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent
mechanic.  You're up against an industry
that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car
dealers.  Do not give up your first line
of defense.

 

Limits of inspections.  No inspection in the world can foresee every
possible problem.  Oftentimes, something
that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was
sold--or was virtually undetectable. 
When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended
warranty.

"Certified" Used Car Warranty
Coverage under the Hood

 

The implied selling point of
"certified" used cars is they won't break.  That kind of makes used car extended
warranties seem unnecessary.  Naturally,
some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway.  In order to ease those inquiring minds,
"certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least
implied.   Sadly, too few people will
inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty
covers.

Does certified mean "under
warranty"?  Not necessarily.  The major manufacturers'
"certified" programs usually include some extended warranty
protection.  But oftentimes,
"certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come
with any extended warranty coverage.  If
it does break, tough luck.

 

How good's the warranty?  The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is
only for 3 months or 3,000 miles!  Ford
offers longer "certified" warranties.   But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper,
covering only the "power train." 
Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors.  Right off the internet, you can buy extended
warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several
years.

"Certified" Used Cars: Extended
Warranties Still Needed

 

"Certified" used cars offer two
things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty.  Arguably, neither is worth the
price.

Inspection. 
Let's face reality.  The junky
used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections.  Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a)
The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is
trying to Sell A Car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the
buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking.  In none of these cases will a
"certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent
inspection and extended used car warranty.

 

Warranty. A "certified" used car will
often cost 10%-25% more.  For a $10,000
used car, that's $1,000-$2,500.  An
extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often
cost about the same.  But the best used
car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified"
used car warranties.  Given that fact,
you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.

Worst of all, Certified Used Cars come with an
expensive risk.  They tempt you to let
your guard down.  Ford even issued a
press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer
Beware."  As if that were a good
thing.

 

Of course, in the end, you may buy a
"certified" used car anyway. 
These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't
"certified."  Just make sure to
get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended
warranty.  "Certified" or not,
it's still a used car.

Thinking about a used car?  Nervous about what's under the hood?  Used car dealers are feeling your pain all
the way to the bank.  In an ironic twist,
"pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad
reputation. 

 

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car
extended warranties anymore.  They're
charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to
be pieces of junk.  The accompanying
"certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less
protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself
online.  Who needs a used car warranty if
your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

 

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate
risk.  Thorough extended warranties for
used cars are necessary, "certified" or not.  In some cases, a half-hearted inspection
means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on.  Used car problems often only appear months or
years after purchase.  That's why even
for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

 

Worse, "certified" used cars don't
always come with any extended used car warranty coverage.  When a "certified" used car
warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car
warranty.  Even most standard pre-owned
vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified"
used car warranties.

 

You can almost always do better on your
own.  An independent inspection and a
used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower
price.

 

"Certified" Used Car Inspections
Inspected

 

The cornerstone of a "certified" used
car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection.  There are good reasons to think that the
inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended
warranty coverage.

Are inspections really added value?  Don't you wonder why dealers aren't
inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves?  Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with
cars.  Anyone who's had to haggle over a
trade-in knows that.  The big question is
whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows.  Trust is still an issue with
"certified" cars.

 

Certified by whom?  Think about it: the same people who are
trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it.  Yes, you read right: the "certification"
is usually done by the dealership selling the car.  If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's
often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

 

Duplicate inspection.  You should have any used car,
"certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent
mechanic.  You're up against an industry
that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car
dealers.  Do not give up your first line
of defense.

 

Limits of inspections.  No inspection in the world can foresee every
possible problem.  Oftentimes, something
that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was
sold--or was virtually undetectable. 
When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended
warranty.

"Certified" Used Car Warranty
Coverage under the Hood

 

The implied selling point of
"certified" used cars is they won't break.  That kind of makes used car extended
warranties seem unnecessary.  Naturally,
some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway.  In order to ease those inquiring minds,
"certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least
implied.   Sadly, too few people will
inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty
covers.

Does certified mean "under
warranty"?  Not necessarily.  The major manufacturers'
"certified" programs usually include some extended warranty
protection.  But oftentimes,
"certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come
with any extended warranty coverage.  If
it does break, tough luck.

 

How good's the warranty?  The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is
only for 3 months or 3,000 miles!  Ford
offers longer "certified" warranties.   But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper,
covering only the "power train." 
Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors.  Right off the internet, you can buy extended
warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several
years.

"Certified" Used Cars: Extended
Warranties Still Needed

 

"Certified" used cars offer two
things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty.  Arguably, neither is worth the
price.

Inspection. 
Let's face reality.  The junky
used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections.  Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a)
The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is
trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the
buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking.  In none of these cases will a
"certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent
inspection and extended used car warranty.

 

Warranty. A "certified" used car will
often cost 10%-25% more.  For a $10,000
used car, that's $1,000-$2,500.  An
extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often
cost about the same.  But the best used
car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified"
used car warranties.  Given that fact,
you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.

Worst of all, certified used cars come with an
expensive risk.  They tempt you to let
your guard down.  Ford even issued a
press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer
Beware."  As if that were a good
thing.

 

Of course, in the end, you may buy a
"certified" used car anyway. 
These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't
"certified."  Just make sure to
get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended
warranty.  "Certified" or not,
it's still a used car.

Thinking about a used car?  Nervous about what's under the hood?  Used car dealers are feeling your pain all
the way to the bank.  In an ironic twist,
"pre-owned vehicle" dealers have found a way to profit from their bad
reputation. 

 

No, they're not just selling overpriced used car
extended warranties anymore.  They're
charging a 10%-25% markup on used cars "certified" (by them) not to
be pieces of junk.  The accompanying
"certified" used car warranties in fact usually carry much less
protection than the best used car warranties, which you can buy yourself
online.  Who needs a used car warranty if
your jalopy is a "certified" machine?

 

But even paying 10%-25% more won't eliminate
risk.  Thorough extended warranties for
used cars are necessary, "certified" or not.  In some cases, a half-hearted inspection
means the certification may not be worth the paper it's written on.  Used car problems often only appear months or
years after purchase.  That's why even
for mint used cars, used car extended warranties are essential.

 

Worse, "certified" used cars don't
always come with any extended used car warranty coverage.  When a "certified" used car
warranty is included, it usually has much less coverage than a new car
warranty.  Even most standard pre-owned
vehicle extended warranties offer much more protection than most "certified"
used car warranties.

 

You can almost always do better on your
own.  An independent inspection and a
used car extended warranty provide better peace of mind, often at a lower
price.

 

"Certified" Used Car Inspections
Inspected

 

The cornerstone of a "certified" used
car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection.  There are good reasons to think that the
inspection does not replace an independent inspection or used car extended
warranty coverage.

Are inspections really added value?  Don't you wonder why dealers aren't
inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves?  Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with
cars.  Anyone who's had to haggle over a
trade-in knows that.  The big question is
whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows.  Trust is still an issue with
"certified" cars.

 

Certified by whom?  Think about it: the same people who are
trying to sell you the car are also "certifying" it.  Yes, you read right: the "certification"
is usually done by the dealership selling the car.  If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's
often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection.

 

Duplicate inspection.  You should have any used car,
"certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent
mechanic.  You're up against an industry
that demonstrates about as much trustworthiness as, well, used car
dealers.  Do not give up your first line
of defense.

 

Limits of inspections.  No inspection in the world can foresee every
possible problem.  Oftentimes, something
that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the car was
sold--or was virtually undetectable. 
When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended
warranty.

"Certified" Used Car Warranty
Coverage under the Hood

 

The implied selling point of
"certified" used cars is they won't break.  That kind of makes used car extended
warranties seem unnecessary.  Naturally,
some buyers may wonder what will be happen if something does break anyway.  In order to ease those inquiring minds,
"certified" used car warranties often come included, or are at least
implied.   Sadly, too few people will
inquire further about what the "certified" used car warranty
covers.

Does certified mean "under
warranty"?  Not necessarily.  The major manufacturers'
"certified" programs usually include some extended warranty
protection.  But oftentimes,
"certified" cars sold outside of manufacturers' programs do not come
with any extended warranty coverage.  If
it does break, tough luck.

 

How good's the warranty?  The GM Certified Used Vehicle Warranty is
only for 3 months or 3,000 miles!  Ford
offers longer "certified" warranties.   But they generally aren't bumper-to-bumper,
covering only the "power train." 
Forget about the little extras like the roof or the doors.  Right off the internet, you can buy extended
warranty used car coverage that is generally bumper-to-bumper and lasts several
years.

"Certified" Used Cars: Extended
Warranties Still Needed

 

"Certified" used cars offer two
things: an inspection and a used car extended warranty.  Arguably, neither is worth the
price.

Inspection. 
Let's face reality.  The junky
used car problem doesn't exist for want of dealer inspections.  Lemons get sold for one of three reasons. a)
The defect did not show up in the dealer's own inspection. b) The dealer is
trying to sell a car whose defects were already known. Or sometimes c) the
buyer knows about the defects but is guilty of wishful thinking.  In none of these cases will a
"certified" inspection provide the protection of an independent
inspection and extended used car warranty.

 

Warranty. A "certified" used car will
often cost 10%-25% more.  For a $10,000
used car, that's $1,000-$2,500.  An
extended used car warranty from an independent auto warranty company will often
cost about the same.  But the best used
car warranties will provide a lot more protection than "certified"
used car warranties.  Given that fact,
you may end up getting an independent extended car warranty anyway.

Worst of all, certified used cars come with an
expensive risk.  They tempt you to let
your guard down.  Ford even issued a
press release headlined "Pre-Owned Vehicle Program Reduces Customer Buyer
Beware."  As if that were a good
thing.

 

Of course, in the end, you may buy a
"certified" used car anyway. 
These days it seems there are fewer and fewer used cars that aren't
"certified."  Just make sure to
get an independent inspection and an independent used car extended
warranty.  "Certified" or not,
it's still a used car.

About the Author

Joel Walsh
, a
freelance automotive writer
,

recommends Auto Service Warranty, Inc.
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