What Does Certified Pre-owned Mean?

NY Used Toyota Dealer near Long Island | New York Certified Preowned Cars

If you’re in the market for a used vehicle, you may have noticed the “certified pre-owned” label on certain cars as you walk through the lot. While nobody wants to drive a problematic used car off of the lot, can the certified pre-owned label guarantee the vehicle is reliable? Through information provided by U.S. News & World Report, car shoppers can find out.

The first thing we must find out is what “certified pre-owned” means. A certified pre-owned car is a car that is part of a used car program. This program is commonly used by carmakers such as Chevrolet, Ford, and Nissan. A car that is part of the program is “backed by the vehicle’s original manufacturer, so the cars are sold and serviced at the same dealerships that sell the carmaker’s new vehicles,” according to U.S. News & World Report. This is beneficial to used car shoppers because their warranty repairs can be performed by any associated dealership in the entire country.

Just because a car is certified pre-owned doesn’t mean it is sold by, or supported by, the original manufacturer. Some dealer certified pre-owned programs have specific guidelines for inspecting their used cars, while the dealer or third-party company is responsible for any vehicle repairs under the warranty.

When shopping, you will find that most certified pre-owned cars are younger than six years and have less than 100,000 miles, which is attractive to buyers. A certified vehicle has gone through an extensive inspection by the dealer, which can even include repairs and needed maintenance. These vehicles tend to be the most reliable in the lot, and can even come with extended warranties.

Now that you know what a certified pre-owned car is, it is important that you read the fine print of these certified programs. Each pre-owned program is different, with some being more specific than others. The most favorable type of pre-owned program is a factory-certified program because of its versatility and reliable warranty, but some pre-owned certifications may not be for everyone. Since these vehicles are the cream of the crop in a used car lot, they are also the most expensive. Their young age, low mileage and extended warranty up the cost of the vehicle, which may not be affordable for every budget.

However, the Toyota Certified Used Vehicle program can provide buyers with a reliable used vehicle at an affordable price. The Toyota Certified Used Vehicle program requires cars to be within six years of the current model year and have mileage that is less than 85,000. These vehicles also go through a 160-Point Quality Assurance Inspection and receive a CARFAX Vehicle History Report. This pre-owned program is too good to pass up, so take action. By paying our staff at Penn Toyota a visit, you can get behind the wheel of a top of the line pre-owned vehicle today! We’re conveniently located at 2400 Northern Blvd. in Greenvale, New York, and can’t wait to work with you.