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