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 Dear
Terry,
I see a lot of dealers advertising "certified''
used cars and trucks, and when I've gone shopping
I've found that they are more expensive than the
Blue Book suggests. What's up?
-- Marco
 Dear
Marco,
Certified used cars are vehicles that are supposed to have been thoroughly inspected in dozens of mechanical areas and found to be in top shape or are repaired to the point where they are in top shape.
The benefit to the consumer is that the buyer is getting a used car with no excuses. The benefit to the dealer is a higher price and, in theory, a customer who won't be back with complaints about a vehicle's condition.
First started with luxury cars,
certified used car programs are available at almost
every new car dealership. While the manufacturer
sets the standards for the program -- and the
extended warranty that usually goes along with
the certified car -- it's up to the dealer to
make sure the inspections and repairs are done
properly.
My experience with such programs
has found that generally only the lowest-mileage
trade-ins are retained by the dealer for the certified
program. That's good on one level -- the
buyer gets a lightly used vehicle. On another
level, though, how much refurbishing should a
car with only 30,000 miles need, and does the
certified rating warrant a significantly higher
price than a buyer might find for a similar noncertified
car?
My advice is to bargain hard on the price, regardless of whether the vehicle is certified, and agree to pay a higher price for a low-mileage vehicle only if you think you'll sleep better at night because the car has been through the inspection program.
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