The most common mistake used car buyers make is also the most expensive. It is related to the first question that used car buyers ask about the used car they want to buy -
Is this car certified or has it passed the safety inspection?
The safety certificate or certified used car usually costs consumers more money than they think. The safety certificate is in fact the most dangerous and expensive mistake that used car buyers fall into.
The pitfall of the certified used vehicle falls into two categories:
A. ‘Certified’ being a mistake or misnomer on the used car buyers part, and
B. A legal loop hole used car dealers and mechanics have.
Let’s deal with the first category first,
‘Certified’ being a mistake or misnomer on the used car buyers part,
Many used car buyers are under the impression that when buying a used car a safety certificate or a certified used car indicates the car is in good shape.
One needs to understand what a safety inspection entails and what it really means. The name safety is more accurate than the connotations behind the word “certified”.
In short the safety certificate will ensure you have a safe vehicle which shouldn’t have serious problems in the next 90 days. Yes I said 90 days.
It means your brakes should have enough pad on them to last the 90 days. It means your wipers, lights, seatbelt latches etc are all working and will keep working for 90 days.
What it does NOT mean:
- It does NOT mean your transmission is in good order. (A rebuilt transmission by the way may end up costing you about $1500-2000)
- It does Not mean your engine won’t give you problems. (Another $2000 job)
- It does NOT mean you have an A/C system which doesn’t already have problems. (An entire A/C sytem repair would cost you about $1800)
This can be really deceiving because on the safety inspection sheet you will notice very clearly that ‘engine’ and ‘transimission’ and even “A/C” are supposedly checked in order for the car to be certified. So what does all this really mean?
To find out more information and how to buy a used car, check out our video used car buyer’s guide.
Don’t miss the exclusive 90 minute interview with the former service manager of a national U.S. franchise, Asif Mandozai, a service garage whose primary customers were used car dealers, certifying vehicles, is more than shocking – it’s disturbing.
