Extended Auto Warranty for Certified Used Cars

by Gregory Nelson

Have you been shopping around for a used car but are nervous about what kind of problems might show up after you drive it off the lot? Sadly, used car dealers know you’re worried about this and will seduce you into a false sense of security with a “certified used car” label, then by offering their own extended auto warranty.

So what on earth does it really mean when a you come across a used car that is “certified”? Well, it implies to you as a consumers that you aren’t buying a piece of junk since it went through a (supposedly) super-thorough inspection.

But what you really need to stop and ask yourself is… “Certified by whom?” And the answer is that the same people who are trying to sell you the car are also the same people certifying it. Sound like a good idea?

Now, does certified mean that is has an extended auto warranty? Well, no, not in most cases. So if the car does end up breaking down or having a major repair, you’re out of luck. However, in rare cases (and we’re talking really rare) a “certified” used car will include some warranty protection. Just remember it will have much less protection than any extended auto warranty you can buy yourself from an independent company and is going to cost you about the same once the 10% – 25% markup is accounted for.

Previous post:

Next post: