| With the price of a new car getting higher and | | | | certifying the vehicles. The problem for the |
| higher each year, many buyers choose to buy | | | | consumer is that there are cars being sold as |
| used cars instead. The price of a new car can | | | | certified used cars that may not really be |
| easily equal a year's pay for many people, so | | | | certified. Worse, some of these cars have |
| buying a used car makes sense. But there are | | | | problems that are so severe that they possibly |
| risks associated with buying a pre-owned vehicle. | | | | shouldn't be sold at all. |
| What if is defective? What if it is a lemon law | | | | Some states have rigid laws that prevent cars |
| buyback? Once should always be a bit suspicious | | | | with certain types of damage, such as from fire, |
| of a used vehicle. After all, if it is a great buy, | | | | flood, or a severe accident, from being sold within |
| then why did the original owner choose to part | | | | that state under any circumstances. And yet |
| with it? | | | | there are reports of such vehicles having been |
| To resolve some of these issues, as well as to | | | | transported to neighboring states, where their |
| compete with volume dealers of used cars such | | | | titles can be "laundered." Some of these cars |
| as Carmax, the major auto manufacturers have | | | | have then been sold as certified used cars. |
| introduced the concept of a "certified used car." | | | | There are several lawsuits pending in California |
| These cars are inspected for problems, repaired if | | | | over the sale of such cars, and the problem will |
| necessary, and offered for sale with a warranty | | | | continue to exist as long as there is no national |
| that is better than the one typically offered with | | | | standard regarding the sale of used cars. Does |
| sales of used cars. In exchange for this added | | | | this mean that buyers should steer clear of |
| peace of mind, the buyer pays a higher price than | | | | certified used cars? Of course not. What it does |
| he or she otherwise might. | | | | mean is that buyers should exercise caution when |
| This program is good for dealers, who find the | | | | they shop for a used vehicle, whether it is |
| cars easier to sell, and for the manufacturers, | | | | certified or not. And that is just plain common |
| who get a fee from the dealers in exchange for | | | | sense. |