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Jan 09, 2008 -- Defining a certified used car

We've all heard the term "certified used car," but what exactly does that mean? It's really a marketing term that statistics show can inflate the price of a vehicle by several thousand dollars. But the term itself may or may not have any real meaning from dealership to dealership. Minnesota has decided that it's heard enough horror stories about people buying certified used cars and getting lemons. The Land of 10,000 Lakes has passed a law to define what "certified used car" should mean. There are basically 3 criteria: The certified used vehicle must have a warranty; the dealer must believe it's in good shape; and it can't have been in a bad wreck. Clark never goes through a week of the year when someone doesn't tell him a lemon horror story about a certified used vehicle. So be Clark Smart when buying and have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle.

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What others are saying

  • Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-owned Car
    Clark you are correct. I bought a Mercedes Certified Pre-Owned Car. The car had many hidden defects and when I called Mercedes-Benz USA, they said they DO NOT stand behind the term "Certified Pre-owned Mercedes-Benz". They said if the dealership won't honor their advertisement of Certified Pre-owned Mercedes-Benz, their is nothing Mercedes-Benz can do about it. So Mercedes-Benz Certified Pre-owned mean nothing to the manufacturer, and it definitely does not mean anything to the dealership since Mercedes-Benz USA does nothing to them(at least in my case)
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