INSPECTION REQUIREMENTS

Any vehicle out of the original factory warranty is required to pass an inspection.

Certified Used vehicle Inspection:
Used Car Extended Warranties Still Needed

The cornerstone of a "certified" used car program is the supposedly super-thorough inspection. Do such inspections make extended warranties for used cars unnecessary? There are good reasons to think that the inspection does not replace used car extended warranty coverage one bit.

• Are inspections really added value? Don't you wonder why dealers aren't inspecting all their cars before taking delivery themselves? Car dealers aren't idiots, at least not with cars. Anyone who's had to haggle over a trade-in knows that. The big question is whether the dealership will disclose everything it knows. Trust is still an issue with "certified" cars. Put your trust in an extended used car warranty instead.

• Certified by whom? Think about it: the same people who are trying to sell you the vehicle are also "certifying" it. Yes, you read right: the "certification" is usually done by the dealership selling the vehicle. If there's any manufacturer oversight, it's often just an occasional inspection of the dealer's inspection. Given dealers' conflict of interest in certifying cars they are selling, the best used car warranties are far more reliable than the best dealers' inspections.

• Duplicate inspection. You should have any used vehicle, "certified" or not, thoroughly inspected by an independent mechanic. You're up against used car dealers. Do not give up your first line of defense.

• Limits of inspections. No inspection in the world can foresee every possible problem. Oftentimes, something that breaks a few months after purchase really was fine when the vehicle was sold. When--not if--something gives out, you'd better have a used car extended warranty.

A good inspection will examine all of the important safety and performance items on your vehicle, including the engine and transmission, the braking and steering systems, electrical components, tires, and the overall condition of your vehicle. An inspection will reveal potential current problems as well as those that are imminent, such as brake pads that are at the end of their life span and will need to be replaced in the near future. A good inspection report will also include a written report for your reference and records. An inspection is not a guarantee that you will never have problems with your vehicle, but it goes a whole lot further than not having it inspected at all.