What to Insist on Seeing with a Pre-Owned Vehicle

by Kevin Smith Author

If you are looking for a pre-owned Mercedes for sale in San Antonio, TX, there are a few things you need to verify before you jump headlong into a sales agreement. These apply to any pre-owned vehicle and you should not budge on any of them until you are comfortable you know them inside and out. Here are the things you need to know and verify about a pre-owned vehicle, whether it is a Mercedes or not before you make a purchase.

Dealer Certified Versus Manufacturer Certified

There is a difference between dealer-certified and manufacturer-certified. Basically, one has the backing of the entire manufacturer as meeting certain standards. The other has the backing of the dealer. That does not necessarily have to be a deal breaker, but you should ask before making any purchase as the differences can be pretty stark. For example, a dealer-certified pre-owned vehicle will have been inspected by someone in that dealership. They usually carry a warranty and an extended service contract, but they are shorter-term and more restrictive.

If you know this going in, a dealer-certified, pre-owned vehicle might be fine. The dealer should not hide that though. If they do or balk at telling you what their certification actually means, it is a red flag and you probably should look elsewhere.

Verify the Certification and Any Warranties

If a manufacturer is offering a warranty, it will say so up front. If a dealer is offering a limited warranty, it might not be so obvious. Before agreeing to any terms, regardless of who is certifying the vehicle, ask when the certified pre-owned coverage begins, when it ends and what it covers. This is important as if it is a dealer warranty, you should get a price break for a less robust warranty.

Ask to See the Inspection Results

Not all inspections are the same. A dealer’s inspection can be much less rigorous than a manufacturer’s. There has to be a summary report, however, of how the vehicle performed. Ask for a copy of that and have a disinterested third party with vehicle inspection, repair, and maintenance experience take a look at it. Ask them what they think about the inspection and the results. Also, ask them about any deficiencies in the inspection process that they noticed.

Ask to See Vehicle Repair and Maintenance History

This should be something that any dealer make available on their own, but if not, insist on getting a copy of each. If there is activity on the former, have a mechanic take a look at it and give you their opinion of the issue and the repair. Also, have them review the maintenance history and see if there were any lags in the history that should cause concerns.

If you are looking for a pre-owned Mercedes for sale in San Antonio, TX, the dealer you work with should give you all of the above information willingly. If they do not, it is a red flag and you probably should look elsewhere.