The “Sleazy Used Car Salesman” with slicked-back hair, a cheap suit, and plastic facial expressions has been a stereotype for years and has been overused as a comedy trope. While that image might have been based in truth at one point in history, it’s not nearly as common today. In most cases, the idea that buying a used vehicle would be a headache — with horrible finance terms for an unreliable, worn-out car — is a thing of history. During the past ten years, Certified Pre-Owned vehicles have become much more popular as customers desire more car for their hard-earned cash.

The very first certified pre-owned programs were started in the 90s by luxury car brands as a way to earn more on lease returns and trade-ins. The cars were tested for safety and dependability issues and the ones that met the manufacturer’s standards were certified and made suitable for special finance and warranty offers. Since that point, virtually all automakers have adopted certified pre-owned programs thru their dealers.

There are advantageous advantages for purchasing certified pre-owned automobiles. Just about all of them are low-mileage, only a few years old, and still have some time and mileage on their factory warranty. Because of this, consumers have the reassurance that their vehicle is going to be trustworthy. Also, since many of these vehicles are lease returns, the selling dealer typically has a history with it. Most manufacturers also offer special finance rates on certified pre-owned autos, saving consumers money on their car loans.

Nevertheless there are 1 or 2 caveats to ponder when looking for a certified pre-owned car. Since these are programs set up by different manufacturers thru their dealers, the standards for “Certified” can be different from dealer to dealer. Also, some third-party firms may supply a “Certified” program that is just an over-expensive extended warranty. A clever strategy that can trick trusting consumers.

For most consumers and dealers, the certified pre-owned car is a win-win. The dealer gets about $1300 more per vehicle versus the same model without a certification. The consumer gets a reliable automobile for thousands less than would otherwise be spent on buying a new model.

Harold Collin Smith is a guru in finance, leasing, and prominent car brands. He’s done many amounts of consulting work for the Asian car companies and writes general information articles as a hobbyist.