6 Tips for Picking the Right Pre-Owned Vehicle

Shopping for a car, truck, or SUV can be difficult – it’s a big decision, you have a lot of choices available to you, and you want to make sure you get the right vehicle for your needs. Buying a used or pre-owned vehicle is a great way to make your dollar stretch further, but choosing pre-owned over a brand new model brings its own set of questions, concerns, and challenges. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to make the decision easier, and choosing a Ford certified pre-owned vehicle can make a big difference in the end.

These tips aren’t necessarily all-inclusive; you’ll probably find some questions unanswered and more research is always a good thing. However, with the knowledge found below, you’ll be better prepared for looking at what is available on the market and making decisions that reflect your needs. At the end of the day, no amount of reading online can replace going to a dealership and talking to experienced salespeople who can answer all of your questions. But with the following tips in mind, you’ll be better prepared for the moment you step onto the lot.

1. Understand Used vs. Pre-Owned

When you start looking at different vehicles and dealerships, you’ll see terms like “new,” “used,” and “pre-owned,” so it’s important to understand what each of them mean. It’s pretty simple: “new” vehicles have come straight from the manufacturer and have not had any previous owners. These can include models from the upcoming model year, current model year, and even some older models that simply haven’t sold yet. So even if a car is a couple years old, it can still be “new” if it has not been sold and driven yet by an owner.

The terms “used” and “pre-owned” are essentially the same. A used vehicle is one that has already been sold by a dealership, or directly from the manufacturer, to a previous owner who then sold the vehicle back to a dealer. Owners who are selling their own vehicles privately to another person are also selling used vehicles. The term “pre-owned” is often used because it simply sounds better than “used,” but they are ultimately the same.

2. Understand Pre-Owned vs. Certified Pre-Owned

There is a very important distinction between pre-owned vehicles and those that are certified pre-owned. For a vehicle to be Ford certified, or certified by any other manufacturer, it must be bought back by a dealership under some specific circumstances. This usually includes a maximum mileage on a vehicle depending how old it is. Trucks that are Ford certified, for example, are less than five years old and have fewer than 80,000 miles on them – anything older than that or driven more cannot be certified.

Once the vehicle is bought back by a dealership, then it undergoes a thorough inspection and any maintenance or other work that is needed is performed on it. This is done at the dealership by professional mechanics to ensure the vehicle is up to the high standards of certification. Once complete the vehicle is Ford certified pre-owned, which means it is not new, but is the next best thing. These vehicles usually have warranties on them almost as good as brand new vehicles, and dealerships support them with ongoing maintenance and assistance for the new owners.

3. Decide on the Type of Vehicle

Once you know the terminology that you’ll likely encounter at a dealership or when looking online, then you have to decide on the type of Ford certified pre-owned vehicle you are interested in. Ford is particularly well known for its trucks and SUVs, though there are some compact vehicles also available. Choosing between a truck and SUV really comes down to your lifestyle and the kinds of jobs you need your vehicle to perform.

Trucks are great for people who need a vehicle that can handle a wide range of tasks, especially transporting loads for work. There’s a reason a lot of construction workers prefer a truck: it can carry a bunch of lumber, drywall, or other materials easily. There are passenger limitations in a truck, however, so this is usually not a great choice if you plan on driving 6 or 7 people around town frequently. A lot of trucks have very impressive towing capacities, which makes them great for pulling a boat, camper, or small trailer.

Ford certified SUVs are a great choice for a wide range of drivers who want something that can carry cargo or many passengers. These vehicles typically have seating for at least 5 people, though room for up to 9 total occupants in full-size SUVs is not unusual. Seats in SUVs can fold down for additional cargo space, though they are not as easy to load and unload as the bed of a large truck. Many SUVs also have great towing capacity, which makes them an excellent choice for campers or tailgaters.

4. Consider Size and Model Options

Choosing a type of vehicle, like a Ford certified pre-owned SUV, is a great start, but you should also consider different sizes and models available. Mid-size trucks and SUVs are some of the most popular models since they provide a lot of space and power, but aren’t quite as large as the biggest models on the road. Full-size trucks and SUVs are larger, which means they take up a lot of space, but also offer a great deal of passenger seating and cargo capacity.

You’ll also see the terms “crossover” and “SUV” used in a lot of advertising and vehicle descriptions, which can be confusing. A crossover, or CUV, looks a lot like an SUV from the outside, and they have similar overall shapes and designs, but the difference is in the type of platform the vehicle is built upon. CUVs use a car platform, while SUVs use a truck platform – but they both provide many of the same benefits for drivers.

There are quite a few different Ford certified models available for SUVs and trucks, as well as some cars, so picking the right one can get tricky. Once you’ve decided on a size that you are interested, then the model that is right will typically fall into place. Sometimes you might find two different models that are within the same size category, at which point it is best to look at the details and options on them.

5. Always Ask Questions!

Too often, people are afraid to ask questions out of a fear of looking foolish. Nothing could be further from reality. Asking questions and making sure you understand every detail of a Ford certified pre-owned vehicle is the smartest thing you can do. If you are unsure of anything about a vehicle, ask the salespeople at a dealership – if they don’t know the answer, or are unwilling to answer your question, then that is a major red flag that you are at the wrong place.

6. Choose the Right Dealership

Speaking of dealerships, choosing the right one is just as important as choosing the right vehicle. Pick a dealership that offers Ford certified pre-owned vehicles so that you know you are getting the best quality when buying a pre-owned car, truck, or SUV. When you arrive, make sure the dealership looks clean and makes a good first impression. The salespeople you interact with should be friendly and knowledgeable, never pushy, and make every effort to ensure you are satisfied with each step of the car-buying process.