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Pre-owned Cars and Warranties
Today's vehicles have some of the longest warranties ever offered. That means buying a pre-owned car in today's market is no longer the gamble it once was. There are basically two types of vehicles sold at The Import Warehouse: late-model with a factory warranty remaining or late-model that are out of warranty.
Buying a late-model car with low miles means you will get a car with a warranty remaining to safeguard against any unforseen problems. Whether the car is still under waranty depends on three variables:
Manufacturer: Each manufacturer offers different lengths of warranty. If you are shopping a current year model, do not assume that the previous year model, even though identical in design and specification, has the same warranty. For example, if you purchase a pre-owned 2001 Volkswagen Passat or Jetta the warranty on that vehicle will be 2 years/24,000 miles. The identical 2002 or newer model carries a 4 year/50,000 mile warranty. That's a significant difference!
We have listed the current manufacturer's warranties on our website. If you are looking for a prior model year vehicle, contact our sales department to find out what the warranty is for that model year. An in-warranty car is always worth more, both in peace-of-mind and financially, than one that is out of warranty.
In-Service Date: This is the date that the vehicle was put into service. Since many manufacturers begin selling new models as early as January of the previous model year (i.e. - a 2005 would be available for sale in January of 2004), the remaining portion of the warranty may not be as long as you think it might be. Most manufacturers begin rolling out next year's model in June or July of this year. Ask your Import Warehouse salesperson for the In-Service Date of the car you intend to purchase so that you know how much coverage you have remaining.
Miles: How many miles a vehicle has is the other half of the equation when determining whether that preowned car is still covered by the original warranty. This is displayed for all to see in the instrument display. But, even though the miles may be lower than the warranty limits, the yearly limit may have passed which is why the manufacturer states "whichever comes first".
Buying a late-model car that is out of warranty means that the original manufacturer's warranty is no longer in effect. Should you avoid this type of car? Not really, here's why: These vehicles represent an exceptional value.
Though we generally sell pre-owned vehicles with the balance of the manufacturer's warranty, when an exceptional vehicle becomes available, we will offer that vehicle. The things that make a vehicle exceptional are low miles, mechanical condition and overall cosmetic condition. A car that looks good, has probably been well treated and well maintained.
With a long warranty under it's belt, most of the issues have probably been addressed and, in many cases, we will provide you with a service history on the car. Most cars today require nothing more than routine maintenance for years of trouble-free driving.
But peace of mind is an important consideration. The Import Warehouse Platinum Certified Warranty has the best coverage and the lowest prices in the industry. A 3 Year / 36,000 mile bumper to bumper warranty averages about $1500-$1600 and includes Roadside Assistance and Rental Car Reimbursement. You can choose to have your car serviced at the dealer or the corner mechanic.
To assure you that we sell the best pre-owned cars in Denver, we offer our Platinum Certified Warranty free of charge for the first 3 months or 3,000 miles on all our cars that are no longer covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
Visit our Warranties page for full information and prices.
Whether in-warranty or out-of-warranty, a preowned car makes great sense. Buying it from The Import Warehouse assures you of a great car at a great price that will help a great cause. Why would you buy anywhere else?
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