If the "certified" used vehicle program is designed by the local dealer, just about anything is possible. Some small independent dealers "certify" their vehicles by offering you a short term "power train warranty" without ever looking under the hood or putting the vehicle on a lift.

    You should also know that it appears that the manufacturers don't really trust their own dealers because the "factory" periodically sends inspectors to the dealer’s lot to spot check the condition of their "certified" vehicles.

    The problem with this system is that it is very much like giving a child a blank report card and allowing him to fill in his own grades. No matter how hard the dealership and its technicians try, they just can’t be UNBIASED. A second problem with dealers certifying their own vehicles is, their technicians are not specifically trained to evaluate used vehicles. While dealership mechanics are skilled at parts replacement on their own franchise vehicles, they are not specifically trained to evaluate and diagnose the condition of the hundreds of different makes and models of used vehicles.

    We’ve never seen a "certified" used vehicle report that details previous collision damage and repainting. Most "certified" used car guidelines simply state that no body panel imperfections that exceed a particular size are tolerable. There is no mention of repainted, repaired or replaced body and/or chassis components.

To truly certify a vehicle’s condition,