We’ve all heard the old dad joke: When is a car not a car? When it’s a lemon. OK, it’s groan-inducing but kind of funny, unless it’s your car and the joke’s on you.
If you’ve ever bought a used car and the previous owner was less than honest about its history, you know the result can be a vehicle that’s disappointing, unreliable and too often, expensive if it needs constant maintenance and repairs.
So, if you’re in the market for a car or ute, there are some key things to find out so you don’t do your dosh on a lemon. You can ask the questions yourself and hope you get an honest answer, or you can take the stress out of the whole process and buy a Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle. It takes the guesswork out of buying a pre-owned car because they’ve answered all the tough questions you need to ask, like these:
Has it been in an accident?
If it has been in a major accident, or even if it looks like it might have had body work, give it a miss.
Does the car have a log book?
A service history log allows you to see what’s been done and helps you to forecast what your ongoing maintenance costs might look like. A car with no service history should set off warning bells.
Has the car or ute been taken off-road?
Especially important for utes, as you’ll need to get the underside checked out by a mechanic to make sure it hasn’t sustained any damage to the chassis, fuel tank or exhaust. (Or been a regular on the B&S Ball circuit.)
All the history you need to know
These are a good start, but there’s a lot more you’ll need to find out. It’s a time-consuming process and can be stressful too, especially as you can’t always guarantee the person you’re buying it from is telling you the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Alternatively, you can save yourself the hassle, the stress and the time spent running around by simply taking a look online at the range of high quality Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles. They’ve undergone an extensive inspection of all mechanical components, interior and exterior body condition, keys, books and more before being certified. You’ll be reassured to know that all of them come with:
- A full service history
- An independent CarHistoryTM background check (to see if the car has ever been stolen or reported to police)
- A 90-point inspection by Toyota technicians
- 12 months free Toyota Roadside Assist (24/7 every day of the year)^
Real people, real satisfaction
Not only does the Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Program offer a range of benefits, it also comes with the backing of Australia’s most trusted automotive brand, Toyota. In the six years the Certified program has been running, tens of thousands of customers across Australia have enjoyed the peace of mind, security and financial benefits that come with buying a high quality certified used vehicle through a Toyota dealer.
But don’t just take our word for it. Melbourne dad, Tom Storey, shares his experience. He was specifically looking for a comfortable seven-seat SUV for his growing family, and his year-old Kluger ticked all the boxes.
“I am very happy with the Kluger and the whole experience was fantastic and completely hassle-free,” Tom says. “The fact that the car is a Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle really gives you that extra peace of mind that you are buying a car with a fully verified service history and it has been comprehensively checked.”
Choose from the range
Just as Tom had a huge range of reliable, durable Toyota vehicles to choose from, so do you. The Certified Pre-Owned range includes every Toyota model from HiLux to Kluger, Camry to HiAce, so whether you’re looking for a van or ute for business, or an SUV to get the team to Saturday sport, you’ll find a ride you can rely on, at a price to suit your budget.
Discover the great range of Toyota Certified Pre-Owned Vehicles online today, see the range or get in touch with your local authorised Toyota dealer to find out more.
^Toyota Roadside Assist is administered by Toyota Finance, a division of Toyota Finance Australia Limited ABN 48 002 435 181, AFSL and Australian Credit Licence 392536.