There’s a lot to consider when it comes to shopping for a pre-owned vehicle. Before making your purchase, there are important questions you should ask. There’s also important information you need to know about the pre-owned vehicle history. Whether you’re looking to buy privately or through a used car dealership, you should consider what you’re getting for the overall price.
You should consider whether or not the pre-owned vehicle has been “safetied”. When a vehicle has been safetied, it means that the vehicle has been inspected by a licensed automotive service technician to meet minimum road safety requirements. Once your vehicle meets these requirements, it will come with a safety standards certificate.
It’s important to know that a safety inspection is not a warranty or guarantee of the vehicle’s condition. If a vehicle has been safetied, it simply means that it meets minimum safety standards to be driven on the road.
You are able to purchase and register a vehicle that has not been safetied, however, you cannot put license plates on your vehicle without the certificate. Sometimes, a vehicle may cost less because it is being sold “as-is”. But you do have to consider the costs associated with having the vehicle towed to a mechanic and the cost of then having the vehicle safetied. If the vehicle does not pass all standards, you’ll also have to consider the cost of bringing the vehicle up to safety standards.