Used Vehicles for Sale

PRICE
The basic price of a vehicle is generally determined by age, number of kilometers/miles, condition of the vehicle, the demand for that particular vehicle in the marketplace, and if it is a U.S. vehicle. The final retail price will include the reconditioning cost to bring the vehicle up to selling and safety standards, advertising costs, interest cost incurred for the inventory and profit for the dealer. In the current competitive environment, and all of these factors being equal, a given vehicle should be priced roughly in the same price range, but there will be slight differences as each unit is unique. Buyers should beware of a low low price of a particular model, that seems too good to be true, as generally it is. Use any of the following techniques to further determine if you are saving today, only to pay more for servicing and accelerated depreciated value, inconvenience, and compromised safety, down the road.

IS THIS AN ACCIDENT REPAIR, FRAME RESTORATION OR BRANDED VEHICLE?
A good question to ask. Vehicles that have been in accidents and have had claims filed by owners through their insurance companies are tracked. Consumers in Ontario are protected by laws that cover disclosure of accidents on your final bill of sale. Vehicles today are very expensive to repair, so a $1,500. bumper repair is really not unheard of and is classified as minor damage, not effecting the integrity and safety of the car. A reputable dealer will be upfront about the accident status of the vehicle you may be interested in. Ask to see a UCDA or Carproof report on the specific vehicle. This report will show the vehicle history and any claims made through an insurance company. Beware of deceptive tactics such as dealers that are not upfront, NEGLECT to tell you until the last minute, just before you sign the contract, as these may be indicators of dealer integrity and issues down the road.

DOES THE VEHICLE HAVE ANY REMAINING FACTORY WARRANTY?
The dealer should know when the vehicle warranty started and indicate this to you on the bill of sale. If not then ask for the Warranty start date to determine if there is any remaining factory warranty. This information will enable you to determine if you require a "top up" of aftermarket warranty coverage, suited to your specific needs.

EXAGERATED CLAIMS BY DEALERS
Be sure to fully understand the claims that a dealer is advertising. A low low price on a vehicle may have a $5000. accident repair and may represent fair value to you. So called " Life Time Warranties" will have strict stipulations that restrict you to use certain products, demand specific time frames between servicing, restrict you to only using that specific dealer for service, restrictions that will only cover the repairs if the specific oil or fluid is "proven to break down" .This may not be what you had in mind or provide the coverage and flexibility you thought.

SAFETY INSPECTION
Every used vehicle must be Safety Certified and Etested by a licensed mechanic, prior to transfer of ownership. How the dealership and to what standard is an important question to ask. In Ontario there are minimum standards that are required before a licensed mechanic will "sign off" on the Safety Certificate. For instance, the minimum tire tread depth is 3/32 , here at Gemini our standard is 5/32. Gemini replaces brake linings if 50% or more of the material is worn, the Ministry standard is much lower. Ask about the inspection process to see if it is thorough. We provide a 140 point inspection of all vehicles, prior to delivery, the Ministry standard is much lower. Ask for the detail on what is inspected.

YOU HAVE RIGHTS
Every new or used vehicle transaction has a $5. levied by OMVIC ( Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council)fee. This regulatory body works on your behalf to ensure the practices of the dealer body conforms to a set of regulations that helps protect the consumer. You can contact them at any time with your questions.