Toyota launches certified used vehicle program

TOYOTA Australia has become the latest brand to launch a certified used vehicle program, offering factory-backed protection for any used Toyota less than four years old and with fewer than 100,000km on the clock.

Any pre-owned car that fits the criteria and is sold across Toyota’s 280-strong national dealer network will come with a comprehensive 12 months/50,000 extended warranty and twelve months of roadside assistance.

In essence, this additional year of warranty helps Toyota come closer to matching the extended five-year new car warranties offered by rivals like Hyundai and Mitsubishi. Toyota Australia’s new car warranty is three years/100,000km.

Toyota Australia will also offer a lowered comparison interest rate of 6.9 per cent for vehicles delivered by December 31 this year, and provide a full vehicle history report.

The company says it won’t certify a car until it has given it a 90-point check including mechanical and appearance re-conditioning.

For hybrid vehicles like the Prius and Camry, this also includes specific examinations on the hybrid transaxle, control modules and battery.

The vehicle history report is provided by Australian online automotive bureau Carhistory, and can confirm whether a car has been written-off, stolen, suffered flood or storm damage and whether the odometer readings are accurate.

Toyota Australia executive director sales and marketing Matthew Callachor said the plan was the “next-best thing to buying a new Toyota”.

“It provides a 'like new' ownership experience by combining the value of a used vehicle with the confidence of purchasing a new vehicle,” he said.

“This is a smart alternative to traditional options because it gives consumers the peace of mind when buying a used vehicle that only a Toyota factory-backed certification program can offer.”