Drive 1 Certified – What Does it Mean?

You may have heard about Drive 1 Certified vehicles from your Ford dealer, but aren’t really sure what that entails. What exactly does Drive 1 Certified mean, and how does a car, truck, or SUV become certified?

When purchasing a used car, there are a lot of things you need to consider. You can’t tell just by looking at a car how it was treated by its previous owner, and various issues can arise if the car is not properly inspected. Unfortunately, there are unscrupulous individuals out there who will try to sell you a car that has been damaged in a flood, has a faulty part, or even issues with the title.

So how do you know you’re getting a good quality vehicle when looking for a new car? At Drive 1, our focus is on providing customers with safety and satisfaction.

The Drive 1 Certification Program was developed to help assure you have peace of mind when purchasing a used vehicle. Each vehicle goes through thorough safety and background checks. We have dealerships in 7 different states, including Ohio. Each dealership offers used cars that have been Drive 1 Certified, and also offer financing options you won’t find anywhere else. We are also proud to support the men and women in the military.

Here is what is included in every Drive 1 Certified vehicle:

96 Point Safety Inspection – Trained technicians check everything in the vehicle to assure that everything is in safe, working order. They will check the engine drive train, transmission, steering, brakes, fuel system, interior, exterior, and more. Every vehicle must pass this comprehensive safety inspection in order to be designated as Drive 1 Certified. If you want to see a checklist of everything involved, you can contact your Drive 1 representative, or visit your local Ford dealer. They will explain everything to you in detail.

3 Month/4,000 Mile Warranty – Gives you comfort of mind to know that if something goes wrong, you’re covered. You don’t have to worry that you’ll drive the car off the lot, only to have something go wrong within a few weeks. And if something does go wrong, we’ll give you a rental car while your car is being worked on. There is no additional charge for this warranty – it comes with every Drive 1 Certified vehicle. Coverage is provided for the major systems, including engine, transmission, drive axle, steering, and suspension. For terms and conditions, contact your Drive 1 representative.

1 Year Roadside Assistance – Like the 3 month/4,000 mile warranty, roadside assistance comes free with every Drive 1 vehicle. This service includes towing service, battery service, flat tire assistance, fuel delivery and lock out assistance.

CARFAX – We provide you with a free CARFAX report for any car, truck, or SUV you’re interested in purchasing, so you know your vehicle’s history. Knowing a vehicle’s history is very important before purchase, because of a variety of factors or conditions that might inhibit a vehicle’s safety. Every CARFAX report supplies you with important information on each vehicle by performing the following: an accident check, a mileage accuracy check, lemon check, ownership check, recall check, and a warranty check.

CARFAX also now provides you with other safety information regarding your vehicle, including crash test results, safety recalls, reliability ratings, warranty information, and more.

Clean Title Guarantee – With different title laws for every state, there’s the chance something can go wrong. This Buyback Guarantee from CARFAX protects you if a title problem arises. Such title problems include salvage titles, not actual mileage titles, and flood damage titles.

Now that you know what all is involved, it’s easy to see the benefits in owning a Drive 1 Certified vehicle. So next time you’re looking to purchase a used car, make sure it’s Drive 1 Certified, and you will have peace of mind knowing your car, truck, or SUV has been thoroughly inspected, and will be a safe and reliable vehicle for years to come.