Car Buying Secrets

Program Cars - The best of the used cars

By: Roosevelt Gist

Auto manufacturers provide it’s executives and other staffers choice automobiles for their personal use. These cars are driven in every day life situations and well maintained. They have very low miles when returned to the manufacturer. Thousands of these cars, trucks and vans are placed in this program, hence the term "program cars", for evaluation, testing, marketing and advertising.

Program cars are untitled and sold at auctions to only auto dealers at very low prices. Auto dealers resell program cars to you as low mileage, well kept used cars. These cars command a higher price than your traditional trade ins or off lease or rental car used cars.

You don’t see or hear the term program cars too much because the industry diluted the true program car market with short term leased vehicles, low mileage rentals and even some well kept trades. Some states will not allow auto dealers to use the term program cars in it’s advertising for the above reason.

If you want to know if a dealer has access to any program cars give one a call and ask to see documents to substantiate the fact it’s really a manufacturers’ program car.

Program cars are the high end of the used car market. You will pay more for them because they are well kept and have low mileage. The majority of the manufacturer’s warranty is still in effect and all service records should accompany the car. Don’t be fooled into buying a car presented as a program car. If some states won’t allow the term to be used in auto advertising because it’s difficult to determine a real program car, you the buyer should beware.

Questions to ask the salesperson: Is this a manufacturers’ program car? May I see the documentation? How do you distinguish a program car from a short term lease vehicle? Can you locate a program car for me?