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Toyota of Dothan Explains How Used-Car Buyers Can Verify Repaired Recalls

When you purchase a used car, you are encouraged to research the vehicle’s safety ratings, vehicle history report and recalls. When you search for recalls online, the site gives you a broad list for specific models, but a new tool allows consumers to delve deeper into recalls. Toyota of Dothan explains how used-car consumers can verify recall repairs.   New Tool Offered by the NHTSA The NHTSA released a new tool on its site that allows consumers to research recalls for their specific vehicle, and the driver can verify whether the recall has been repaired. The new online tool provides drivers with the following information:
  • A complete list of unrepaired recalls issued for the vehicle
  • List of recalls that have been issued for the car during the past 15 years
  • Recalls issued by all major auto and motorcycle manufacturers
  All a consumer is required to do is enter the vehicle’s VIN into the search engine to reveal the complete list.   How is the List Created? According to the NHTSA, auto manufacturers are required to complete weekly updates for issued recalls and the vehicles that have or have not had the repairs completed. The NHTSA reassures consumers that the VINs provided by consumers through the site are not recorded, and the list of results is never retained by the site.   What Doesn’t the Tool Show? There are a few things you will not see when you use the tool:
  • Non-safety recall information
  • International vehicles
  • Recent recalls that do not yet have VINs associated with the recalls
  • Recalls that date back more than 15 years
  • Small manufacturers and some super luxury auto manufacturers.
 
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Toyota of Dothan Certified Cars Are Special

Buying a pre-owned car is easier today than ever before. One of the main reasons is the certification process that a Toyota goes through ensures that only the highest quality vehicles get the certified label. This means no worries for the new owner. We Start With Only The Best A candidate for certification can be anywhere from current to six model years old, but no older. It must have less than 85,000 miles and it must have a clean CARFAX report. Finally, the car must go through, and pass, a 160-point inspection process. Can you pass a 160-point inspection? So What Does Certified Mean To Me? Once a pre-owned car is certified, it means that you have peace of mind. You get a full year of roadside assistance from more than 1400 Toyota dealers in North America. You can rely on a limited comprehensive warranty for 12 month or 12,000 mile and a limited powertrain warranty for 7-year or 100,000 mile. Taken together, this is very close to the warranty of a new car. A Certified Car Deal Is Just As Simple As New One thing that people forget is the sheer complexity of buying a pre-owned vehicle either from a pre-owned dealer or an individual. You need to deal with insurance, financing and DMV in all cases. When you buy certified, it’s all handled the same as a new car transaction, including trade-ins, competitive financing rates, DMV paperwork and of course, a free CARFAX report on all certified vehicles. The only thing better than Certified, is new.

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2012 Certified Used Toyota Highlander

At Toyota of Dothan, we make every attempt to offer a wide variety of used cars so every car shopper can find exactly what they need. We specialize in certified used vehicles that have gone through multiple inspections to ensure they are the high quality vehicle you expect from Toyota. Our current inventory of used cars includes 2012 Highlanders, sport utility vehicles with lots of power and plenty of space for passengers and cargo. Certified Used Vehicle Warranty Coverages When you buy a certified used vehicle from Toyota of Dothan, you can have the confidence that comes from a one year, 12,000 comprehensive warranty and a seven year, 100,000 mile powertrain limited warranty. Also included with certified used Toyota vehicles is one year of Roadside Assistance, a CARFAX report, and rental car services. 2012 Highlander Safety Features The 2012 Highlander may not be the most recent model, but it still offers a wide variety of safety features to keep you and your passengers safe, including: Electronic traction control Anti-theft system Curtain airbags for all three rows of seating Halogen headlights with dusk sensor Convenience and Entertainment You’ll stay warm in the winter months with the Highlander’s heated leather seats. Also included are heated outside mirrors, windshield wiper de-icer, a tilt and telescoping steering wheel, climate control, cruise control, and a six speaker audio system to play AM/FM radio, MP3, and CDs.

Benefits of Buying Used Cars - See Our Inventory at Toyota of Dothan

Buying a car that is slightly older will offer a number of benefits you simply can’t experience if you buy a brand new vehicle. For many people, your car is the second largest purchase you’ll ever make, right after your home. You can keep some of your hard-earned money in your pocket without sacrificing quality when you buy a used car. Less Depreciation on Used Cars Means Lower Price Tags New cars lose thousands of dollars in depreciation as soon as you drive it home after you buy it.  If you tried to sell your new car soon after purchase, you would probably take a loss. A used car, on the other hand, has already experienced that rapid depreciation. The price tag on used cars is lower and you won’t take a huge loss on depreciation when you buy used. Reduced Dealer Fees When you buy a new car, dealerships have to recover their costs for shipping charges, preparing the vehicle for sale, and destination fees. When you buy a used car, you don’t pay for those dealer fees, and instead just need to visit the DMV to take care of the tag, title, and registration fee. Reduced Registration Fees Most states charge registration fees based on the value of the vehicle and the model year. Often, the price of registration is highest during the first three to five years of new car ownership. When you buy used vehicles, you can save a few hundred or even thousands of dollars on the registration costs of a new vehicle simply by purchasing one that is three or more years old.