It’s hard enough buying a pre-owned regular vehicle. Because there are countless secondhand units available on the market, you want to be 100% sure that you’re getting a fair deal for your hard-earned money. Now imagine what the challenges must be like if you’re in the market for a used luxury vehicle. Specifically, picture yourself shopping for a pre-owned Ferrari. The scenario could just as easily turn your dream car into a complete nightmare if you don’t know what you’re getting into.

And just how exactly do you purchase a secondhand Ferrari? How can you trust the word of the owner when he swears everything in the car is original and in good running condition? How do you know for sure that nothing in the vehicle has been tampered with, or that no part has been damaged in an accident? Or how do you know if the asking price is indeed the fair market value?

Not to worry: There is now the so-called Ferrari Approved program, which is basically a “pre-owned certification program designed to guarantee maximum security and peace of mind” if you’re thinking of getting a used Ferrari that has been registered within the last 14 years. And yes, this program is now available via the country’s official Ferrari importer and seller, Autostrada Motore.

Pre-owned certification programs are nothing new. Other luxury brands like BMW and Mercedes-Benz have them in our market. So what makes Ferrari Approved unique and special? Well, besides being specific to the Italian supercar brand, it offers the following:

• A 190-point technical inspection by certified Ferrari technicians;
• Provenance and maintenance history verification;
• Exterior and interior pre-sale preparation; and
• A 12-month Ferrari warranty.

The technical inspection includes tests for the running gear, the electrical system, the fluid levels, the suspension, the brakes, the cooling system, the steering system, the air-conditioning, the safety features, the lights, the wheels and the tires.

A Ferrari car that has undergone a Ferrari Approved technical inspection receives a detailed list of the checks and the repairs performed for the benefit of the person purchasing it.

If you go to the Ferrari Approved website and search for used units for sale, the following are examples of what you might see:

So there. Whether you’re selling or buying a pre-owned Ferrari, know that there is now an official used-car certification program to protect your interest. Never transact Prancing Horse business without it.