Recently, so-called reconditioned cars have become increasingly popular on the used car market. These vehicles represent a separate category that is gaining popularity in this period of rising new car prices. Here's what sets them apart from traditional used cars.
Looking for a used car? So-called reconditioned cars may interest you. In search of new profits amid declining new car sales, most manufacturers have also launched an attack on the used car sector. Some of them, such as Dacia and Renault with the Renew brand or Stellantis with its Spoticar network, are among the first to want to enter the used car market seriously.
Gradually, the remaining distribution groups are increasingly betting on this type of product, which is good for domestic consumers because it offers high added value. But how does a reconditioned car actually differ from a used one?
Unlike used cars, which have no age or mileage restrictions, recycled or also called reconditioned cars are usually between 1 and 5 years old and have less than 150,000 km on the odometer. These characteristics are not accidental. Recycling older vehicles is not economically attractive for those working in the sector.
These cars receive meticulous care and repair, which is missing from used cars. Brake system, mechanical components, battery, tires, interior, bodywork... these cars go through at least 100 checkpoints to assess the work that needs to be done before being offered for sale in their best light.
Unlike used cars, recycled cars are "without remarks". After passing the one hundred checks in question, they are revised and repaired in service centers, with all operations recorded in a report available before the sale. They allow the overall condition of the cars to be standardized through precise processes and specifications.
As a result, these vehicles, fully equipped, look almost like new, and their rating, synonymous with margin for the seller, is commensurate. This should reassure even the most cautious buyers, especially since the deal is accompanied by additional services, one of the most important of which is the warranty.
The mechanical and aesthetic condition of these cars reassures customers looking for an impeccable used car. But such a complete restoration is reflected in the selling price, which is higher. Traceability is a key feature of reconditioned cars. These vehicles have an impeccable history, which is far from the case for all used cars...
Another advantage of reconditioned cars: the money-back guarantee. An advantage offered by some brands that allows you to drive a car for which you can get a refund, without giving a reason, within a certain period of time and mileage. For example, Spoticar offers this option for 10 days or 1,000 km, and Renault, through its Renew program, for 15 days or 500 km.