A car warranty is an essential part of buying a new or used vehicle.  But with all those pages filled with the smallest print, they can be overwhelming and frustrating. Combine that with the rules that differ from state to state and you might just sign on the dotted line and simply hope you’ll never need to invoke the warranty. But there are some universal regulations and basics that you can look for to ensure you have a respectable warranty.

• Emission Controls
This refers to the parts of the car relating to the exhaust and the amount of carbon emissions your vehicle puts into the air when you drive. With new cars, federal government standards reguloate the warranty (think about the new standards Congress is pushing through). This means the regulations in every state must account for repairing emissions equipment. The rules in California are different, but that’s because they are stricter.

• “As Is” Warranty
With this type of warranty, the dealer and manufacturer have no liability for repairs. The owner has no recourse if the car breaks down or other problems occur. If the dealer promises to fix the vehicle, the buyer must have that in writing before trying to enforce it under an “as is” warranty.

• Representation of Warranty
According to federal law, dealerships cannot say a vehicle has a warranty if it doesn’t. This law also states that the owner or dealer cannot misrepresent the vehicle’s condition or other facts about the vehicle. Laws legally and ethically require sellers to inform potential buyers of any known problems with vehicles.

If you decide to purchase a certified Ford, you don’t have to worry about the car warranty basics. These vehicles come with an extensive warranty that allows you to simply enjoy the car without worrying about repair costs or anything else like that. Try one today and start driving worry-free tomorrow.