Americans will buy nearly 17 million new cars and trucks this year. The question of whether to buy new or used will most certainly be pondered by many of us. But if you haven't been to a dealership in a few years, you might be surprised to learn there's another option.

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A cottage industry within used cars has been created for the last couple of years, called "certified cars," "certified pre-owned," or "certified used cars." What this offers in addition to the vehicle itself is peace of mind with the transaction.

To "certify" a used vehicle, a dealer must perform a comprehensive multi-point inspection, laid out by the original manufacturer. In addition, the vehicle must meet age and mileage requirements. If the vehicle meets all the required criteria, the dealer will then "certify" the vehicle and its warranty will be extended.

Because they've set high quality criteria for certification, many manufacturers offer new car-like financing along with the warranty, making a "certified used" vehicle even harder to pass up.

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