Two new cars built the same way are the same car, so their quotes compare at once. A used car needs its condition pinned down first. Every one has its own miles, its own history and its own title. So a written quote on a used vehicle has to carry more before two quotes can be compared.
What a used quote must carry
Carwright's request for a used vehicle asks each dealer for the itemized out-the-door price and three more things. A used quote without the three is not itemized yet, and we draft a request for the rest, for your tap.
| What the quote must carry | Why |
|---|---|
| The odometer reading at the time of the quote | Every car has its own miles. A mileage limit you set is stated in the request, and the reading is what the buyer's order must match. NHTSA says more than 450,000 vehicles are sold each year with false odometer readings (NHTSA, Odometer Fraud). |
| The vehicle history report | Reported accidents, title brands and odometer discrepancies, as far as the report goes. A report has limits: it shows only what was reported, so it never replaces an inspection. |
| A statement of the title status and any reported accidents | Your conditions are stated in the request: a clean title and no reported accidents, unless you left one unticked under History you require. The sheet you get when you pick a price lists all three among the things to have in hand before you sign. |
The Buyers Guide
Federal law requires a Buyers Guide on every used car at a dealer that sells more than five a year. It shows whether the car is sold as is or with a warranty, and what the warranty covers.
The FTC says the Buyers Guide will override anything in your sales contract (FTC, Buying a Used Car From a Dealer, August 2023). Read the warranty box before you compare prices.
Certified by whom
A manufacturer-certified program comes with the manufacturer's backing; "dealer-certified" does not. Edmunds puts the certified pre-owned premium at about 4 to 5 percent (Edmunds, via the Associated Press, September 9, 2026). The same piece notes that dealer-certified cars carry no manufacturer backing. Ask which program, by name.
The independent inspection
The FTC tells buyers to have the car inspected by an independent mechanic before they buy (FTC, Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule). If a dealer will not allow it, the FTC says to consider going to another dealer (FTC, August 2023).
The Florida Attorney General calls a refusal a clear warning. It adds that Florida has no used car lemon law (Florida Attorney General, Buying a Used Car). Carwright does not inspect the car; arrange the inspection yourself before you sign.
The used-only fee lines
Reconditioning fees, certification fees and etching tend to appear on used quotes. In Florida they belong inside the advertised price with every other dealer charge (Florida Statutes 501.976(16)). Your request asks for each by name, and Carwright compares totals.
What Carwright does not do
It does not inspect the car, verify the report or take possession of anything. It gets the facts in writing, lines them up, and checks the order before you sign.