Kiwis love a good deal – it’s practically in our DNA. Whether it’s scoring a second-hand surfboard or a trusty used car, we’re all about smart, practical choices that get the job done without the fuss. What Kiwi kid did not grow up learning to drive in their first Toyota? In fact, more than three quarters of all cars sold in New Zealand last year were pre-owned.

That’s why Toyota is refreshing its used car brand, Toyota Certified – the smarter way to buy pre-owned vehicles, offering quality, safety, and peace of mind. With the number of registered motor vehicle dealers on the decline, it’s more important than ever to ensure Kiwi buyers can access high-quality used cars that have undergone rigorous checks and balances for complete confidence.

From Cape Reinga to Bluff, there’s a huge range of trusted and pre-loved Toyotas ready for their next adventure. Each Toyota Certified car comes with a great range of benefits including a one-year/15,000 km Mechanical Warranty and one-year AA Roadservice. With the new Toyota Service Protect, you can extend your warranty coverage for up to 10 years or 150,000 km, simply by servicing your vehicle at a Toyota Store. Every qualifying service adds another year of warranty, helping you drive with confidence.

Starting from November, most used Toyotas sold through the Toyota Store network will be Toyota Certified. That means every Toyota Certified vehicle comes with the same benefits – no guesswork, no surprises, just solid value and Toyota reliability. Toyota Certified will apply to Toyota used cars that are less than 10 years old and have less than 150,000 kms on the clock*.

This move to bring most of its used cars under Toyota Certified is all part of Toyota New Zealand’s mission to provide quality used cars at great value to all New Zealanders. To keep the focus on this new chapter and avoid confusion in the market, Toyota is retiring its Signature Class brand.

Importing and selling New Zealand-new used cars has been a significant part of the Toyota New Zealand business for the past 25 years. Toyota Stores sell more than 20,000 used cars every year, with 42% of used Toyota’s under 5 years old being sold by Toyota (excluding public to public sales).

Mark Young, Toyota NZ Vice President of Used Vehicles says the relaunch of Toyota Certified as the core used car brand very much reflects the local used car market and direction of the business.

“Toyota Certified reflects our commitment to delivering trusted, high-quality mobility solutions for all New Zealanders,” says Mark. “We’ve listened to our customers and created a used car offering that combines peace of mind with exceptional value – all backed by the Toyota network.”

“While we continue to enjoy our position as the country’s leading new vehicle distributor, we also recognise the used vehicle market has enormous potential, particularly for a trusted brand like ours, known for reliable, affordable and high-quality vehicles,” he says.

Mark says Toyota Certified will give used car and light commercial buyers a high degree of peace of mind and vehicle choice when buying from a Toyota Store.

Toyota New Zealand has the expertise to select and import high quality, reliable used cars from its Japanese networks, making up around 10% of all Toyota used car imports last year and adding to the great range of NZ New Toyota Used Cars available from Toyota New Zealand.

“Every Toyota Certified vehicle undergoes a comprehensive pre-sale inspection and has it’s servicing up-to-date. We are keen to extend our excellent service and after-market sales to as many Kiwis as we can. We know the market for used Toyotas is huge in New Zealand, we want to invite those owners into the Toyota family and eco-system, providing them with peace of mind that the vehicle they are buying is a good one.”

With the country’s biggest automobile store network, from Whangārei to Invercargill, Toyota Stores are automotive ownership specialists, combined with affordable options and finance available, Toyota Stores are focused on getting their customers into the right car to suit their needs. Any Toyota can be serviced by trained Toyota technicians at a Toyota Store or affiliated Toyota Service Centre.

Toyota Stores also carry a wide range of used cars – from near-new to older, small through to large commercial.

Mark Young says the discontinuation of Signature Class will not impact the reconditioning experts at the Toyota plant in Thames as they will continue a range of refurbishment and accessorising workstreams.

“Existing Signature Class customers can be rest assured their investment continues to hold strong value. Signature Class has long stood for exceptional quality, and that standard now lives on under Toyota Certified. The rigorous inspection, factory backing, and premium reputation that came with your vehicle will continue to give you an edge at resale. Buyers know a Toyota used car is a cut above and that won’t change, all warranties as a part of current Signature Class will be upheld,” he says.

Ready to drive with confidence? Explore the Toyota Certified range at your nearest Toyota Store or visit www.toyota.co.nz/used-vehicles to learn more. Quality, safety, and peace of mind – all backed by Toyota.

* A Toyota Certified Car must meet the following requirements at point of retail:

• Be under 10 years old
• Have travelled less than 150,000km
• Cars must have been checked by a Toyota Technician and meet the prescribed standard.
• Service must be up to date as per the Toyota recommended Service Schedule