If you are lucky enough to consider ownership of a million dollar supercar, chances are financials should be the least of your concerns. But if it is your first supercar purchase, and if you have never before spent at least a couple of days driving one, buying new may not be the best option. You could instead consider getting a pre-owned one. However, just how safe is it to buy a pre-owned supercar?

When buying your first supercar, you should take your time to find the right specimen. This isn't exactly a practical purchase so there is no urgency.

After all, when buying a supercar, it is important that you maintain an extra level of diligence to make sure your dream ride does not turn into a nightmare of an ownership experience.

Can the person you are intending to buy the supercar from be trusted? What is the service history of the car? Has it been in an accident before? These are some of the questions that should immediately come to mind when buying a pre-owned supercar and Ferrari, the world's leading supercar manufacturer, knows this all too well.

Those looking to buy their first Ferrari will be glad to know that pre-owned models are backed up by Ferrari Approved, a programme that guarantees peace of mind to those who have the privilege of experiencing a Ferrari, within the last 14 years from date of first registration.

Always monitored and in perfect condition

Ferrari Approved encompasses a comprehensive series of wide-ranging checks and several guarantees, issued by Maranello itself and managed here by Ital Auto, the only authorised Ferrari dealer in Singapore.

Only cars that have clocked less than 100,000km of mileage and have full Ital Auto service records can quality for the programme. They must also be free from third-party modification.

Before any Ferrari can be certified as a Ferrari Approved unit, it will have to go through a 190-point check, carried out by highly skilled Ferrari technicians who are specially trained at Maranello.

The extremely comprehensive checks include a mechanical operation test, tests on the operation of the car's electrical system, examination of its suspension, brakes, cooling system and steering system, as well as secondary checks on air-conditioning, dashboard and safety systems, and operation of lights, wheels and tyres.

All this takes place in compliance with the highest standards of safety, performance, and reliability, with only genuine Ferrari parts used on any defects that are found. After which, the car will be tested once more to ensure it meets Ferrari standards of roadworthiness. The history of every Ferrari Approved model is also transparent. Every item of information is verified, to check originality, mileage, and changes of ownership. Ferrari Approved models also enjoy 12 months warranty.

Welcome to the world of Ferrari

But apart from getting to own a pre-owned Ferrari that is intended to be as good as new, Ferrari Approved customers will also enjoy other benefits that new Ferrari owners do, such as membership into the haloed Ferrari Owners' Club Singapore, supported by Ital Auto.

Started in 1999, the club meets at least twice a month for a social gathering and a driveaway, as well as various other events such as new Ferrari launches. The driveaways consist of jaunts across the causeway, from simple breakfast drives to weekend-long escapades.

And before Ferrari owners embark on their cross-border adventures, Ital Auto also provides pre-drive inspections for safety.

As such, with Ferrari Approved, you are not just buying any pre-owned supercar, you are buying one that is backed by decades of sporting heritage, the highest of Ferrari standards, as well as entry into a club many merely get to dream of being a part of.