Lemon Laws have been enacted to give consumers a legal remedy should they purchase a product which turns out to be a lemon. Although every state has a lemon law for new car purchases, unfortunately not every state have a lemon law for used cars. Should you reside in a state that does have a lemon law that covers the purchase of a used car what do you have to do to get compensation.
What is a lemon?
What is classified as a lemon varies from one state to another. Although the numbers may vary, most states have specified a minimum number of attempts to fix the same problem as well as having specified the maximum number of days the car is not available to the owner due to repair efforts. As well as repair attempts and time out of service, states generally specify a time frame which can be based on miles, the vehicles express warranty or time in months. Although most states only have lemon laws for new cars that does not mean that the consumer has no recourse.
Many states have a version of a lemon law for used cars. The provisions of these lemon laws cover cars that are sold with an expressed warranty. This warranty can be what is left on the manufacturer’s warranty, a different warranty which is given by the dealer or a warranty or extended service contract that is available for purchase from the dealer at the time the used car is purchased.
Some states go further; they have statutes which are designed to protect the consumer against any deceptive acts. These statutes require honesty on the part of the dealer, if you should purchase a used car based on false representation it may be possible to claim against the dealer. In other cases a dealer may have disclose the history of the car, perhaps it was originally a rental car or salvaged; information of this nature must be divulged.
What to do if you think you bought a lemon
The lemon law for used cars is essentially the same as it is for new cars; it is of paramount importance that you maintain detailed records. Keep a log of all problems, the repairs that were done and the time that your car was not available for use. Without the repair history it will be extremely difficult to support your claim when you address the dealer or the vehicle manufacturer.
Certain states have a lemon law for used cars. If you believe you have a lemon you are invited to visit YourLemonLawRights.com for further information.
