All you need to know about the used car lemon law

2007-03-08 10:33:40

( Legal )



The used car lemon law is the second-hand car buyer's protection from a bad car purchase. If you are someone who couldn't afford to buy one hot new car but would want your money's worth for a second-hand car, this lemon law for cars should be your companion on your way to the "Used Cars" store. So what are the features of the used car lemon law? Let's discuss them one by one.

To start, the "lemon" in the used car lemon law is actually the term Americans use for a bad car. Well, "bad" here does not really mean that when you use a car like this, you are in a way, committing a suicide. "Bad" here actually aims to just make us realize that we are buying something that has been used already, and so you should not expect this car to give you the ride of your life. With lemon cars, expect some minor hitches to your ride like a not-so-heavenly sounding engine, some small bumps on your car door, or, if you're that unlucky, a couple of days late for work because your ride failed to start in the morning. In short, don't expect your used car to be the BATMOBILE!

The used car lemon law requires a dealer to divulge to a prospective buyer the true condition and status of the lemon car which include its mechanical performance, and, any existing warranty, insurance and repair services that the car has, of course, together with the provisions mentioned in these written contracts and agreements. This law likewise protects the buyer from misrepresentations about the car that a seller might announce just to ensure a successful sale. Violation of any of these provisions on the dealer's part may require him/her to refund partially or in full the payment made for the car (depending on the amount of violations committed) if after the sale, a buyer realizes that he/she has been scammed. Likewise, under this car lemon law, the dealer is required to give a warranty to a buyer, the length of which will depend on the price the lemon car was sold. The warranty should include repairs on aspects of the car that was assured as "in good condition" before the sale was made which somehow never lived up to its billing.

So are all lemon cars covered by a warranty? NO. If a car was sold for less than $3,000, more than seven years old, has a mileage of more than a hundred thousand and has been declared by an insurance company as a total loss (this declaration must be made known to the buyer), the dealer will be not required to give a warranty. The reason, I believe is very obvious and so, needs no further explanation.

Know your rights as a buyer! If you are a used car buyer, then you must know the ins and outs of the used car lemon law for your own advantage.


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