Lemon Laws For Used Cars

Guide To Understanding Lemon Laws For Used Cars

What is a Lemon?

You just bought a new or used car, but it may not run, it may not work, and it doesn’t take you where you need to go. In that case you may have been sold a lemon. The next couple of paragraphs will help you to sift through some of the lemon laws for used cars. The good thing about general lemon laws are if you have driven your car 18,000 miles or less and it has been less than two years since you have bought it and problems arise then its covered.

Lemons Laws for New Cars vs. Used Cars

Lemon Laws were primarily written to protect consumers who bought brand new cars from the dealerships but provisions have been added for those who buy a used car.  The federal government relies mostly on the state laws to interpret what makes up a used car lemon.

There is however a federal law out there called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. If there is an implied warranty from the dealerships then everything under that implied warranty will need to be covered. This would include items such as repairs, replacing the part, or even possibly refunding the money to the buyer. Now most states as I stated before have more in depth laws so it is important to check when you are worried about your car being a lemon.

A stated warranty must be posted on the window of car that is being sold as part of the buyers guide. That area for the warranty information must say how much of the warranty is left or that no warranty is available and the car is being sold as is. Keep in mind that if you buy a used car from an individual, such as someone you found in the classifieds, then the car is sold as is and the lemon laws out there would not be applicable to your purchase.

Although each state is governed by different lemon laws there are generally three common ones.

1. You must have a problem that surfaces within a certain time frame or mileage of the purchase.

2. You are taking the car in repeatedly for the same problem over and over again.

3. You are unable to use the car for a certain amount of days because of problems with the automobile.

Don’t get frustrated if you cannot find a certain used car lemon law pertaining to your situation there may be other laws out there to protect you. You may at this point want to consult with a lemon law attorney to steer you in the right direction.

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