The saying "Buyer Beware" applies
nowhere more than when buying a car. When purchasing an
automobile, whether new or used, you are taking a
risk. To minimize this, do your homework before
walking onto a car lot. Research the brand and model you
want. Find out about reliability, gas mileage, resale
value and safety features. Know what the car usually
retails for so you have ammunition if the salesman wants more
than the car is worth. If it is a used car, know the
Kelley Blue Book value and ask to see a CarFax sheet. All
of this can help minimize the risk that you will end up buying a
lemon. If still end up with a lemon, there are vehicle
lemon laws to protect you.
Vehicle lemon laws vary by state but generally
say that you are covered for a year if your car turns out to
have mechanical problems. The dealer who sold you the car
either has refund your money or exchange your car for another
one. The dealer is allowed to deduct depreciation
costs of your car so you will still end up with less than you
started with.
In order for your car to qualify for coverage under most
states' vehicle lemon laws, the following must have occurred:
- You made four attempts to fix a problem without success
(going through both the dealer and manufacturer)
- You have had the inability to drive your car for 30 days or
more because of the mechanical problems
If you have purchased a defective vehicle and
are unable to get satisfaction through the dealer, contact
us. We can put you in touch with an affordable
lemon law attorney in your state, and our fees are very reasonable.