5 Key Things To Know About Lemon Law For Used Cars

Buying a used car carries more risk than buying a new one, but many states have lemon laws to protect consumers. These laws allow consumers to sue for a refund or replacement if the automaker can’t fix a problem within a reasonable amount of time. Keep all records and work orders regarding repair attempts to ensure your best chance of winning a lemon law case. Here are the five key things to know about lemon law for used cars.

Dealerships Are Required To Provide A Written Warranty

Many used cars are sold as is, and dealerships can use disclaimers to avoid liability. Ohio lemon law for used cars requires dealers to provide a written warranty covering any vehicle problems within a specific period. This lets consumers know what they are getting into before purchasing a used car. If you have a problem with your used car, you can seek legal protection under the lemon laws. The law requires that a dealer buy back a vehicle from a consumer if it is deemed a lemon after multiple attempts by the manufacturer to fix the problem. The dealer must also include a fair warning notice and a branded title that shows the car was repurchased. To qualify as a lemon, the vehicle must have one or more defects that substantially impair the car’s use, value, or safety. Some problems may be too small to be considered substantial, but some courts have found that a series of minor issues can add to a serious problem.

Dealerships Are Required To Repair A Vehicle Free Of Charge

Even if you have a trusted mechanic inspect the car before purchase, nothing guarantees it will be problem-free forever. In some states, used lemon laws offer protection for consumers who buy vehicles that turn out to be defective. The details of these laws vary by state. Still, they generally involve one year or 12,000 miles, and they require dealerships to repair a vehicle free of charge if it has serious problems that compromise your safety or make the vehicle unusable for 30 days or more. The law also requires dealers to brand a vehicle as a “Buyback” and provide a warranty. It may bar the sale of certain vehicles returned by other buyers for reasons like severe defects or mechanical issues. If you have a lemon, the first step is to send the dealer a certified letter detailing the issues and when they started. Include a list of all repair attempts and save copies of the letters, repair estimates, and any other documentation you have. This will be useful if you decide to pursue a refund or replacement.

Dealerships Are Required To Replace A Vehicle

Each state’s lemon law establishes different requirements for dealerships to follow when vehicles experience issues. However, to qualify as a lemon under these laws, a problem must be severe enough to prevent the car from being used for its intended purpose. In addition, the car must be a new or used car purchased or leased and used for personal or family purposes. Before filing a lemon law claim, it’s essential to consult an experienced attorney. They will help you gather evidence and present it to an arbitration panel. Afterward, the panel will decide whether or not you deserve compensation for your lemon car. This compensation can include costs of repairs, refunds, or vehicle buybacks. Depending on the situation, a lawyer may also file a lawsuit on your behalf.

Dealerships Are Required To Provide A Full Refund

The Lemon law protects the purchaser, lessee, or transferee of a used car sold with a warranty covering engines, transmissions, drive axles, and brakes. These warranties last between 30 and 90 days, depending on how many miles are on the vehicle. If a car has problems that cannot be resolved after a reasonable number of repair attempts, the buyer may be entitled to a refund or replacement. An experienced Lemon Law attorney is vital for consumers to ensure they receive the compensation they deserve. A lawyer can help the consumer gather evidence and present it to an arbitration panel to decide the compensation owed.

In most cases, arbitration will take place before filing a lawsuit. While the settlement from a lemon law claim can be used for any purpose, most clients choose to use it to pay off their auto loan or lease. This allows them to get behind the wheel of a new vehicle without the persistent issues that plagued their previous one. In some instances, a client will also opt to finance the purchase of their new car with the money from their settlement.

Dealerships Are Required To Offer Mediation

In addition to the statutory lemon laws, many states offer additional consumer protections for used car buyers. These may include protections against dealers who misrepresent the vehicle title or tamper with the odometer. Typically, the first step in any lemon law case is to allow the manufacturer to repair the vehicle. If you feel the manufacturer needs to give you a reasonable number of attempts, you can contact an attorney to begin a dispute resolution process. The next step is to keep detailed records of any problems you have experienced with your vehicle. This documentation will help your lemon law attorney build a strong case on your behalf and increase the chances of a successful outcome. Keeping a record of your vehicle’s maintenance is also a good idea. Be sure to save work orders, receipts, and any technical service bulletins the manufacturer has issued for your model year and make. This will be important if you need to file a warranty claim with the manufacturer.