Once you’ve made the decision to purchase a used vehicle, it’s important to know how to protect yourself under lemon law type laws. The lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. suggest the following things when selecting a used vehicle:
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BUY A “CERTIFIED PRE-OWNED” CAR!
Certified pre-owned vehicles are typically inspected to make sure they meet certain manufacturer specifications, and usually come with a warranty or guarantee that the vehicle will perform in a certain way or that the vehicle will be repaired if something is goes wrong with it.
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BUY A CAR THAT IS BETWEEN 1 AND 3 YEARS OLD!
If you can, purchase a vehicle that is still under the factory warranty—it will be cheaper than a new vehicle and you will have some peace of mind in driving it off the lot knowing that defects should be repaired under the warranty. Most cars these days come with a 3 year/36,000 mile warranty, but always check with the dealer to learn the terms of the written warranty.
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NEGOTIATE FOR A WRITTEN WARRANTY FROM THE DEALER ON YOUR OWN!
If the vehicle you’ve selected is not “certified” and is outside the manufacturer’s warranty, ask the dealership to issue a written warranty. Most aspects of a car sale are negotiable, and if you obtain a warranty on the vehicle (even if it is only 3 months long), you can rest a little easier in knowing that the dealer will stand behind its product.
The common thread here is that all of these used vehicles mentioned above come with warranties. “Lemon laws” and related laws are actually “breach of warranty” laws without a written warranty on your vehicle, you assume the risk of repairs and are usually not afforded protection under lemon laws.
You may have rights under other consumer protection laws if a major misrepresentation about the vehicle was made, e.g. if it was involved in an accident or has a salvage title and that information was not disclosed, even if you do not have a warranty. If you have questions about whether you have rights regarding your vehicle, you should call the experienced lemon law attorneys at Krohn & Moss, Ltd. Our lemon law attorneys will take time to talk to you about your rights and will let you know if they can help. Visit www.YOURLEMONLAWRIGHTS.com or call 1-800-US-LEMON to submit your information to see if we can help.
– Adam Maxwell, Attorney at Law