Buying a faulty vehicle can lead to a lot of frustration. Whether purchasing the ride yourself or as a gift, this can be a significant disappointment that may turn out to be a costly affair. Luckily, there are multiple laws to protect unsuspecting customers from car dealers selling faulty vehicles. These vary between states, and you can get compensated if you follow the legal procedure.
How can I avoid purchasing a lemon?
It can be challenging to determine whether a car is in excellent condition or faulty. Nevertheless, there are ways to ascertain this, which saves a lot of stress. First of all, don’t rush to seal the deal, have a professional inspect the vehicle for any issues before purchasing.
Also, perform a road test and watch out for squeaky sounds and faulty brakes. If going for a used car, ensure that the window sticker is present and the car is still under warranty. If not, you may have to shoulder all the repair expenses.
Check out quick facts to know about lemon car laws:
- Not all faulty vehicles qualify to be lemons.
Your car may have a few issues upon purchase, but this doesn’t make it a lemon. Lemon cars have significant defects that affect their functioning. If you attempt repairing the vehicle without success, consider returning it to the manufacturer for further examination. In most cases, the auto is deemed to be lemon after several repair attempts by the manufacturer.
If this happens, contact a skilled attorney with vast experience in lemon auto laws. If your car is a FORD, and you lack adequate information on the Ford lemon law, an attorney can guide you throughout the buyback program.
- You may qualify for a refund or replacement.
After buying a lemon car, contact the manufacturer and have them repair the car. If the manufacturer cannot fix the problem or cater to the repair bills, you may be entitled to compensation as per your state’s laws.
However, you may qualify for a lower amount than the initial purchase value due to depreciation. The process takes time and involves multiple steps, hence the need to consult an attorney. If you still love the exact car make and model, you can still negotiate with the manufacturer for replacement.
- It’s wise to settle lemon car claims out of court.
Lemon car claims take months or years. Settling the case outside court benefits both parties and saves a lot of time and frustration. If you have no other car or want to shorten the claim period, and out of arrangement would be ideal. However, don’t sign a deal with the car manufacturer by yourself; engage an attorney to ensure a legally binding agreement. This way, you’ll likely get the best deals and avoid mistakes or regrets later on.
In summary, there are various laws governing lemon cars. If you happen to buy a lemon car, research the laws in your state and seek help from a lemon car attorney. The professional will evaluate your eligibility for compensation and guide you throughout the process.