As you may know, lemon laws protect new car buyers in every state in the United States. But does lemon law also apply to used vehicles? The short answer is “it depends”, well, because lemon laws vary from state to state. Each state has its own specific laws, and they cover a variety of vehicle situations. For example, New Jersey and California cover used vehicles, while Colorado and Illinois don’t.
Though every state has different lemon laws, in most cases the law applies to used vehicles only when the vehicle is still under a manufacturer’s car warranty.
California’s Lemon Law Covers Used Vehicles, Too.
Cars covered by California Used Car Lemon Law include:
- Used cars or vehicles bought and used primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
- Used cars or vehicles with a gross weight that is below 10,000 pounds and used primarily for business purposes where 5 or fewer vehicles are registered under the company name.
- Used cars or vehicles that are sold with a written warranty.
- Lemon cars or vehicles that are repurchased by a manufacturer and then resold to consumers with a manufacturer’s warranty covering the defects.
How Many Repair Attempts Must Be Made?
The used car lemon law states that the manufacturer should be given a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defective used car. But how many repair attempts are considered “reasonable”?
In fact, this law doesn’t give an exact number. However, the reasonable number of repair attempts basically depends on how serious the defect is. In case of serious defects, two or even just one repair attempt would be enough to consider the car a lemon. Obviously, less serious malfunctions (minor electrical problems related to windows and doors) require more repair attempts.
Bear in mind that each lemon law case is different. Thus, the number of repair attempts depends on the exact nature of each case.
And one last thing: If the manufacturer or dealer fails to fix a serious defect in your used vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts, you might be able to get a refund or replacement vehicle. Best part? If you win, the manufacturer will have to pay all your legal fees.
Does the California Lemon Law Apply to Used Cars with No Warranty?
Buying a used car “as-is’’ is risky. If your newly purchased used car turns out to be defective, the seller isn’t responsible for any problems. Only you will be responsible for the cost of repairs.
However, sometimes sellers fail to follow proper legal procedures when it comes to the sale of “as is” vehicles. If this is the case, the buyer may be eligible for legal protection.
Do You Qualify? Contact a Lemon Law Attorney to Find Out!
The best way to find out if your used car qualifies under your state’s law is to call an attorney who specializes in lemon law lawsuits. Contact our qualified lemon law attorneys at the Margarian Law Firm to understand your rights and to see what options may be available to you.
Act now, before it’s too late. Call us at (818) 553 -1000 for a FREE consultation! Our lemon law experts will fight for your rights and get you the compensation you deserve!
