You have just bought your dream car! You jump in the front seat, slide open the sunroof, turn on the music and feel like you’re sitting in the lap of luxury. Now you’re sitting in traffic and listening to a whirring sound! Where is it coming from? Please God, don’t let it be in the engine! Hmm, looks like your newly purchased car decided to die! What to do? Well, it’s easy to panic and stress, but it’s not the end of the world! So, you better keep your cool, minimize confusion and empower yourself with information and know your rights as a consumer. Who knows, maybe it turns out you have bought a lemon, and you can get your money back!
So, keep reading this page to find a general overview of lemon law in the United States and protect yourself as a consumer! Ready?
What is Lemon Law?
Lemon Laws are state and federal laws that protect consumers who have purchased defective vehicles. Lemon Laws vary from state-to-state, and some of the requirements may be slightly different. Thus, your rights will depend on the laws of the particular state where you live or where you bought the car. So, it’s a must for you to check your state’s Lemon Law guide at the first sign of trouble.
What Qualifies a Car as a Lemon?
Though each state has its own lemon law, in most states, the car must have a “substantial defect” that isn’t caused by the owner after the purchase and continue to have the defect after a number of repair attempts in order to qualify as a lemon.
But what is a “substantial defect”, you ask? Good question! A substantial defect is a serious defect that affects the safety, value, and reliability of the vehicle, such as faulty brakes or steering (the substantial defect must occur within a certain time period or within a certain number of miles.) If this is about your new defective car, schedule an appointment with a mechanic as soon as possible. Once you prove that the dealer or manufacturer made a “reasonable” number of attempts and failed to fix the substantial defect, your car will qualify as a lemon.
Can the Lemon Law Apply to Used Cars?
Yeah, this is one of the most frequently asked questions by those who have purchased used vehicles with defects and safety issues that can’t be repaired!
In fact, while in most states lemon laws cover new car sales only, the frequency and severity of consumers’ used car problems have led some states to pass new laws specifically for used car buyers!
The major requirement of this law is that the vehicle must still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. But again, don’t forget to investigate laws of your state to determine whether your used car is protected under your state’s lemon law!
What to Do if You Believe Your Car Meets the Criteria Above?
While the lemon law offers lots of protection for car owners like you and me, both manufacturers and dealerships know how to deal with lemon law claims and will certainly make it hard for you to prove your car is a lemon. Thus, we highly recommend you contact an attorney with experience dealing with lemons and manufacturers. For example, our skillful attorneys at Margarian Law Firm will help you understand the various aspects of the lemon law and fight for your consumer rights. So, don’t hesitate to call us today at (818) 553-1000 and say goodbye to your lemon!
What If You Win Your Lemon Law Case?
With the help of our talented lemon law attorneys, you have won your case! Now what? You will either get a full refund of the purchase or a replacement! Now, after a little break, it’s time to start a road trip with the music up and windows down with your new car!
