Lemon Law Tips—How To Avoid a Lemon,
And What To Do When You Can't

Tips for Avoiding a Lemon Vehicle or Other Product

If you've ever bought a lemon vehicle, or know someone who has, you know that buying a lemon is very disappointing. The lemon law tips on this page will help you avoid buying a lemon. And if you already have one, you'll find some tips on dealing with it.

How Not To Buy a Lemon

Test Drive It

A test drive is a must! If you didn't test drive and you got a lemon, it's going to be pretty hard to get any lemon law compensation.

Read the Warranty

Read the warranty before you buy any vehicle. If you know that the warranty is no good or that the car may not live up to it, don't buy the car. If you must, ask for the car to be repaired before you purchase it.

Don't Believe the Hype!

People who sell cars are in it to make money, not to do you a favor. If the car is too nice for the price, find out why.

If You Have a Lemon Automobile

If you already have a lemon, the following lemon law tips will help ensure that you are fully reimbursed.

Make Notes About Everything

Proper and detailed documentation is a must for any lemon law issue. If you say that something is wrong with the car, you need something to back that up.

Take Your Car to a Repair Shop

Take the car to a shop if you can. Get an estimate of the repairs and any notes that the mechanic may have made about what's wrong with the car, and how and when it occurred, if possible.

Keep Copies of Everything!

Keep copies of every piece of documentation you have regarding your car, its history, the warranty, and any and all written communications with the dealer and/or manufacturer. If you call them, write notes while on the call or immediately afterwards. Losing just one piece of valuable documentation could cost you your lemon law case.

Be Persistent

The dealer will say they haven't violated any law. Be persistent and let them know that you will pursue other measures if necessary.

Making Lemonade From a Lemon

Getting a lemon car is never any fun. Use these lemon law tips to avoid buying a problem vehicle or other product. And if you already have a lemon, use these tips, and the advice and information in Lemon Law Types, to turn yours into lemonade.