Used Vehicle Lemon Law

The Lemon Laws for Used Cars and Trucks

A new car lemon law is in effect in every state in the U.S. But not every state has a used car lemon law.

There are many variations of the lemon law, as the rules change in every state, but the spirit of the law is basically the same: no dealer can sell a defective vehicle without consequences. As long as that car or truck as a warranty.

The lemon law for used vehicles is a little different than the lemon law for new vehicles, in that it covers a few vehicles, such as demonstration vehicles, that are not covered in the new car lemon law in some states.

Lemon Law Statutes for Used Cars and Automobiles

It's important to note that the lemon law will only cover your used vehicle if there is a warranty with it. Essentially, the used car lemon law ensures that the dealer will back up his warranty.

This law also requires that the dealer tell you what the car you want to buy has been through, such as whether or not it's ever been in an accident, flooded, or used as a demonstrator, even if you don't ask.

There are many other rules that the dealer has to follow in order to sell the vehicle to you. Failure to comply with these rules can result in you receiving a full refund if anything should go wrong.

There are states that do not have a used vehicle lemon law. In those states, you'll have to try to use the federal lemon law to gain compensation for your vehicle.

Vehicle Requirements To Be Legally Considered a Lemon

Used car lemon laws require that vehicles have under a certain number of miles to be covered by the law.

In many states, the vehicle needs to have fewer than 125,000 miles on it to be covered, though this number does change from state to state.

Under the new vehicle lemon law, only vehicles that were made after a certain date can be covered, even if they are brand new. If they are too old, then they come under the used vehicle lemon law.

Sometimes it might be hard to tell if your used vehicle is a lemon, but there are a few telltale signs to look for:

• Your vehicle has needed the same repair performed at least four times, and the problem is still not fixed.

• The systems affected are potentially life-threatening if they malfunction, such as the brakes, transmission, and engine.

• The vehicle's history includes flood damage, or an accident.

If you find that any of above apply to you, then you probably purchased a lemon and need to take action immediately.

I've Purchased Lemon Used Car. Now What?

So what do you do when you think (or know) that you have a lemon on your hands? It is best to first contact the dealer and ask for your money back. If that fails, you need to contact a lemon law lawyer.

These specialized attorneys stand a better chance of helping you win your case than a regular lawyer because they know the lemon law inside and out, and specialize in it. They will usually take your case for free, and collect their payment from the manufacturer, making it much cheaper to use a lemon law attorney than a regular lawyer.

When you contact the lawyer, make sure that you have all your receipts, and other documents relating to the vehicle and its repairs on hand to present in court, as this will give you a much better chance of winning.

The odds of winning your lemon law case are about the same in any state, so long as you have a decent lawyer, and have all of your documents in order.

Though the numbers of lemon law reports vary from state to state, they also fluctuate quite a bit within states, making it difficult to determine which state has the most lemons per capita or per number of vehicles on the road.

The lemon law is there to protect you, and to make sure that you get the justice you deserve if your car happens to break down and does not conform to the warranty.

But you must make sure that you are fully prepared to present your case if your vehicle is a lemon, because there are many specifics, and a lot of conditions that need to be met for you to win your lemon law case.

Be prepared, and vigilant, and there is no reason why you cannot win your used vehicle lemon law case, and get everything that you deserve.