Auto Buying and the
Lemon Laws
by Nikki Willhite
www.allthingsfrugal.com
It's always risky buying a car, whether it's new or used. However there
are some safeguards to minimize your risk.
Whether you are buying a new or used car, be sure and do
your research on auto reliability, gas mileage, resale value, and fair
market price. You may also want to check insurance rates. For saving
money on insurance, here is an article on the website
Saving Money on
Auto Insurance
If you are buying a used vehicle you may also want to take it to
a mechanic to check out. The one thing you do not want to forget to do is to run
the VIN number (Vehicle Identification Number) through a database to find out
more about the history of the car.
Good bodywork can disguise a lot of problems if it has been in
an accident. It may even have been totaled and rebuilt. We have a lot of shops
that do that in our area. You want to avoid them like the plague!
Here are some URL's to do research online:
You would think that if you pay the money for a brand new car
you would be safe. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Many new cars are
built with serious defects. That is where the "lemon laws" comes into effect.
Basically, under the lemon laws, you are covered for a year if your car turns
out to have mechanical problems. The dealer who sold you the car either has to
return your money, or exchange your car. However, the dealer will be allowed to
subtract money for the depreciation of your car.
In order for your car to qualify for coverage under the lemon laws, you
must have experienced one of the following:
*Four attempts to fix a problem without success, using both the
dealer and manufacturer.
*The inability to drive your car for 30 days or more because of
any mechanical problems. You should not have to go to court to get your money
back under these laws. There are some federally approved arbitration programs
that your dealer may be affiliated with. If that is the case, you will have to
first submit your claim to them. If you were unhappy with the outcome, then you
would have to go to court.
If this happens to you, be sure and check with your state's
Attorney General's office for full details on how these laws apply in your
state. Keep accurate records. Minimize your risk, and protect your pocketbook!