What is the Lemon Law for Used Cars?

If you’ve recently purchased a used vehicle and suspect that it may be a lemon, you may want to consult your particular state’s lemon law statutes for used cars. Some states have laws that particularly address used vehicles, and some states only protect vehicles under warranty.

However, according to the National Consumer Law Center, there are more ways that the government could protect your vehicle purchase even if your vehicle was sold “as-is,” such as:

• Your odometer was misrepresentative or altered
• The sale was deceptive or unfair, therefore making it in violation of the state’s law
• Fraudulent claims
• Your title wasn’t clean
• The manufacturers’ warranty overrides the warranty provided by the dealership
• Express warranties apply, such as the vehicle’s advertising or dealerships verbal declarations
• Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act limitations on sales of pre-owned vehicles
• Your state’s jurisdictions prohibit “as-is” sales
• Your state’s special laws on “as-is” sales
• The disclaimers were improperly worded or not effectively disclosed
• The disclaimers were made in bad faith or unconscionable circumstances

States with Lemon Laws

Every state in the United States has its own lemon laws, and they can differ based on the answers to the following questions:

• How long after a purchase does the consumer have lemon law rights?
• Do my state’s lemon laws cover used cars?
• How many times does the manufacturer get to attempt to repair the vehicle?
• Do individuals leasing vehicles have different rights than those who purchased?
• Do my state’s lemon laws cover other vehicles like motorcycles, recreational vehicles, commercial vehicles, and other products?
• How does my state determine the mileage offset costs?

Some manufacturers will want you to believe that your state doesn’t cover your vehicle purchase in its lemon laws when they actually do. It’s important to speak with an experienced attorney specializing in lemon law in your state to ensure that you get a refund or a vehicle that isn’t defective.

How Long Do I Have to File a Lemon Law Complaint?

Refer to your state’s laws about the warranty terms, the time allowed after purchase, and how many miles your vehicle is covered after delivery.