If you have decided to buy a used car in California give yourself some peace of mind and study the lemon law. As long as your used car was sold to you with a express, written warranty you are covered by the California Lemon Law. This is basically the seller or manufacturer's written promise to repair or replace defective parts for a stated period of time.
In theory if you buy a used car in California you are legally entitled to have the defects repaired or a replacement given as long as you have the aforesaid warranty. However you could still be charged for use prior to the defect arising. This charge is not easy to calculate as there is no set formula as there is with new vehicles.
The list below should help you avoid buying a lemon and if you do get stitched up you will have the relevant paper work to support your claim.
- Don't trust what the dealer says. Check the history of the car!
- Unless you are expert status I recommend you do not buy a used car without a warranty.
- Check the warranty that is being offered with your used car carefully as warranties are not standard.
- Always have the car checked by an independent professional. If anything goes wrong you will be glad you did.
- Take the vehicle for a drive to check out how it runs and don't be afraid to point out anything to the dealer that you don'tlike.
- DO NOT BUY if you have any doubts regarding the vehicle or the way in which the dealer is presenting the car.
Legal advice is strongly recommended should the need arise.
There is nothing worse than getting home only to find that we have bought a lemon. Buying a used car can be a minefield. To avoid any trouble and to get the best car for the best price you need to research thoroughly and be prepared to negotiate. To give you the edge you need to know the dealer's tricks and tactics. Get your used car buyers guide and beat the dealer at his own game. Knowing the game can save you thousands of dollars and take away any stress involved.
