Lemon
Laws
A "lemon law" is a law designed to protect car buyers from
bogus deals. The lemon laws evolved during the 1960s as part
of a broader push for more expansive consumer protection.
That being said, many dealers--especially used car dealers
and individual sellers--regularly violate the provisions of
the lemon laws and swindle consumers out of millions of dollars.
Since lemon laws vary from state to state, it's important
to read the fine print of your leasing or buying agreement
to make sure that your seller is above board. One way to do
this is to write down the conversations you have with your
dealer and technicians. Keep a log of the work done, the date
and time of the work, and the specifics of the discussion.
You can use this information in court if action needs to be
taken down the line.
Protect Yourself with Knowledge of the Lemon Laws
If your car has been experiencing regular mechanical trouble,
draw up a timeline of the technical repairs. In many cases,
dealers and technicians will discourage you from applying
for compensation under the lemon laws by trying to convince
you that the mechanical problems you're experiencing are minor.
This is a common tactic, so don't be duped. If you suspect
a problem, get legal help.
One way to prevent wrangling over your car's technical problems
is to request what's known as a Technical Service Bulletin
early on. A TSB details specifics problems with car models.
Dealers won't necessarily automatically present you with this
information, so it's a smart move to ask, particularly if
you are buying or leasing an unusual make or model.
Common questions to ask your dealer include: was the car/truck/van
in an accident prior to customer delivery? What is the full
mechanical history of the vehicle? Are there typical problems
associated with your make/model? If you don't get satisfactory
answers to these, consider shopping elsewhere or talking to
a lemon law lawyer.
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