Does Lemon Law Apply to Used Cars?

Before we walk through if there is such thing as used car lemon law, the first thing we would need to ask is “what is lemon law?” Lemon laws were created to protect car buyers from unreliable cars, unscrupulous sellers, and warranty practices that are unfair and unreasonable. Lemon law applies to both new and used vehicles, but it becomes a little more complicated when pre-owned vehicles are involved. Not all states offer the same protection for used car buyers, which is why you should learn more about if your state utilizes lemon laws. 

Read on to learn more about used car lemon laws, and then visit us whenever you are near Harrisonville or Harrisonville! 

How Do Lemon Laws Work?

There’s a federal lemon law, as well as individual state laws, depending on which of the states you are in. The issue with cars must occur while the car is still covered under warranty. Under federal law, there must be a record of attempts to fix the problem and the car must be 100% unusable for at least 30 consecutive or non-consecutive days because of repairs.

Used Car Lemon Laws 

As of now, only the following states have used car lemon laws in place: 

• Connecticut
• California
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• New York

These used car lemon laws are rarely applied and are rarely enforced. Buying a used car is riskier than buying a brand-new car from a reputable dealership, so law requires sellers to disclose major accidents. Unfortunately, some sellers have withheld crucial information or take part in illegal practices to change the mileage of the vehicle.

What to Keep in Mind as a Buyer 

A Belton buyer should walk through every aspect of the vehicle before moving forward with a purchase. Vehicles can be sold in any condition, but if you are buying a used car, you should take steps to ensure the car is worth your money:

• Visually inspect the car yourself.
• Test drive the car. See how to drives and take note of anything that seems “off.”
• Have a mechanic complete a visual and mechanical inspection to ensure there are no major problems. 

Shop Used Cars for Sale at Show Me Auto Mall! 

Contact us online or call us at 816-887-2886 to schedule a test drive with any one of our models. In the meantime, browse our pre-owned vehicle specials for exciting offers.