It should not surprise you that at some point in your life you will buy a vehicle and have several things go wrong with it all at once. You may question if you have purchased a “lemon,” which by federal and state definitions is any vehicle that has failed to operate and/or failed to operate in a safe manner for all concerned within the first month of ownership. This only applies to vehicles that have a warranty, which typically excludes most private sellers because private sellers cannot include a warranty on a used vehicle. When a dealership sells you a lemon, here is how to make legal lemonade.
Review the Lemon Law for Your Own State
If you think you bought a lemon, the first thing you need to do is check with your state’s own lemon laws. Essentially, the lemon law is the same in most states, but there are a few key differences. For example, the Missouri lemon law states that any vehicle that is out of commission and in need of repairs more than four times in the first thirty days of ownership and having a warranty attached to the vehicle requires the dealership to buy the car back at no loss or financial hardship to you.
Other states may only require that the repairs all be made free of charge. The Missouri lemon law does not apply to used cars.
Find a Lawyer
If and when the dealership refuses to fix things or buy back your vehicle, you can sue. Find a lawyer through Lemon Law America. They have a search engine to help you find a reputable lemon law lawyer in your state.
