When it comes to
used car dealers, the law can unfortunately become the only recourse in dealing
with them. The kinds of problems encountered can range from defective
vehicles not sold as such to blatant rip-offs in which the buyer never
gets the vehicle. In fact, a Springfield, Massachusetts used car dealer
was just arrested due to several complaints of purchasers never actually
receiving the vehicles they paid for, or in some cases never obtaining
titles. The local news agency covering the case is also reminding viewers
of the state’s
lemon laws and encouraging anyone who thinks they have a case against this particular
dealer to come forward.
The legendary portrayal of a used car dealer as a shyster is in some cases
unfortunately true. While there are certainly many dealers who are honest
and forthright, profit margins are small, economic times are tough, and
the “little white lie” told in an effort to get that vehicle
moved off the lot is often all too tempting.
According to leading California lemon law attorney Norman Taylor, one of
the first defenses a buyer has is to make sure they obtain a warranty
with any used car purchased. “A buyer should consider carefully
before buying a vehicle without the valuable protections that warranties
can provide,” Taylor said. “Most commonly, used vehicles are
sold ‘as is’ or ‘with all faults.’ Such vehicles
do not come with any warranties at all, either express or implied.”
Taylor speaks from long experience. He has been a lemon law specialist
since 1987, and he and his firm, Norman Taylor and Associates, have handled
over 8,000 cases for consumers with a 98 percent success rate.
Used car buyers should make sure the dealer offers a written limited warranty
with the vehicle they are selling.
A warranty is not a guarantee that any problems will be addressed, however.
Like new car dealers, used car dealers can be notorious for not actually
fixing a problem despite several “attempts” and there are
cases on record in which the dealer manages to drag the problem out until
the warranty expires. Hence it is best to contact a lemon law attorney
right away when a buyer perceives that they might have been sold a lemon.
There are many cases in which lemon laws cover the sale of a used car.
If you feel you have purchased a lemon, it is best to
contact a qualified lemon law attorney right away.