Lemon Law Homepage

Question: Even though a car is listed as is no warranty at a used car lot is there some kind of 30 day lemon law?

(Posted by: reggie s on 2009-11-10 22:20:06)

Posted by: julian on 2009-11-10, 22:25:20

Every state has a lemon law.don't think its 30 days.but you have to look it up in your state call the DVM and thay can tell you.

Posted by: excelblue on 2009-11-10, 22:34:45

It depends on the state. Some do, some don't. For example, in California, there is no lemon law for used cars. It's all sold as-is. Even if it breaks down before you leave the dealership (but after the sale), they are technically protected. If this is the case with your state, let that be a hard lesson and make sure to get a qualified mechanic to do detailed inspections before buying used. It also explains why new cars can sometimes be very popular; the extra $3000 is like a guarantee that it won't be a lemon.

Posted by: Karle on 2009-11-10, 23:03:18

Not normally but sum places have like e a 48 hour or 2 week...depends on were u live....as for lemon laws they refer to the same part breaking 3 times due to vehicle defect so don't really apply to ur situation......if ur making payments u can threaten to stop paying....if u paid cash u can take it back and bitch a lot....and if the dealer cares about there reputation then they might fix it......but in most cases u are SOL.....which is y u shud always pay for a mechanic to do a check on any vehicle u buy.....

Posted by: Bob on 2009-11-11, 00:12:55

As long as a secondhand car is sold with a written and specific warranty, it qualifies under the California Lemon Law. The car should not have been purchased for commercial purposes. As with all other applications for vehicles, the California Used Car Lemon Law only covers a secondhand car that was purchased for personal, family or household use. Care should be taken to have the defects and inherent problems of the car established by a certified mechanic at the time of purchase. If the vehicle was bought without a warranty that covers these defects, the buyer will have a very difficult time making a case under the California Used Car Lemon Law. Unscrupulous sellers will not shy away from trying to sell a buyer a ‘lemon’ previously returned for these very defects. California Used Car Lemon Law also applies to leased vehicles, as long as they have been leased under warranty. With all vehicles, such a warranty is not invalid once 18,000 miles of road use or 18 months since purchase have expired, if the warranty specifies a higher mileage or period. As long as the first repair attempt took place within the specified warranty period, a leased or purchased vehicle can qualify under the California Used Car Lemon Law even after that period. Basically, one can get a refund or complete, satisfactory repair for a secondhand purchased or leased vehicle as easily as one can for a brand-new car, as long as the used car was purchased for private, non-commercial use. Secondhand cars are not the only vehicles covered by the California Used Car Lemon Law. It applies equally to recreational vehicles (RVs), motor homes of all kinds, motorcycles, boats and other vehicles.

Posted by: cr4zyrunn3r on 2009-11-11, 00:14:01

If the car is used and sold before, it should not be a lemon. It is illegal to sell a lemon if I can remember. You can sue the company and get your money back. Get your mechanic to inspect the car before driving it off the lot.

Posted by: alfredb1979 on 2009-11-11, 00:26:38

Nope. You have two totally different ideas mixed up. There are NO cooling off periods ANYWHERE where you can return a vehicle unless it is agreed upon beforehand and in writing. You have to buy this right at the time of sale in Cali. Lemon law depends on the state yo live in, most have nothing aside from used cars are sold AS IS. If you live in one of the few commie states that has such used car lemon laws, there are mileage and price limits on used cars....in other words, a $200 POS you bought with 400,000 miles on it will not qualify for a warranty under state law as Massachusetts would require.

Posted by: Scott H on 2009-11-11, 06:21:23

Nope. Used cars are sold "as is/ no warranty " and you are not protected by lemon laws. You take your chances when you buy a used car.

Posted by: Tom B on 2009-11-12, 10:06:14

NO! When you buy afor sale as is car or truck or any other item you buy it as is no ifs an's or but's about it unless you live in Massachusetts then you have some leeway . there the vehicle must pass state inspection for the sale to be finale.