| Buying an automobile, truck, or sport utility vehicle is | | | | refund within three days of purchase. Again, generally |
| often a daunting, stressful and expensive process. | | | | not true. It may be true if you buy a toaster, but for |
| People pay more money for their cars than for just | | | | large purchases such as a car, once you buy it, you |
| about anything other than their homes. And once the | | | | own it. For that reason, make sure that you test |
| vehicle has been purchased, one hopes that it will run | | | | drive any new vehicle that you are thinking about |
| just fine for the foreseeable future. | | | | buying. And not just one like it - drive the exact car |
| But sometimes things go wrong. For those situations, | | | | you intend to buy. If you are buying a used car, have |
| every state has passed a lemon law, a statute that | | | | an independent mechanic check it out before you |
| exists to backup the manufacturer's written warranty | | | | buy to make sure that it is in good order. |
| that comes with the vehicle. But most people don't | | | | # The dealer must inform you if the vehicle has been |
| know anything about lemon laws and rarely give | | | | in an accident. Most states do not require this. |
| them a thought until something goes wrong. And | | | | Furthermore, it's not always possible for a dealer to |
| once people start to given lemon laws some thought, | | | | even know if a vehicle has previously been in an |
| they often realize that what they thought they | | | | accident. Dealers are, however, generally required to |
| knew about them is wrong. | | | | disclose information about any known damage to the |
| Here are a few things about lemon laws that are | | | | vehicle. Don't expect the dealer to be forthcoming |
| often misunderstood: | | | | with information that he or she may not necessarily |
| # Used cars are covered under state lemon laws. | | | | want you to know. Be proactive and ask a lot of |
| Generally, this is not true. Most states' lemon laws | | | | questions. And again, if it's a used car, be sure to |
| cover the original owner of a new car only. If you | | | | have an independent mechanic look it over before |
| are the second owner of a car, even if it is still under | | | | you buy. |
| warranty, you may find that your state's lemon law | | | | Lemon laws are there to protect consumers from |
| doesn't protect you. There are a few states that | | | | defects in workmanship and to make sure that the |
| cover the car during the duration of the warranty | | | | dealer and/or manufacturer will repair any problems |
| regardless of the number of owners and a few that | | | | that arise during the warranty period. But a lemon law |
| even have special lemon law for used cars. If in | | | | is no substitute for diligence or research on the part |
| doubt, check with your state's Attorney General's | | | | of the buyer. Know what you are getting into before |
| office. | | | | you buy a car, truck or SUV. |
| # If you buy a new car, you may return it for a | | | | |