Does Lemon Law Apply to Used Cars?

What is a lemon law? Lemon laws were created to protect car buyers from unreliable vehicles, unscrupulous dealers, and unfair warranty practices. While these laws apply to new and used cars, it can get trickier when a pre-owned vehicle is involved. But does lemon law apply to used cars? Not every state offers the same protection for pre-owned car buyers, so it’s important to research everything when buying one of these models. Learn about used car lemon laws with the team at Exceptional Motorcar near Lima!

How Do Lemon Laws Work?

There’s a federal lemon law, alongside individual state laws that vary, depending on the state in which you reside. In any case, the issue/s with the car must occur while the vehicle is still covered under warranty. Under federal law, there must be a record of attempts to fix the problem and the model must be 100% unusable because of repairs for at least 30 days (Doesn’t have to be consecutively). 

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

While Ohio does have a new car lemon law, it does not apply to vehicles over a year old and has been driven more than 18,000 miles. Purchasing a used model from an unfamiliar seller is riskier than buying a brand-new car from a reputable dealership. The law requires sellers to disclose major accidents, but that doesn’t stop some sellers from withholding crucial information or taking part in illegal practices to change the car’s mileage.

What to Keep in Mind as a Buyer 

Buyers should inspect every aspect of the car they’re considering before moving forward with the transaction. Vehicles can be sold in any condition (whether they’re road legal or not is another matter), but if you’re buying a used car, you should take steps to ensure the car is worth your money, including:

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

Sellers aren’t required to sell a car in “perfect” condition. So, lemon laws won’t apply to new or unnoticed issues with the used car. Taking the steps listed above can help you avoid inconvenient and costly repairs. 

Shop Used Cars for Sale at Exceptional Motorcar! 

Now that you’ve learned about used car lemon laws, turn to one of the most experienced Toledo-area dealerships. At Exceptional Motorcar, we hand-pick all our used and certified pre-owned models for reliability, quality, and cleanliness. Explore our pre-owned specials and see what catches your eye. Discover the best selection of used vehicles near Findlay with Exceptional Motorcar!