Lemon Laws - Protecting Consumer Rights

By Garry L. Neale

Lemon Laws were established in 1978 as a way to ensure consumers have a voice if their car is not repaired properly or if the vehicle they have purchased is in constant need of repairs. Lemon laws protect the rights of the individual to drive a car that is safe and in good working condition.

Before any lemon law existed, consumers were left in the dark if their vehicle didn't work properly or was always breaking down. Basically, you were at the mercy of the manufacturer or auto repair shop and had no real power to fight back. Oftentimes car owners were forced to continually pay for expensive repairs out of their own pocket - not something everyone could easily afford to do. Lemon laws, however, have changed all that.

In addition, constant repairs also meant missing work, or being forced to find other means of transportation while the car was in the shop. But lemon laws do more than just help the consumer. Lemon laws also make life easier for the manufacturer because it allows companies to learn from their mistakes, improve customer service, and have knowledge of any problems customers may be having with their cars. The lemon law can actually make the manufacturer aware of problems beforehand, in order to avoid a lawsuit.

The lemon law allows the consumer to contact the manufacturer if something is wrong with the vehicle so that the situation is remedied before things spiral out of control. The lemon law then allows the company to find out what the problem is and gives them a chance to make corrections. Once the consumer has allowed for such a resolution to occur, if the problem still isn't solved, the lemon law makes it possible to seek legal recourse.

But an automobile lemon law is not necessarily straightforward. You can claim a vehicle only if it fits under certain requirements of the automobile lemon law. For instance, a basic requirement is that the dealer and manufacturer have been given a certain amount of time to make amends. However, to ensure everything is properly documented for the automobile lemon law, make sure you keep copies of all repairs and work orders. With an automobile lemon law, it's always best to keep records. This is the only way to ensure you have the automobile lemon law working for you.

What about used cars? Is there a used car lemon law? The short answer is, "yes," there is a used car lemon law put in place to protect the purchase of a used car, which can be infinitely more complicated. Of course, used cars can run into more problems than new vehicles, which is why the used car lemon law covers different issues. Purchasing from a used car dealer is not necessarily easy for the consumer, which is why the used car lemon law is so important. The used car lemon law protects you when you need it most.

It's important to note that lemon laws can change from state to state. Laws in Texas, California, New York, and Florida may differ. Before you make any claims, do some research on the lemon laws in your state. The requirements for a claim in Texas may vary widely from those in California, New York, or Florida. The best thing you can do is become an informed consumer, and you will be protected.

To learn more about how Lemon Laws protect your rights, check out the Free Consumer

Automobile Lemon Law

By Charles Stubbs

The automobile lemon laws were designed to protect car buyers from irreparable manufacturers' defects in automobiles that should be ordinarily be covered under warranty.

So How Did The Lemon Laws Come About?

Consumer demand for lemon law protection started to swell from around 1972, when more than one million people were found to have paid for vehicles that had problems that dealers could not, or would not, repair. Connecticut and California were the first states to adopt an automobile lemon law, and other states were quick to follow. They've had a dramatic effect on vehicle quality and today, with the increased accountability demanded by lemon laws, claims have dropped to about 100,000 new cases a year.

So What Is Covered Under Lemon Law?

Every state now has an automobile lemon law and the specifics of each vary widely. However, as a general guideline, you are considered a candidate for protection under the lemon law if you have a serious problem (or, in certain cases, a string of minor problems) that falls under your car warranty. A problem is usually considered serious when it threatens the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.

Some examples of serious problems that would probably be covered include brake failure, transmission problems, and repeated non-starts. The lemon law in most states will not cover thing like funny noises, loose cup holders, and peeling paint - most times that's just fair wear and tear.

The type or ownership of vehicles is also important when it comes to protection under the lemon law. In some states, leased vehicles are covered as well as wholly owned vehicles. Others exclude automobiles purchased for business purposes or special kinds of vehicles such as RVs and motorcycles. Even used vehicles may be covered if they come with a car warranty.

Inevitably, some shady car dealers try and write a clause in sales contracts that states that no lemon law claims can be made against the vehicle. These provisions are totally invalid and can be ignored - as long as your vehicle has a car warranty and qualifies under the other automobile lemon law provisions, you will be covered no matter what you originally signed.

Before any lemon law comes into effect you must give the manufacturer ample opportunity to repair the problem in question. This is usually defined as a specific number of repair attempts (for example, four attempts to repair the same problem) or a certain amount of time when the vehicle is out of action (for example, four weeks). A life-threatening vehicle defect may require only one attempt at repair before falling under the lemon law.

So What Happens if I Qualify for the Automobile Lemon Law?

If you believe that you qualify for protection you must file a claim with the manufacturer within a certain period of time. Usually, the case will then be brought for arbitration with the manufacturer. If you win your case, you will most often receive a replacement vehicle or a refund of your purchase price minus a fee for vehicle use.

Most laws restrict but the lemon laws, almost uniquely, have empowered thousands of American consumers in putting right some very obvious wrongs. For specific detail on your situation visit Lemon Law Advice Made Easy and get the power.

The Lemon Law - Taking The Law Into Your Own Hands

By Charles Stubbs

The automobile lemon laws were designed to protect car buyers from irreparable manufacturers' defects in automobiles that should be ordinarily be covered under warranty.

So How Did The Lemon Laws Come About?

Consumer demand for lemon law protection started to swell from around 1972, when more than one million people were found to have paid for vehicles that had problems that dealers could not, or would not, repair. Connecticut and California were the first states to adopt an automobile lemon law, and other states were quick to follow. They've had a dramatic effect on vehicle quality and today, with the increased accountability demanded by lemon laws, claims have dropped to about 100,000 new cases a year.

So What Is Covered Under Lemon Law?

Every state now has an automobile lemon law and the specifics of each vary widely. However, as a general guideline, you are considered a candidate for protection under the lemon law if you have a serious problem (or, in certain cases, a string of minor problems) that falls under your car warranty. A problem is usually considered serious when it threatens the use, value, or safety of the vehicle.

Some examples of serious problems that would probably be covered include brake failure, transmission problems, and repeated non-starts. The lemon law in most states will not cover thing like funny noises, loose cup holders, and peeling paint - most times that's just fair wear and tear.

The type or ownership of vehicles is also important when it comes to protection under the lemon law. In some states, leased vehicles are covered as well as wholly owned vehicles. Others exclude automobiles purchased for business purposes or special kinds of vehicles such as RVs and motorcycles. Even used vehicles may be covered if they come with a car warranty.

Inevitably, some shady car dealers try and write a clause in sales contracts that states that no lemon law claims can be made against the vehicle. These provisions are totally invalid and can be ignored - as long as your vehicle has a car warranty and qualifies under the other automobile lemon law provisions, you will be covered no matter what you originally signed.

Before any lemon law comes into effect you must give the manufacturer ample opportunity to repair the problem in question. This is usually defined as a specific number of repair attempts (for example, four attempts to repair the same problem) or a certain amount of time when the vehicle is out of action (for example, four weeks). A life-threatening vehicle defect may require only one attempt at repair before falling under the lemon law.

So What Happens if I Qualify for the Automobile Lemon Law?

If you believe that you qualify for protection you must file a claim with the manufacturer within a certain period of time. Usually, the case will then be brought for arbitration with the manufacturer. If you win your case, you will most often receive a replacement vehicle or a refund of your purchase price minus a fee for vehicle use.

Most laws restrict but the lemon laws, almost uniquely, have empowered thousands of American consumers in putting right some very obvious wrongs. For specific detail on your situation visit Lemon Law Advice Made Easy and get the power.