While it may be tempting to purchase the first used car that you see, especially if the price is right, there are a few issues relating to a vehicle’s history that you may want to check first. The Seattle Medium recently reported that a car dealer in Washington failed to provide used car buyers with lemon law resale notices on more than one occasion. The lemon law in Washington requires used car dealers to properly disclose the circumstances of a vehicle’s history, which includes whether it was returned to the manufacturer under a Lemon buyback program.
According to the article, the Washington dealership did not inform an SUV buyer that the vehicle had been returned to the manufacturer under a Lemon buyback program and then resold at a California auction. In response to the incident of used car fraud, the Washington Consumer Protection Division Chief of the State Attorney General’s Office stated that although a consumer may purchase a vehicle if he or she knows it may have potential problems due to its history, a consumer should at least be aware of these issues.
While this particular used car fraud case occurred in Washington, similar situations arise in California. Before you buy a used car in California, refer to the California DMV’s website to learn more about vehicle history disclosure requirements.
While all dealerships and sellers are legally obligated to disclose a vehicle’s salvage title and history, the law is more difficult to enforce than most consumers realize. If you believe that the seller or dealer who sold you your used car did not disclose its correct vehicle history, contact Howard D. Silver. As a skilled used car fraud attorney in California, Howard Silver can evaluate your specific situation and help you decide on the best course of action. Call 1-866-49-LEMON today for a free consultation.
A Texas man is claiming that an auto dealer illegally sold him a totaled vehicle. The dealer, however, denied knowledge of the vehicle’s history. According to a news report on KIAH-TV, the consumer discovered the problem two months after purchase, when he tried unsuccessfully to repair the vehicle’s brakes.
The consumer stated in the report that he cannot get auto insurance because of the vehicle history and cannot sell the car. This story is an unfortunate reminder about why consumers need to be extremely cautious and do their research before buying a used car.
Used car fraud occurs when a dealer misrepresents the condition or history of the vehicle. Used car fraud can come in many forms and happens more often than most consumers realize. That is why it is important for consumers to remember that it is the responsibility of the dealer to inform them if:
- The vehicle has been declared a total loss
- It is a lemon law buyback
- It has a salvage title
- It was a prior rental
If you have been the victim of used car fraud in California, please contact experienced California used car fraud attorney Howard D. Silver. Mr. Silver has a substantial track record helping victims of auto fraud and unfair business practices. Call 866-49-LEMON today for a free consultation.
Welcome to the lemon law blog of the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver. In this blog, we will be discussing some of the areas of law that the firm practices in California as well as national lemon law news, consumer protection rights and other pertinent legal issues on a country-wide level to provide readers with valuable automotive information and resources.
Lemon laws vary from state to state, but the emphasis on consumer protection is widespread. Americans have valued the privilege of buying cars for decades not only as vital modes of transportation, but as reflections of our persona. Whether we would like to admit it or not, cars throughout the United States may not always maintain their performance, usefulness, or safety for the amount of time we expect for a variety of reasons. This lemon law blog will address automotive matters relating to what a consumer can do if a vehicle fails to function properly or does not conform to its warranty. We will also write about different consumer guides to buying new and used vehicles as well as covering a range of steps to protect consumers from auto repair fraud and used car fraud.
Car owners in the U.S. are also greatly affected by unfair business practices in which a consumer may be deceived or mislead when trying to obtain money that is owed to them for expenses associated with a vehicle. Automotive fraud has become a bigger problem than ever before due to the struggling economy, the high costs of auto repair and heightened consumer desire to purchase used cars to save money. Consumers who have requested a refund for a defective vehicle and received nothing in return may qualify under the lemon law for the state in which they live to take certain legal action.
The Law Offices of Howard D. Silver’s blog will serve as a forum for Howard D. Silver to share his experience in California automotive lemon law, used car lemon law and auto repair fraud, as well as unfair and deceptive business practices in relation to his knowledge of these issues on a national scope. In assisting his clients in receiving money back or a replacement vehicle for when a car does not conform to the warranty after a reasonable number of repair attempts, Howard D. Silver recognizes the importance of consumers understanding the lemon law on a national level. Please visit the lemon law blog again for more lemon law and consumer protection information!
