4 Questions About What Happens If Your Car Is A Lemon

Did you recently purchase a vehicle that is defective, and now you do not know what to do? You likely have some of the following questions about how lemon laws apply to you.

What Exactly Are Lemon Laws?

Lemon laws are designed to protect consumers by giving them a legal remedy if they end up purchasing a car with a substantial defect. However, that defect must be something that impacts the vehicle's value if the car is usable, or the vehicle's safety. You also must have a documented effort of trying to repair the vehicle as well; for example, taking a car to a dealership multiple times to have a problem fixed that is normally covered under warranty, but the repair is unable to be made. 

What Are The Limitations Of Filing A Lawsuit?

Each state is going to have its own lemon laws that you need to be familiar with, which also have a timeline for how long you have to file a lawsuit. The time limit is often based on the number of days that you've owned the car, the number of miles you have driven, or a combination of both. There are also individual state laws that apply to new and used vehicles, with some states disqualifying used vehicles. A good example is Vermont and New Hampshire, which are the two states with laws that best favor the consumer with a limit of 3 years or 36,000 miles. 

How Are You Compensated If Your Car Is A Lemon? 

The ways that consumers are compensated are also based on state laws. That said, there are a few common ways across the country that compensation is made. You may be given a replacement vehicle that is similar to the one that you purchased. It's also possible for the manufacturer to buy the vehicle back from you, with there being a reduction in value based on how many miles you have driven. 

Do Lemon Law Cases Go To Court?

It's possible for your lemon law case to be settled outside of court, or for the manufacturer to make a dispute and try to resolve the case in court. This all depends on the extent of the problems with your vehicle and how easy or difficult it is for you to prove. If the manufacturer feels as if you do not have a strong case on your hands, then they may try to challenge you in court.