The Lemon Law is a state law that provides protection for new car buyers against vehicles that repeatedly fail to meet performance and quality standards. Cami Anthony of WFMY News filed a report on what the Lemon Law covers and what its implications are for used cars buyers.
The lemon law is for NEW vehicles, and has specific guidelines. It's not simply a car that breaks down. Your car may be covered by the Lemon Law if ALL of the following have happened:
1. The problem occurs in some part of the vehicle that is covered by the manufacturer's warranty and you are within the warranty period.
2. You tell the manufacturer about the problem in writing and give them a reasonable period, but not more than 15 days, to fix it.
3. The manufacturer makes "a reasonable number of attempts" to fix the vehicle for the same problem (that's 4 or 5 times) or a total of 20 or more business days in a 12 month period.
4. The problem with the car has to be the exact same problem.
Actually, there is a Lemon Law that covers used cars, but it is only recognized in a very limited number of states, specifically in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, and New York. So for buyers of used cars in New Orleans and elsewhere, they could either do business with a reputable used car dealer like Baldwin Subaru, or take time to do some information gathering themselves to protect against lemon cars.
Vehicle history report
The use of CarFax to obtain information about a vehicle's history is widely practiced in the industry. This report will confirm the car's VIN (vehicle information number), and if it has sustained any damage due to hail, flood, fire, or recorded accidents. Lastly, it will show if the car has ever been in used as a taxi or a rental. The cost for this service: $40.
Call for Action Used Car Buyers Guide
Call for Action (CFA) is a consumer advocate group that gathers information about used cars in New Orleans - prices, specs, financing, and even tips on how to inspect them. CFA also serves as advisor to media reporters and researchers working on auto-related segments.
AutoCheck
A source of data that is endorsed by CFA, the AutoCheck report includes exclusive auction-announced vehicle inspection details that other reports do not show. This report covers nearly half a million cars that go through the auction process yearly. The cost for this service: $30.
(Article Excerpt and Image from "Before You Buy: There's No Lemon Law for Used Cars", 01 October 2014, WFMY News)
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