What steps must you take to prove your car is a lemon?

Your new vehicle should alleviate the stress your old one caused. You expected to drive off the lot and not have to worry about any mechanical problems for a very on time. However, this is not the case. Your new car has faced problem after problem. You believe it may qualify as a lemon under California's law, but the dealer tells you otherwise. Find out what qualifies a car as a lemon under the law and what must happen to prove a valid claim.

The dealer must try to repair it

Your vehicle came with a manufacturer's warranty. New cars typically have at least 18 months under a warranty while certified used vehicles have under 18,000 miles. During the warranty period, the dealer must fix all issues that present themselves. When you have a car that you believe qualifies under the Lemon Law, it means the dealer has made attempts to fix the problem at least four times. If the defect is a potential danger and makes the vehicle risky to drive, the dealer only has two opportunities to repair it.

The dealer offers to buy back the car

The dealer may recognize the vehicle is faulty and makes you an offer of good faith. This may seem like a win, but to truly qualify as a buyback, the dealer must do certain things. When a vehicle qualifies for a buyback under the Lemon law, it means the dealer takes it back and either reimburses you for the purchase price, registration, taxes, etc., or the dealer takes it back and exchanges it for a new vehicle that is of equal value. Anything short of either scenario is improper handling of the law.

You may not want to deal with a claim, but if the writing is on the wall, you may have no choice. Contact the Ledbetter Law Firm, APC for more information.