The car must also still suffer from the safety defect after a reasonable number of attempts at repair. If you recently purchased a used vehicle in California that rises to the level of a lemon, you may be entitled to a replacement or refund. Australia's national 'lemon law' is the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), which makes much the same accommodation, but often has to be enforced through the court system. The Alabama lemon law covers used vehicles, but those vehicles’ defects must occur within one year of the vehicle’s original delivery to a consumer or within its first 12,000 miles of operation, whichever occurs first. Under this warranty, dealers must repair, free of charge, any defect in covered parts. It’ll be worth the small fee he or she will likely charge you. If this is the case, then your used car may qualify under the federal lemon laws. file a consumer protection complaint online, Alabama Lemon Law Qualifications & Remedies, Filing a Lemon Law Consumer Complaint in Alabama, It has been  24 months or less since date of delivery. Example: In 2006, Joe Smiley buys a used 2005 Tomoto Tomotovan with only 25,000 miles on the odometer. A car that is sold "as is" is likely sold with no warranty, thereby usually imposing no duty on the dealer or seller to make any repairs, regardless of the vehicle's condition, unless there are other legal concerns such as a misrepresentation or fraud. The used car lemon laws delineate the items that must be covered by the warranty, and the defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value or safety. © 1999 - 2021 DMV.ORG. Commercial Vehicle Lemon Law. You will have to investigate the laws of your state to determine whether your used car is protected your state's lemon law. First, it can only be used against manufacturers. Maryland's Lemon Law applies to new or leased motor vehicles (including cars, light trucks and motorcycles), registered in Maryland, that are less than 24 months old and have been driven less than 18,000 miles. Unfortunately, in Alabama the state's lemon law applies only to new cars. The attorney will be able to give you information regarding the lemon laws of your state and whether or not your vehicle might qualify. In the USA, for example, strict lemon laws mean solid protection for consumers, but they do vary from state to state. Under the lemon law, the buyer can report a defective product or vehicle within a 6-months delivery period. Depending on where you live, there either little or no protection for you at all under these laws. In fact, many used cars are considered “as is,” which means that they do not possess any type of guarantee or warranty. The Iowa Lemon Law is designed to allow car owners to pursue complaints independently. Statute of Limitations. Alabama Lemon Law. If this is the case, then your used car may qualify under the federal lemon laws. Additional information regarding Alabama Lemon Laws can be found in the state's vehicle code or the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. If that is the case, you may have a lemon. As a result, it is important to work with an attorney who understands the specific requirements for your state. Manufacturers have been known to "hide" lemon law buybacks from these reporting services through such unscrupulous methods as holding the buyback vehicle in a dealer's inventory for a short period of time, then funneling it through routine inventory (so-called "dealer only") auctions where the buyback vehicle re-enters the used market as a seemingly legitimate vehicle. The Alabama lemon law covers self-propelled vehicles intended primarily for use and operation on the public highways. We hope this information will help answer your questions about the Lemon Law. Recent Changes to Wisconsin Lemon Law. Note: State laws change all the time, therefore, you should conduct your own legal research or contact an attorney to verify the state laws you’re researching. Alabama's Lemon Law covers self-propelled vehicles intended for primary use on highways. These definitions have been successfully used to flesh out the substantial impairment in the UCC. When it comes to the lemon law, each state has its own unique requirements and guidelines. If you’ve bought a car that turned out to be a piece of junk and the dealer isn’t working with you, you may need to consult an experienced Alabama lemon law attorney to assert your legal rights. Consumer. Details of the laws vary. Keep in mind that since some state’s lemon law on used cars are typically based on the express warranty, you don’t want to waste too much time otherwise, you may not be able to receive compensation. Lemon Law benefits consumers whom have unintentionally bought a defective or 'lemon' product including used cars, and would like a repair, refund or replacement from the seller. Under Arizona’s lemon law, used car buyers have far less protection. Lemon law lawyers assist with all aspects of a vehicle purchase -- from car buyer protection plans to extended car warranties -- and can identify your options. Under the law of most states, for a vehicle to be considered a lemon, the car must 1) have a "substantial defect," covered by warranty, that occurs within a certain time after purchase, and 2) continue to have the defect after a "reasonable number" of repair attempts. But car dealers have a very well organized lobbyist machine in Montgomery and Washington, D.C. so this isn’t changing anytime soon. In your question you specifically ask about your rights under “the lemon law” which is a good point. Furthermore, some of these issues may not arise until the vehicle is in the hands of a new, different driver. The first such law is called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. A car bought “as is” has no warranty. We will explain used car lemon law in a minute, but if you want to get rid of your lemon used car right now, then call our Toll Free Used Car Lemon Law Hotline right now to get started, 1.888.331.6422. A used car lemon law is a consumer protection statute that protects the rights of a used car buyer when the car does not operate as promised. While some states offer at least a 30 day lemon laws on used cars, that is not the case within the state of Alabama. According to the ads there's nothing quite like the feeling of a brand new car. What most people may not be aware of is that used car lemon laws exist in several states too. Only take your car to the dealership for repairs if you want to get results under a new or used car lemon law. This does offer some kind of lemon law protection. Please enter your ZIP code OR city and state abbreviation. This does not include motor homes or vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. Maine’s used car law is called the Used Car Information Act. Alabama Lemon Law Statutes. However, Maine also has additional protections for those who purchase used cars. If you car qualifies as a lemon and the circumstances meet the Alabama lemon law criteria, the manufacturer of your car must either: After reporting your lemon to the car dealership or the vehicle's manufacturer, you may want to file a complaint with Alabama's Office of the Attorney General Consumer Affairs department. If you’re making a lemon law claim, you’re essentially saying your car didn’t live up to its warranty. Arbitration . In most states, only new cars are covered by the lemon laws. As a result, it is important to work with an attorney who understands the specific requirements for your state. Accurate record-keeping is your best defense with a lemon car. We understand the lemon law for cars, both new and used, and have helped car owners and lessees since 1995 to resolve their claims. Stay up-to-date with how the law affects your life, Name A lemon law attorney will know all the fine details about the protection laws and can help you get the result you want and deserve. Alabama Lemon Law. For starters, having an independent mechanic examine any car you’re serious about buying. Mechanic says the problem is most likely a head gasket. A used car can qualify under the federal lemon laws for used cars as long as it was sold with a written warranty. Unfortunately, in most cases, this law will not apply if you are buying a used car. This does not include motor homes or vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. Search. The second item the law uses to determine if a vehicle is a lemon car is that the owner must allow the manufacturer or dealer a reasonable number of attempts to repair the issue. We'll tell you exactly what your state's laws say regarding what qualifies as a lemon, how long you have to file a claim, and what the burden of proof is. Is there any recourse she can take against the used car dealer regarding cost of repairs, or a refund for the car purchase price? (For information on legal protection for used car buyers, refer to the section entitled Autos: Used.) You must also, after the second failed attempt to repair or after 20 cumulative calendar days has elapsed, send a letter to the car's ma… You should use vehicle history reports to confirm a clean history or check for: salvage history, odometer fraud, multiple owners, flood damage, major accident damage, or fire damage. However, there are several ways to avoid buying a lemon when you buy a used car. T. 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