Is it against the law to sell a used car that cannot pass state inspection?

Question

i bought the car from a dealership that sells used cars, and i was wondering if it is legal to sell a car like that?

Answer 1

I don't know about your state laws, but I do know that it is against the law in Michigan

Answer 2

if you bought the car "as is", then they probably have a good case.

In the future, when you buy a car, take it to a garage on the test drive and have it checked out, it's the only way you can insure it is street worthy.

Answer 3

It isn't illegal  to sell the car that won't pass inspection,  it is done everyday in the case of  wrecked/salvage vehicles and others.     However,  if the dealer represented the car as being safe or that it would pass inspection,   they could be guilty of fraud.    The mistake you made was not requiring it to be passed as a condition of sale.    

Note to all,   always make the dealer pass a car for any inspection that is required.    Then, if the car isn't right,   you have the option of reporting them to the state and they can possibly lose their license to inspect.   Not a good thing for a shop.

Answer 4

Most cars if they are pre-owned and sold within the same state the owner lived in, usually they don't do an inspection.

For instance I live in Kansas, and if I buy a car from a dealership that was traded by another person living in Kansas, then an inspection isn't required. The only time an inspection is required is if the previous owner traded the vehicle and lived out of state.

It isn't the dealer's responsibility to ensure a vehicle passes inspection, unless after the sale, then if it is within the applied warranty the dealership would have it fixed. He doesn't want a bad rep for selling a faulty vehicle.

Kansas also has a lemon law which states that if you purchase a car from a dealer, you have the right to return it within a reasonable time if the vehicle turns out to be a "lemon" i.e. a car that doesn't live up to your expectations like spending more time in the repair shop than on the street.

Answer 5

In other states yes but not in Louisiana, just would just be considered an "AS-IS" sale........

Answer 6

not unless it was sold for scrapping

Answer 7

no they can sell it like that. it will be up to you to do the repairs so it will pass.

Answer 8

A dealership may be in the wrong here, if they did not disclose it to you.

Answer 9

sorry most of the time when you buy a car from any where your the one that has to check it to make sure its in good shape listen always check everything and look real good.... you must learn more about cars and what are some of the tail tail signs..... and yes they dont have to check them out much they just buy and sell....