What are the "lemon law" limits?

Question

I purchased a car from a tote the note dealership today. It was sold "as is." He told me the air conditioner was not working, it needed a new compressor. which was all rite with me. I test drove it the car, it ran good. He told me the battery was new and the alternator was new. I checked under the hood, everything was fine. After having the neighbors look at it, I drove it back to the dealership, and made the purchase. When I drove it back off the lot, I went to see my brother. He wasn't at home, so I drove it to the gas station and put some gas in it. When I tried to start the car to go home, it would not start. So i called back the car dealership, and told them what had happened. He tells me it sounds like it is the battery (before he told me the battery was brand new). So he came to where I was at to give me a boost. i asked him if it is a possibility that it is the alternator. He told me he did not know. Then he told me he had to get back to the dealership so he could close the store. So I took the car to Auto Zone to have it tested. They told me the battery was good but it was low. Come to find out it was the alternator. Even though the car was as is, do they still have to give me my money back if the car breaks down the same day it is purchased?

Answer 1

No they don't. Lemon laws don't provide coverage for used cars, and not every problem qualifies for protection under the lemon laws. You bought a used car and it had a bad alternator, big deal. Stuff breaks. You didn't say what kind of car, what year, or how many miles, but when buying a used car, the buyer assumes all risk.

Answer 2

Only new cars are eligible for lemon law buybacks. Most of the time these dealers have no idea what they are buying (they buy from auctions). The car will probably have more problems to come. There is really nothing you can do.

Answer 3

Many states have a opt out law on your Question, and not knowing the state you are in, have to research their law, because it is State and not federal law. Not really hard to due is research your state, with the law which you have a question about. I would've sent you a link but do not know the state you are in. Good Luck

Answer 4

A lot of places would do that, just so their customers won't be mad.  But there's no real reason to.  The car will need repairs.  It's your car, and the repairs are your responsibility.  The people at the car lot don't have ESP.  They don't know the future. An alternator costs a lot less than a tank of gas, so it's pretty hard to get excited about that.

If you want a warranty, it costs a lot extra.  You know that.  That's because cars require repairs at some point.   They all do.

Answer 5

~Two words:  Caveat Emptor.

Since you don't mention your state, the age or mileage or cost or any other pertinent information about the car, I guess this answer can only be as electrifying as your 'new' alternator.  So it goes.

I'm guessing that the 'legal' advice you get on this site will be every bit as good and as reliable as is your car.  [For instance, lemon laws apply to used vehicles and 'opt out' laws pertain generally to home solicitation sales.  Oops, Mr. opt out must have realized the stupidity of the advice and withdrew it -never mind.]   Many lemon laws are age/mileage/cost based and "as is" can't void the implied warranty in some venues.

Eat the loss, go to small claims or hire a lawyer for three times the cost of a new alternator and flip the coin in court.  Next time, have the car checked over by someone qualified before you sign the contract.

Answer 6

If you bought the car "As Is" you are agreeing to take the vehicle in the condition it is in, regardless of what that condition may be.

This is from my boss' book. He's a Lemon Law attorney.

Answer 7

You're out of luck.

There are approximately ZERO states where you have lemon law on a used vehicle or a 3-day "cooling off period" or anything of that sort.

An AC compressor is about $1000 to fix if you ever want AC and the compressor did grenade and push metal shavings through the whole system.  If that was not your clue to back away and find someone else who knows cars to help you, well....what can we do?

Live and learn, baby, live and learn!

(If I come across in a tough love fashion, it's just that I've bought my own vehicles before and gotten them inspected BEFORE buying, do my research beforehand, and have a mechanic for a friend...)

Answer 8

I'm afraid 'as is' means 'as is'.  This means 'with all faults' and so you have no warranty protection at all. I'm sure you bought the car at a better price than you would have paid with warranty.  The dealer needn't have come down to give you a boost but probably wanted to be a little bit helpful for the sake of his reputation. An alternator from a wrecker doesn't cost much and is easy to fit. The lemon laws are for products with warranty.