Look out for lemons

The ‘lemon law’, or Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act - a
federal law, protects the consumer from unscrupulous
dealers in defective goods. There are also state laws
which do the same job but which differ from state to
state.

Most people will want to purchase a car. Whether is a
used vehicle or new depends, naturally, on your budget
but buying a used car does not mean that you do not
have protection.

Some state laws will cover you for legal expenses but
perhaps it is better to look at ways to avoid the
situation altogether.

The easiest way to avoid the situation is to get the
car thoroughly checked out before you buy. Take the
time to find a good mechanic - Uncle Bob may not be
the best choice! - to examine the vehicle carefully
for small or large defects.

Get him to check out the history of the vehicle and
look at readings to make sure they are really
accurate. Perhaps the car was owned by the police or a
taxi company beforehand which would void the lemon law
protection. Your mechanic will know the pertinent
questions to ask so let him take his time.

Never, never buy a vehicle on an ‘as is’ basis
(sometimes called ‘as seen’ basis) because this means
you accept all or any faults on the vehicle no matter
what the cause. You will have no redress in any court
if this is the case and you will have to repair the
vehicle at your own expense no matter what happens to
it.