Lemon Law Basics: Basic Information

Lemon Law Basics - Lemon Laws by State - Lemon Law Lawyers - Lemon Law Information

Lemon Law Basics: Learn how to protect yourself

Basic Lemon Law Information

When a car excessively breaks down and you have to keep bringing it back to the dealer for repair under the warranty, the automobile lemon law might be your next recourse. The defect should be substantial where it interferes with your driving the vehicle or your safety. A vehicle stalling for no reason would be a substantial defect. This could impair your driving and your safety. Under the automobile lemon law you are not required to show why the car is stalling, you just have to prove that it is stalling. Basically you need to check into the lemon law in these three instances: the car keeps breaking down within the warranty period, the car is a safety hazard, the dealer is unable to fix the car when it is warranted.

Different states cover different vehicles under the lemon law and also lay down the mileage and time period under which a car could be defined as a lemon. If you have a vehicle which is a lemon you can directly write to the manufacturer and ask for a replacement vehicle. If this demand is not acceptable to the manufacturer, you could enter into an arbitration program. Some manufacturers like ford motor company have their own arbitration program. Others use third party arbitration program such as AUTOLINE by Better Business Bureau. In arbitration program a solution acceptable to both the parties concerned is tried. The recommendation of the arbitrators is binding on the manufacturer but not on the consumer. The consumer if unsatisfied with the solution can take the manufacturer to the court.

Most laws state that the consumer needs to be returned back to the financial position they were in before they purchased the vehicle, less the amount that the consumer benefited from by using the vehicle. To get the refund amount many factors are considered such as was it a sale or a lease, the purchase price, taxes and license, and mileage etc.

Each state also has different lemon laws so be sure to check out the lemon laws for your particular state.