Lemon Laws - Protecting Consumer Rights

By Garry L. Neale

Lemon Laws were established in 1978 as a way to ensure consumers have a voice if their car is not repaired properly or if the vehicle they have purchased is in constant need of repairs. Lemon laws protect the rights of the individual to drive a car that is safe and in good working condition.

Before any lemon law existed, consumers were left in the dark if their vehicle didn't work properly or was always breaking down. Basically, you were at the mercy of the manufacturer or auto repair shop and had no real power to fight back. Oftentimes car owners were forced to continually pay for expensive repairs out of their own pocket - not something everyone could easily afford to do. Lemon laws, however, have changed all that.

In addition, constant repairs also meant missing work, or being forced to find other means of transportation while the car was in the shop. But lemon laws do more than just help the consumer. Lemon laws also make life easier for the manufacturer because it allows companies to learn from their mistakes, improve customer service, and have knowledge of any problems customers may be having with their cars. The lemon law can actually make the manufacturer aware of problems beforehand, in order to avoid a lawsuit.

The lemon law allows the consumer to contact the manufacturer if something is wrong with the vehicle so that the situation is remedied before things spiral out of control. The lemon law then allows the company to find out what the problem is and gives them a chance to make corrections. Once the consumer has allowed for such a resolution to occur, if the problem still isn't solved, the lemon law makes it possible to seek legal recourse.

But an automobile lemon law is not necessarily straightforward. You can claim a vehicle only if it fits under certain requirements of the automobile lemon law. For instance, a basic requirement is that the dealer and manufacturer have been given a certain amount of time to make amends. However, to ensure everything is properly documented for the automobile lemon law, make sure you keep copies of all repairs and work orders. With an automobile lemon law, it's always best to keep records. This is the only way to ensure you have the automobile lemon law working for you.

What about used cars? Is there a used car lemon law? The short answer is, "yes," there is a used car lemon law put in place to protect the purchase of a used car, which can be infinitely more complicated. Of course, used cars can run into more problems than new vehicles, which is why the used car lemon law covers different issues. Purchasing from a used car dealer is not necessarily easy for the consumer, which is why the used car lemon law is so important. The used car lemon law protects you when you need it most.

It's important to note that lemon laws can change from state to state. Laws in Texas, California, New York, and Florida may differ. Before you make any claims, do some research on the lemon laws in your state. The requirements for a claim in Texas may vary widely from those in California, New York, or Florida. The best thing you can do is become an informed consumer, and you will be protected.

To learn more about how Lemon Laws protect your rights, check out the Free Consumer Review Web Site.