Used Car Warranties

Whenever people buy something new, warranty is some thing which is really important to them. It makes their purchase decision easier. If you know that you will be getting a refund for a defected product then as a customer you will be more confident and relaxed to buy the product. Same rule applies to the sale of cars.

Used car Warranty law now makes it easier for people to buy a new car. As a customer you know that if you are not satisfied with the performance of your purchase then you can always get your money back.

The Car Buyer’s bill of rights is helpful to people in this regard. It has certain restrictions though. The car needs to be in perfect condition and it must not be driven more than 250 miles. If these conditions are met and the customer is not satisfied with the purchase he or she has made, the car can be returned at full refund.

Many people feel that the car they have purchased is not according to the claims of the selling company. The problem has now been solved under Used Car Warranty law. As a customer you need not worry about the same any more. If your car is used less than 250 miles, you can get a full refund.

Even though Used Car lemon law varies greatly from state to state, the premise is the same. The lemon law, which was passed in 1982, entitles car buyers to receive a replacement or refund on defective or new vehicles purchased under the lemon law.

Many consider lemon law to be complicated and time consuming. Many states have their own requirements for which vehicles qualify. Some states allow the buyers to sue the manufacturers directly while other states follow a pattern whereby the buyer is asked to submit sponsored arbitration procedures to the manufacturer or state.

Since lemon law procedures are complicated, hiring a lemon law lawyer could be a wise move. A professional attorney can be very useful to handle any claims filed under the used car warranty law.

It is often seen that manufacturers find excuses for not paying the claim. By hiring a professional attorney with a success record in lemon cases will be a great help to get your claim recognized. Similarly the presence of lemon law lawyer can provide you the Arbitration help when required.

Many states follow the law whereby buyers have to pay the manufacturer’s legal cost in the event when the consumers lose the filed claim. An experienced lemon lawyer can certainly be an ideal choice in a similar situation, as he will guide you to take the right decisions at the right time.

Used car buyers need to buy an auto warranty as soon as they purchase the car. Auto warranty is something which should be purchased by all car buyers. It does not matter whether you’re a used car buyer or new car buyer. A proper auto warranty can help you get your money back whenever you spend on car repairs or car maintenance.

Here are some useful tips on buying auto warranty on your used car.

1. You need to know what you are buying. You need to understand the terms and conditions of the auto warranty policy before signing the final contract with the car dealer. Many times buyers unnecessarily file a complaint against the auto warranty companies because their understanding of the conditions that comprises the warranty differs from the warranty guidelines stated in the contract.
2. Avoid buying auto warranty from your car dealer. The price of the warranty coverage provided by car dealers can be three times higher than the normal price. First-rate warranty companies offer a comparatively lower rate, with better service and fair clauses.
3. There are many warranty companies that provide valuable services to customers. It’s all about selecting the right Used Car warranty from the right company.

When you are on the road and driving your vehicle, emergencies can occur anytime and anywhere. To bail you out in the event of an emergency is auto assistance which is available nationwide. It provides assistance in towing the car, battery service, flat tire assistance, gasoline, oil, and fluid and water delivery service. All you need to do is just take a membership from one of the hundreds of such auto assistance company.

At times of car trouble, all you need to do is just call the number of the company and the help will arrive. If the car breaks down, it can be towed to your home or to the repair facility of your choice. In case of a battery failure, the jump-start will be provided or the minor repair works will be done. In case of an emergency need of gasoline or fluids, the item will be delivered to your location. Some of these services cost extra to the customer, but it is worth it, because you never know when the emergency may arise.

The emergency auto assistance also has services like lockout and locksmith services. Maps are provided when you are traveling by road from one state to the other, along with custom trip planning. Accident coverage is provided at times, but it varies from company to company. Hotel discounts, ambulance benefit, auto theft benefit are just a few add-ons for the auto assistance.

Buying a used car is very much like a gamble. It may run the way it is supposed to, it might even surpass your expectations or it may turn out to be a big lemon on wheels.

Things can become tricky in case something goes wrong with a vehicle bought privately, for  used cars sold by dealers are covered by used car warranty laws in most states.

Make sure that any used car you buy, is covered by some sort of warranty. Do not buy a car “as is”, because you will end up paying for all repairs after once you drive off the lot. Even if the car breaks down right at the dealer’s drive way, you may be held liable for the repairs. However, most states prohibit the sale of used cars on an “as is” basis and have laws where used cars are covered by implied warranties. That means that even if the dealer does not sign a written warranty, he takes responsibility for any repairs that are required on the vehicle in order to make it fully serviceable.

The law is generally pro used car buyers and both federal as well as state laws protect you. So as long as you use your common sense and discretion, it is tough for anybody to cheat you. However, laws vary in every state. Make sure you check regarding the laws in your state from the consumer protection or attorney general’s office.

The law that provides consumers the most protection of all used car warranty laws is the car lemon law. This law was created in order to protect the rights of people who purchase used cars that turn out to be lemons. The Used Car Lemon Law is applicable to all car purchases that happen with dealers and is not applicable to private purchases.

According to the law, dealers are required to give a written warranty for the used car, whereby he undertakes the task of repairing any defective parts for free. He can also undertake to pay for any repairs on the car. Any used car covered by this law can be sold by a dealer “as is” and the best part is that , in case the dealer in unable to repair the car to your satisfaction after a number of attempts, then the buyer is entitled to a full refund of the purchase price.

However, the criteria under which a car is covered under the lemon law are quite stringent. The car has to be at least two years old or driven within 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Another requirement for this law is, the vehicle needs to be purchased or leased from a dealer, and has a purchase price of at least $1,500 and has not exceeded more than 100,000 miles at the time of resale or lease.

After finding the original sticker in the glove box, a disgruntled used car buyer asks if it is legal for a dealer to sell a used car for more than it’s original sticker price.

Question: Can a dealer legally set the price of a used car even above what the sticker price was 2 years before? The original sticker was in the glove compartment. I just was involved in such a deal and feel so stupid. I was looking at the bottom line and the interest rate and payment and never looked closely a the top line! I feel the dealer really scammed me!!!

Answer: Yes, the dealer can charge whatever they want for a used car… However, you might be looking at the total amount of all payments plus finance charges interest. This could easily exceed the original sticker price even in an acceptable deal.
(source)

To avoid feeling foolish when making any purchase, please do your homework. And the same applies to researching extended and used car warranties as well. With the internet, there is no excuse for not investigating exactly what you are buying to assure that there are no surprises down the road.

“DaimlerChrysler AG has agreed to pay a $1.2 million fine to settle allegations that it did not promptly alert the government about emissions problems in some Mercedes automobiles.

As part of an agreement with the Justice Department filed in federal court Sunday, the automaker agreed to institute a new program to monitor its cars for emission defects and said it would file regular reports to the government.

The lawsuit involved emission-related defects in certain 1998-2006 Mercedes vehicles. The Justice Department said Mercedes didn’t tell the EPA within 15 days of learning about a series of problems with airflow sensors, catalytic converters, air pumps and other parts.

Hundreds of thousands of vehicles had the potential to develop emissions problems, according to the lawsuit. Mercedes has voluntarily recalled some of the parts identified by the lawsuit and has extended its emissions warranty on others.

Shares of DaimlerChrysler AG were trading up 52 cents at $82.33 on the New York Stock Exchange.”
(source)

It’s always great to read news from down under. You’ll usually end up with a few new words to add to your vocabulary.

The advice given to first time car buyers in Australia is basically the same advice that would be given in the US.

Up here we look for pick-up trucks and down there they go about looking for “utes”. Here we look for crooks and they warn folks to avoid “shonky” owners.

“Unless you are fortunate enough to know someone in the car dealer business, private sales will yield the lowest prices. However, there are problems with location, shonky owners, no guarantees, etc.

You could end up with a bomb that still owes thousands to a hire purchase company or could even be stolen.”

They offer the same advice on warranties, advising a young couple that a new car might be the way to go simply because they often include “considerable warranties”.

They do handle their used car warranties a bit differently and whereas in the states we’d be concerned about a deal going sour, in Australia they try to avoid a deal going “pear-shaped.”

“Some car dealers now even offer warranties on used vehicles, plus they are strictly controlled by fair trading laws, there are cooling-off periods and you have the ability to complain to the Office of Fair Trading if it all goes pear-shaped.

Be aware that some used car warranties will cost extra and that there is already a free statutory warranty on all used cars.

It guarantees free repair of certain defects by the dealer or their nominated repairer, if the defects are found after you’ve bought the vehicle.

For cars less than 10 years old and an odometer reading under 160,000km, the warranty is three months or 5000km, otherwise, it’s one month or 1000km.

Brokers licensed under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act can get good prices and will do the legwork for you, but they also charge a commission.”
(Source)

So if you are down Australia way, you have been warned! Do not buy an ute from a shonky seller or your whole deal will go pear-shaped!

It doesn’t matter how good your used car warranty may be, maintaining your car properly just simply has to be the first rule of the road. It’s preferable never to see the inside of a car repair shop, warranty or not.

You were admonished in the fall about winter prep. Well, cars need some spring cleaning too.

Car Max provides the following tips.

1. Take your car to an automatic car wash that has an under-carriage wash. This can help remove corrosive residues left behind by winter road treatments used to melt ice and snow.

2. Wash and wax your car. The wax will protect the paint from damaging UV rays.

3. Change the oil and filter every 3,000 miles, and have the air filter and PCV valve checked and replaced if needed. Winter temperatures can cause the formation of harmful condensation and acids in the engine oil.

4. Have a qualified automotive technician check the following:

• The condition of the engine coolant, belts, and hoses; hoses deteriorate from the inside out and summer driving gives your cooling system a workout.
• All the lights and lenses for cracks; you should also replace wiper blades each spring and fall to ensure optimum visibility in all weather conditions.
• The tires for any abnormalities; the tire pressure should also be set at the level specified for your vehicle.
• All the wheels and inspect the brakes thoroughly; during this process, it is also a good idea to have the tires rotated.
• Your vehicle’s steering and suspension for loose, worn, or damaged components often caused by potholes and other road irregularities.
• The air conditioner now so you can avoid the wait if you need to have it repaired during the summer.

5. Have your vehicle diagnosed by an automotive professional if the engine is not running smoothly or any other conditions arise. Preventive measures can help extend the life of your vehicle and improve gas mileage.
(Source)