Does The Lemon Law Apply To Used Cars With No Warranty Or Not?

Does the Lemon Law apply to used cars with no warranty? The answer is mostly “No”! But sometimes Lemon Law is applicable for used cars even without a warranty too.

However, the Lemon Law in most U.S. states allows consumers to get a refund or replacement of a used car that has been defective within a certain period. This period varies by state but usually ranges from 12 to 36 months. However, the law applies to new and used cars, trucks, and SUVs.

As Lemon Law does not cover any warranty cars unless certain conditions are met, here we have covered these as you can apply this law to the used car with no warranty cars too. Have a look-

So, Does The Lemon Law Apply To Used Cars With No Warranty?

As we have mentioned, the short answer is No. But some cases occur when you can apply this law to your cars according to the state’s lemons law. As it’s common law in the USA, but there are some differences between states. So in this section, we have summed up conditions where and when it will be applicable.

However, the law is in place to protect the consumer from defective vehicles and can provide a refund or a replacement if the vehicle is deemed to be a lemon. You may ask, do used cars qualify for Lemon Law?

Well, it is arguable that used cars should qualify for Lemon Law protection just as new cars do. This is because, like new cars, used cars are purchased with the expectation that they will be reliable and meet the consumer’s needs. When this expectation is not met, the consumer should be able to seek recourse through the lemon law.

So far, in the United States, there are only 7 states that provide Lemon Laws for used cars, such as New York, New Jersey, New Mexico, California, Minnesota, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

So, if you consider purchasing a used car, be sure to check for any known defects and make sure that the car is covered by a warranty. For instance, if you live in Washington, Massachusetts, New Mexico, or New Jersey, then you are eligible for a used car with no warranty. 

But without a warranty, the Lemon Law may still apply. However, you are lucky if your residence is in New York, California, or Minnesota. By the way, if you want, know more about Florida Lemon law and how it work.

New York Lemon Law For Used Car With No Warranty

The Lemon law of New York mostly covers used cars even if they don’t have warranties. In that case, either you purchase or lease a used car in New York, and that car is transferred to you within 18,000 miles of its original sale or lease, the New York Lemon Law may apply.

Again, this law can be entitled within 2 years from the date of original delivery in terms of any defects or malfunctions.

Besides, there are some restrictions, such as the car must have been purchased from a licensed dealer and must have had no warranty.

Additionally, you can claim for New York lemon law in case you use the car only for primary uses.

California Lemon Law For Used Car With No Warranty

You can also claim for Lemon Law in California. There is no definite indication of warranty from the dealer in the law guide, the cars can be sold using the implied warranty of merchantability. This is also applicable for electrical systems, engines, brakes, transmission, steering, etc.

In that circumstance, the customers should be aware while buying without a warranty. If the customer can show the agreement that the vehicle was brought with no warranty, this law will be applicable.

Minnesota Lemon Law For Used Car With No Warranty

Again, the Lemon Law for used cars in Minnesota is quite interesting. The warranty is needed while the dealer is buying the vehicles. But if the customer buys the used car from his/her close one, relatives, or from a private party, the Lemon Law will be applicable even with no warranty.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Conclusion

Now it’s time to wrap up the content. Hopefully, it is clear does the Lemon Law apply to used cars with no warranty or not.

This law is to protect consumers from purchasing cars that have major defects, and it can be used to get a refund or replacement of a car if your vehicle falls into this category.

As it varies from state to state, therefore, used car buyers with no warranty should be aware of their state’s lemon law and what protections it offers.

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