California Lemon Law Aided By Car Buyer’s Bill Of Rights Includes Cooling Off Period For Used Car Bu
California’s lemon law, one of the first in the nation, has now been reinforced by the addition of the Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights. Now, those who buy used cars will be protected against buying used lemon cars.
California was the first state in the country to have passed an auto lemon law in 1982. It has helped many consumers pitted against defective automobiles. If it is not for this lemon law the unfortunate consumer would have had to endure the pain silently. Though the California lemon law is a pioneering legislation and is one of the most powerful and consumer-friendly laws in the country it had had a catch – it did not protect the consumers of used lemon cars. Those who purchased used cars in California were expected to be on their own even if the car had hidden defects and the seller knowingly hid the lethal facts about the car. The consumer of the used lemon car was totally put in dark.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger in late July signed the Car Buyer’s Bill of Rights into law.
This turn of events has changed the face of the ways used cars are being sold in California:
Buyers will now have the option of returning a used vehicle to the point of purchase after a two day trial period
Buyers get an opportunity to find any defects or problems with the vehicle that were either unknown or undisclosed
The law originally allowed a buyer to return a car after two days with no charge and no penalty. This, the dealers argued, would tantamount to their borrowing a car for two days for free for a weekend trip, in which case the consumer is saving on a rental car.
In an attempt to further restrict consumers from simply borrowing the car for two days the legislature added in the new law the following rules: