Actually, purchasing a vehicle is indeed an exciting experience. Sometimes the performance of your car may fall short of your expectations. It is so frustrating to find out that your vehicle is defective and can’t provide your safety on the road. In this case, your vehicle spends a lot of time at repair shops. The worse thing is that even after multiple repair attempts the problem still exists. This situation can make any person fall into despair and feel depressed.
However, you shouldn’t lose your hope even if you are dealing with hard-to-fix mechanical issues. Just stop worrying so much. Lemon laws are here to protect your rights. In fact, lemon laws differ from state to state. Are you from the state of California? Do you have a lemon vehicle that makes your life a nightmare? Keep on reading this article to learn more about California lemon law.
California lemon law
It goes without saying that you can take a breath with ease if you are stuck with a lemon vehicle. Fortunately, California lemon law aims to protect consumers who purchased or leased lemon cars. It is worth to mention that the lemon law originated in 1984. The reason was that the U.S. government wanted to protect faulty vehicle owners with the help of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It is known as the California lemon law. Under the California Lemon Law, you have the right to get a refund if your vehicle has a serious defect. In other words, you can rely on the protection under the lemon law if the defect impacts the car’s value, use or safety.
In addition to that, the vehicle must come with a manufacturer’s warranty. You can pursue a claim under California lemon law if the automaker made a reasonable number of repair attempts. Here is an essential point that you should keep in mind. The lemon law won’t work for you if the vehicle’s malfunction is the result of your misuse or abuse.
When is California vehicle a lemon?
According to the California lemon law, there are certain requirements for the vehicle to qualify as a lemon. Take your time to explore them and have a clear idea whether your car is presumed to be a lemon.
- The car was out of service for at least 30 days.
- The consumer took the vehicle to an authorized dealership for fixing the same problem at least three to four times. Under the California lemon law, in some cases, the vehicle may qualify as a lemon after two repair attempts. This happens when the defect can become the reason of serious injuries or deaths. For instance, if your vehicle comes with a brake failure, two repair attempts are sufficient to consider it a lemon.
- The vehicle’s warranty must be valid.
- You must have either purchased or leased a vehicle in California. Furthermore, the vehicle must be used for personal, business or family purposes.
Do you suspect that you are the owner of a lemon car? Well, dealing with the situation by yourself is no easy task. That’s why; you should have a knowledgeable attorney by your side. A trustworthy lawyer is aware of the ins and outs of the California lemon law and can manage your case successfully. In this case, you will have better chances of getting the refund that you deserve.
