CPO Car Lemon Lawyer
Having a Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) car can be reassuring for those who value reliability. However, some CPO car purchases can turn into a series of repair visits. In California, there is consumer protection legislation known as lemon law. When your CPO car starts experiencing issues, you might wonder if lemon law applies.
California lemon law does not specifically cover CPO cars. However, consumers still have legal options under certain provisions.
On this page, we’ll discuss CPO car lemon law considerations and what you need to know if you’ve purchased a defective vehicle. If you think you have a CPO car lemon, call our consumer protection attorneys today to understand your legal options.
What does Certified Pre-Owned mean?
When a vehicle is certified pre-owned (or CPO), it should typically have fewer than 85,000 miles on it and should be less than six years old. Certified pre-owned vehicles still have a valid manufacturer’s warranty and usually even come with an extended warranty.
Before being offered for sale, vehicles go through a series of thorough inspections to determine if they’re worthy of the certified pre-owned title.
The following may be considered when inspecting a vehicle to be labeled certified pre-owned:
- The car does not have frame damage
- The car has not undergone damage caused by flood, collision, or fire
- The vehicle was not bought back under federal or state warranty law
- The odometer of the vehicle must clearly show its actual mileage
- All mechanicals and systems are in proper working order
Does Lemon Law Apply to CPO's?
As stated, California’s Lemon Law does not specifically cover Certified Pre-Owned (CPO) cars. However, specific provisions of California’s Lemon Law protect consumers under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. This Act provides a legal framework to impose consequences on manufacturers who sell defective products to consumers, including CPO cars.
The complexity of this law makes it vital that consumers contact an experienced lemon law attorney to help navigate the claim process to get an appropriate and sufficient recovery.
How Certified Warranties Work Under Lemon Law?
What If I Don’t Have or Can’t Find My Warranty?
It’s easy to lose track of warranty paperwork in the shuffle of purchasing a vehicle and the excitement of having a new-to-you car. In addition, some types of certified pre-owned vehicles, such as dealership loaner vehicles, may not come with warranty paperwork that lays out the specific terms of coverage.
Despite this, California lemon law may cover your purchase of the vehicle. It’s important to consult with an attorney as soon as possible if you’re facing vehicle problems. A lawyer can help you determine if lemon law applies to your situation and help you decide what to do next. If lemon law doesn’t apply, a lawyer can tell you what other rights or options you may have under state or federal law.
California lemon law famously includes a requirement that an automaker must provide either a “substantially similar” replacement vehicle or a refund of the purchase price, depending on which one the vehicle owner wants. For new vehicles, calculating a refund follows guidelines laid out in the state’s lemon law.
Calculating the refund price for a certified pre-owned vehicle follows the same rules and laws as for a new vehicle.
Negotiating with automakers can be tough to get your maximum value you deserve. These multinational companies have armies of full-time attorneys on staff whose job is to protect the automaker’s bottom line – even at the expense of your rights. Working with an experienced lemon lawyer ensures you have an advocate who thoroughly understands the law and fights to represent your interests at every stage of the process.
Consult a California CPO Car Lemon Lawyer!
If you believe you have purchased an CPO Car lemon, give Alpha Law Firm a call today at (323)51-(53666) or fill out the contact form on this page.