How to Avoid Buying a Lemon

A lemon is any new or warrantied vehicle with a major problem that can't be fixed in a reasonable amount of time or number of attempts. Every state has a lemon law to give consumers rights and redress.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vehicle history report

New vehicles

1. Find out from the manufacturer or the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration if there's been a recall on your model.

2. Research the model's safety recall and maintenance history through consumer safety and protection agencies such as the Center for Auto Safety (CAS), auto magazines, newspaper articles and Web site reviews of the vehicle.

3. Ask your mechanic how often this model shows up in his shop for repairs (and how many children he put through college based on those repairs).

4. Talk to other owners of this model: Are they satisfied?

Used vehicles

5. Follow the steps under "New vehicles."

6. Get a vehicle history report to make sure the car you're considering is clean--no salvage title issued, and no major wrecks or any illegal activity in its history. Several commercial agencies, such as Carfax.com, sell this service.

7. If you're buying from an owner, have a trusted mechanic inspect the car (it takes an hour and costs about $60). Avoid vehicles that have been in an accident or have frame damage.

8. Be wary of a model that's often offered for sale below Kelley Blue Book (kbb.com) price. Ask the seller why he or she is selling. Be wary of sellers who try to close the deal too quickly.

Tips & Warnings

• Call the NHTSA hotline at [phone].
• Always check for recalls on any car you consider buying; They can run from the mundane to the very dangerous.
• When you buy a car "as is," you have no recourse if the engine drops out on your way home.

Resources

• Locate state-specific lemon laws
• Look up recalls by make and model
• Vehicle Buyback Disclosure Project

[lemonproof]

on 2/8/2007 Hi, my name is Tadeo Sanchez, a class A technician, and I have recently set up a business that helps reduce the chances of purchasing a 'lemon'.

My business is called Lemon Proof and for more information check out my website: www.LemonProof.com

Be sure to also check out the my blog for some pictures on some of the nightmares my clients have been fortunate to avoid...enjoy!!

Cheers,

Tadeo Sanchez