What If A Dealer Sells You A Damaged Car?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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You should hire an

auto dealer lawyer

if your car dealer sold you a bad car by lying to you. … In either case, you can sue your dealer for selling you a bad car or one with structural damage to the car. If you bought a lemon car, your best option would be to contact a lemon law attorney as the law applies differently.

Can you sue if someone sells you a bad car?

To successfully sue a used car dealer, you must be able to prove that: you suffered a financial loss (this is not hard if you had to pay for repairs), and. the dealer

is legally responsible for your damages

.

Are dealerships responsible for damage?

If a vehicle is damaged by another customer, that's different. In this case, customers tend to blame the dealership, but that's unfair. It is akin to expecting a shopping mall to fix your car if it is scratched while in the parking lot of the mall. … But

the dealership is not responsible for any damage caused

.

Do dealerships take cars that are damaged?

A

dealership absolutely will take a car on trade in that has collision damage

and there are few things they are likely to do with it. Repair. If the dealership feels that it's worth it to them, they will repair the body damage and resell a car.

What to do if you have been sold a faulty car?

If you believe the seller has sold you a faulty car, you should contact the seller immediately. You

have consumer rights for up to six years

, which protects you against a faulty car. However, the law does not offer you a blanket protection.

What does lemon law buyback mean?

A lemon law buyback is

when the manufacturer repurchases your vehicle because it is a lemon

. … Additionally, the balance of your loan on your vehicle will be fully paid.

How do I file a complaint against a car dealership service department?

Deceptive car ads or — File a complaint with

your state consumer protection agency and the Federal Trade Commission

. Auto repair shops — File a complaint with your state consumer protection agency. Car rentals — File a complaint with your state consumer protection agency and the Federal Trade Commission.

Can you return a used car if it has problems?

Whether you're buying from a private party or a dealer,

a used car usually cannot be returned

. … This means that the buyer is willing to take a chance with the car — even though there might be problems with it. Some used car dealers may offer a warranty or guarantee — just make sure you get the terms in writing.

Can I get my money back if someone sold me a bad car?

The Dealership Sold Me a Bad Used Car, What Should I Do? Used cars are also covered by the California Lemon Law. …

You can return a car and get your money back

or. You can have the dealer pay for the repairs and any pre-existing damages.

Can I sue car dealership for lying?

If you are asking yourself “can I sue a car dealership for lying?” the most likely answer is

yes

. Car buyers have a claim against a car dealership when the true condition of the car purchased was not revealed during the transaction. Car buyers have the right to know the truth about the vehicle that they purchase.

Can u trade in a damaged car?

Because body repairs are expensive,

trading in a damaged car won't be kind on your trade value

. But if your car has been deemed salvage or is an insurance write-off, you might not be able to trade it in. Dealerships don't really want to trade in a junk car because there's no one that wants to buy it from them!

Should I repair body damage before trading in car?

It is beneficial to spend some time sprucing up your car before beginning trade negotiations, but be sure to set a

budget for small fix-ups

. Perform simple maintenance and cheap cosmetic fixes (like fixing scratches), but remember that you don't want to spend so much money that you end up losing money on the trade.

Does CarMax take cars that don't run?

CarMax is willing to make offers on a variety of cars, and

CarMax does take cars that don't run

, but there are some caveats to that. CarMax will buy a car if it needs repairs, so if you want to sell a damaged car to CarMax it probably is an option. However, CarMax typically requires an in-person appraisal.

Can I return a car bought as is?

Stop shopping after you sign a purchase contract. When you buy a vehicle,

there is no “cooling off” period

. … The only way you can cancel the contract is if the seller has a policy that says you may. Even if the seller agrees to cancel the contract, it may keep any deposit you have made.

How many days after you buy a car can you return it?

The Federal Trade Commission's “cooling-off” rule — established in the 1970s — allows consumers

3 days

to cancel a transaction. This rule often gets tossed around if a consumer wants to return a car just purchased.

Is it illegal to sell an unroadworthy car?

Selling an

unroadworthy vehicle is illegal

, unless the individual wants to purchase it for repairs or spare parts. You could also be accused of misleading the buyer if they make their intentions clear to you and you fail to reveal that the car would not be suitable for their needs.

Ahmed Ali
Author
Ahmed Ali
Ahmed Ali is a financial analyst with over 15 years of experience in the finance industry. He has worked for major banks and investment firms, and has a wealth of knowledge on investing, real estate, and tax planning. Ahmed is also an advocate for financial literacy and education.