SHOPSMART AUTOS – CUSTOMER INFORMATION – APRIL 23, 2021
HOW TO REPORT A CAR DEALERSHIP TO THE DMV (Part 2)Lemon Laws
Lemon laws are put in place on a state-by-state basis and are in place to protect buyers from dealerships who cover up serious issued with vehicles in order to move them off the lot and put the costly repairs on you. Dealerships who violate lemon laws should also be reported. Most lemon laws define a lemon as a vehicle with defects that are beyond a reasonable scope of repair. Each state defines its lemon laws a bit differently, so you’ll need to check with your local agencies, however, here are a few things you’ll find in most lemon laws:
- The number of miles driven since the vehicle was purchased needs to be under a specific amount. Because of this, you’ll want to report a potential lemon as soon as possible to be protected by your state’s lemon law.
- The issues must be related to how the vehicle operates. Components such as the engine, transmission, and brakes are all good examples.
- Lemon laws typically give the dealer or a mechanic assigned by the dealer several attempts to repair any issues before it’s in violation of a state’s lemon law.
- You may also be covered by your state’s lemon law if it has been in the shop for around 30 days for one or several different issues within a period of time since the purchase.
Best Way To File a Complaint Against a Car Dealer
According to Consumer Findlaw
, once you’ve determined that it’s appropriate to report a car dealer, it’s time to take action. There are many ways to go about it, and it’s important to keep a level head and take the right steps in the process despite your emotions which are likely running high. Try to work with the dealership first before moving further along in the process. This can save you a lot of time and may even provide good results sooner. In the event that a dealership is not willing or able to cooperate, it’s time to move further along in the process. Send a letter via certified mail to the
manufacturer
which details your issues. Be sure to provide as much documentation as you can such as work orders and other communications with the dealership. Next, file a complaint with the DMV’s business regulation section against the offending dealership’s surety bond. The surety bond is something that every dealership should have and is a form of consumer protection. Once the dealership has a complaint filed against their surety bond, you’re likely to see a quick response. If there were previous complaints against the same dealership, the DMV will have more firepower to get yours and others vehicle issues corrected. Once you’ve completed the above steps, most issues should be corrected. In the event that your issue still persists, you’ll need to determine if the problem you’re having is serious enough and hire a lawyer. You could also contact the local news station to see if they’ll pick up the story. Most reputable dealerships will have corrected the problem you’re having long before you get to this point. An attorney that specializes in dealership fraud will work with you to get the best outcome possible for you. It may be costly, but can be the right move in certain situations. Dealerships don’t want to get a bad reputation, but they are also in the business of making money and maximizing their margins. If a dealership loses sight of a consumer’s needs they may end up needing to be reported. Weigh your options and take the necessary steps against a dealership who may have wronged you.
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