Always Get a Lemon Check - 3 Reasons
Buying a used car can be a great way to save money, but it can
also cost you a lot more if you end up buying a lemon. Having a
lemon check prior to purchasing a used car is one of the most
important things you can do, and too many people skip this step.
Having the car inspected by an independent third party is one of
the primary ways you can find out if something is wrong with the
car. Believing whatever the seller tells you about the car is
not enough, no matter how sincere or honest the person appears
to be. After all, their motivation is to sell the car.
The best place to have a lemon check performed is through a
dealership that sells that make and model of car. Mechanics at
the dealership are familiar with the parts, know how much
repairs cost, and can inform you of any common problems with a
particular model. It's worth spending the money to have the car
inspected. If any repairs are needed, you can price the repairs
and determine your best option, such as negotiating for a lower
price or walking away.
Having a used car inspected prior to purchase is probably the
most important step in the process. Here are three good reasons
why you should get a lemon check.
1. You'll Learn More About the Car While a seller may be honest,
it's possible that he or she is unaware of problems with the
vehicle. Alternatively, it could be that the seller knows that
repairs are needed and wants to sell the car rather than pay for
repairs. Unfortunately, not everyone is honest, and the only way
you can determine the true state of a car is to have it
thoroughly inspected. A vehicle that looks great from the
outside may have serious problems inside. A skilled, independent
mechanic can give you an honest opinion about the state of the
car.
A lemon check can also alert you to other problems such as
mileage fraud or other hidden problems with the car. If you run
across any suspicious activity, such as adjusting mileage or
other problems, you can walk away from the sale. If you skip
having the lemon check, you will never know about these issues
prior to purchasing the vehicle.
In addition, conduct a VIN (Vehicle Identification Number)
search on the car to learn more about the car's history.
2. Lemon Laws Lemon laws protect consumers when they purchase a
vehicle that has repeated problems immediately or very soon
after purchase. Lemon laws vary by state, so you need to look up
your state's laws to know what your rights are.
Should you find that the vehicle you purchased is defective, a
record of a mechanical check can work in your favor. This
ensures that the seller cannot claim that the damage occurred
after you purchased the vehicle. Obviously, if a mechanic
determines that there are serious problems, you should avoid the
car. However, if smaller issues are noted that later become
bigger issues, you'll have a record that these were noted prior
to purchase. Of course, this can work against you as well. If
you learn that a car has significant problems, it's not worth
the cost.
The types of repairs may also have an effect on whether or not
lemon laws apply. Safety issues are of more concern than minor
repairs. Therefore, safety-related issues may require fewer
repair attempts than others under certain lemon laws.
Lemon laws apply to vehicles that require repeated repairs over
a short amount of time. So even if you are aware of a needed
fix, if the problem is not fixed with one or more repairs
(sometimes up to four, depending on the state), you may be
protected by lemon laws. Be sure to keep detailed records of all
maintenance, beginning with the first lemon check and any
repairs thereafter.
Also, keep in mind that lemon laws only apply to vehicles that
are used for family or personal use, at least part of the time.
Vehicles used solely for business purposes do not fall under
lemon laws, but other laws apply.
3. You'll Save Money Having a lemon check done on a potential
purchase will only save you money in the long run. The check
will determine whether you should invest in the vehicle to begin
with, and will give you an idea of potential repairs and the
estimated cost. Simply avoiding a lemon can save you hundreds or
thousands of dollars, from the initial cost of the vehicle (that
you won't be able to resell) to any repairs.