What Is the Lemon Law on a Used Car Bought "As Is"?

There are many factors to weigh when purchasing a used vehicle. Prospective buyers must be aware of a vehicle's history, such as accidents, as well as its overall maintenance history to verify if a car has been maintained reasonably well.

Identification

When agreeing to a legal vehicle purchase document, read the fine print. Any wording of "as is" absolves the car dealership of any responsibility to the vehicle's performance after the agreement is signed.

Significance

Typical nationwide Lemon Laws do not apply to used vehicles, but serve only the new car sales customers. Only two states, Massachusetts and New York, offer a Lemon Law applied to used cars.

Helpful Tip

Before purchasing a used vehicle, take it to a neutral service shop that can verify basic functioning of the car. They will give an honest rendering of the issues the vehicle may have and give the consumer a professional opinion to base their purchase decision on in the future.