Buying a used car can save money. However, when buying used, you can sometimes be in for unfortunate surprises. Maryland has laws to protect used car buyers from buying defective automobiles; however, there isn't as much protection for used cars as there is for new cars.
Inspection Certificate
Maryland requires that used car sellers give the buyer a Maryland State Inspection certificate. Buyers should make sure the VIN on the certificate matches the VIN on the car. This certificate is valid for 90 days. The inspection does not check for all problems, so buyers should still have a mechanic look over the car to see if it has any major defects.
Warranties
Federal law requires that car dealers put a "buyers guide" sticker on each car. This sticker tells whether the car has a warranty or if it's being sold "as is". In Maryland, a dealer is only allowed to sell a used car "as is" if it is more than six years old and it has more than 60,000 miles on it. If these conditions don't exist, then the car has an implied warranty, which means that you can expect the car to work for a reasonable amount of time. If it does not, the dealer may be liable for repairs.
Lemon Laws
In Maryland, the lemon laws cover cars that have serious problems, which cannot be repaired. The law covers these issues within the first 24 months of ownership or the first 18,000 miles. Unfortunately, lemon laws in Maryland do not apply to used cars.
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