Users' questions

What should I do if I have a problem with my car dealer?

What should I do if I have a problem with my car dealer?

If a dealer doesn’t agree that the fault is serious, get an independent mechanical report in writing and a quote for the repairs. If the report supports your claim that the fault is serious, go back to the dealer to reject the vehicle and choose a refund, replacement or repairs, plus compensation for the cost of your report.

What happens if car dealer gives you false information?

This may also breach the Fair Trading Act by trying to get out of the consumer guarantees and misleading you about your rights. If the dealer gives you false or misleading information about a new or used vehicle or your consumer rights, you have rights under the CGA and FTA. the age, history and condition of the vehicle are misrepresented.

What happens if you reject a car at the dealership?

If the fault is serious, eg it can’t be repaired for a reasonable cost, you can reject the vehicle. By rejecting the vehicle, you can get a refund or a replacement of the same or similar vehicle. You must tell the dealer you are rejecting the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time.

What to do if you get a deceptive car ad?

Deceptive car ads or dealers — File a complaint with your state consumer protection agency and the Federal Trade Commission . Terms of your auto loan agreement or payments — File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

What should I do if I have a problem with a car dealer?

Dealership personnel are people as well, which means they are sensitive, and sometimes make mistakes. Don’t go around bad-mouthing a dealer just because it took several tries to solve a problem, unless you have no other choice. Launching into a social media crusade against them will just hurt your case.

Who are the lawyers that deal with car dealerships near me?

The auto dealer fraud attorney at Consumer Action Law Group sues car dealerships for violations of California and Federal consumer laws. Most car buyers do not know when the dealership is breaking the law. The lemon law attorney at Consumer Action Law Group will investigate all contractual, financing issues, and multiple repairs claim.

When does a dealer refuses to attempt a new car repair?

In most cases, yes. However, there may be times when the dealer refuses to accept your car for repair. What do you do then? Under Virginia’s Lemon Law, if a problem with a new car cannot be fixed in several repair attempts, you may be entitled to a refund or a new car.

Can you take a car to another dealer?

OK, so you’ve gotten nowhere with this dealership, you may want to take the car to another dealer, though this might be a bit inconvenient, especially if the distance to other dealer is great.

Can a car dealer misrepresent the price?

A dealer may misrepresent the actual price of a car in advertising. A dealer may sell a car that was a prior rental without informing the buyer. A common fraud is selling a car that has been in an accident with significant damage and not informing the buyer.

Why do car dealerships have a bad reputation?

Car dealerships have bad reputations for a reason. It is highly likely that you or someone you know has felt taken advantage of or cheated while purchasing either a new or used vehicle. Our attorneys have the experience needed to determine whether what the dealership did is illegal. There are many types of car dealer fraud.

If a dealer doesn’t agree that the fault is serious, get an independent mechanical report in writing and a quote for the repairs. If the report supports your claim that the fault is serious, go back to the dealer to reject the vehicle and choose a refund, replacement or repairs, plus compensation for the cost of your report.

Can a car dealer refuse to return a car?

Free of tickets or liens. If not returned under these conditions, the dealer can refuse to accept return of the vehicle. When the car is returned, the dealer must give you a full refund. This includes sales tax, registration fees, deposit and return of your vehicle.

Can a dealer call a car a certified pre-owned vehicle?

A dealer can call a used car “certified” or a “certified pre-owned vehicle” if they have a mechanic perform a complete inspection of the car. The dealer must give you a copy of the inspection report. A car cannot be “certified” if:

This may also breach the Fair Trading Act by trying to get out of the consumer guarantees and misleading you about your rights. If the dealer gives you false or misleading information about a new or used vehicle or your consumer rights, you have rights under the CGA and FTA. the age, history and condition of the vehicle are misrepresented.

What happens if I buy a faulty car?

You don’t have to accept a repair or even a replacement car, but you can if you prefer this option. If the fault develops after this time but within the first six months of ownership, the dealer will be allowed to try to fix the vehicle for you. They’re given a chance to rectify the fault, which suits a lot of drivers.

When do you have problems with your car dealer?

If your car has lots of problems, your dealer or mechanic might be screwing it up when trying to find other problems. If you have problems immediately after having your car serviced, it may have been the mechanic’s fault. Examples: transmission problems after transmission servicing or fluid change.

What happens when you buy a car as is?

That means that any problem with the car is no longer the responsibility of the dealer or private seller once it has been sold. All repair costs will come directly out of pocket for the buyer. Since an “as is” purchase is a risk for the car buyer, there are typically several conditions determining when a dealer can sell a car with no warranty.

Is the car dealership ” as is ” on the car?

The dealership has “as is” on all its vehicles, but before I bought the car the salesperson told me it was in good condition and ran perfectly. A few days after I bought the car the vehicle started giving me problems. When I called the dealership to complain, they told me to bring it in so they could fix it.

How does a dealer find a car for You?

Using a search tool that’s not available to car shoppers, the dealership is able to cast a wide search with very specific criteria. So if you have your heart set on a car with a certain color or trim level, the dealer can quickly locate that vehicle.

What happens when a dealer trades in a car?

Sometimes the dealer that has the sought-after car will request a different vehicle from the one it traded so it can replenish whatever inventory it lacks. Or the dealership that has helped out a fellow dealer might just bank that favor, saving for an occasion in which one of its salespeople needs a specific car to make a sale.

What are the pros and cons of a dealer trade?

Dealer trades allow salespeople to keep the business of customers who shop with them first, rather than lose them to another dealership that has the car they want.

Are there any problems with an used car dealership?

A salesman at the car dealership often try to make buyers believe they got a deal, but in reality, used cars often have problems that buyers don’t know about. Many used car dealers sell cars with frame damage and defective engines.

Can a dealer lie about the condition of a car?

You have the right to get out of your contract if the dealer lied about the condition of the car. The contract may not accurately reflect that there were pre-existing issues that were not mentioned in the contract.

Can a car dealer mislead you about the condition of the car?

Under the Fair Trading Act, dealers cannot mislead you about the car in any way. This includes comments or claims made in person and in any advertisements or documentation. Keep a copy of any adverts, details or promises the seller makes about the condition of the car in case a problem occurs after purchase.

What are the ground rules for dealing with a car dealer?

Before we go on, though, let us set out two ground rules: Always be calm and courteous, even when you are not treated well. The service guy might just be right — we at least need to be open to that possibility. Most car dealers are independently owned and are protected by a thick wall of franchise laws, so automakers have limited leverage.

Why do people hate going to a car dealership?

That means most of us are left sitting in uncomfortable plastic waiting chairs, as we sip cheap cups of coffee in tiny Styrofoam cups, while a shady snake with a polyester necktie tries to convince us that we are a bunch of fools for not opting for the most expensive model.

Is it bad to get ripped off by a car dealer?

While getting ripped off by a jackwagon who sold you a used car with bad ring landings certainly sucks, getting fleeced over a brand-new, limited edition sports car is an absolute abomination.

How are car dealerships changing over the years?

Physically, the car dealership itself is changing as well, with the luxurious aspirations serving as fodder for leather couches, big screen theater rooms, full espresso bars, and on premise eateries that serve things like panini sandwiches and freshly squeezed lemonade.

Can a used car dealer keep a new car?

Original new-car dealers usually keep the trade-ins that are in the best condition. The next best go to brand-name dealership auctions only. Only cars that haven’t been skimmed off by then make it to the public auctions open to ordinary used-car lots. The cars that are left are older and more likely to have their share of problems.

What to do if you have a dispute with a car dealer?

There are many resources for those who are having a dispute with a dealer or a car company, including, for people who have lots of problems with a new car, lemon law replacement; each state’s lemon law information is in your owner’s manual package.

Why are used car dealerships so shady?

Part of the reason used-car dealers may seem shady is because selling used cars is a tricky proposition for dealers, too. During their time on the road, cars encounter millions of potential hazards ranging from abuse to neglect, including accidents, flooding, overloading, encounters with potholes,…

Do you have to sign a contract when buying a car from a motor dealer?

The Act states what information must be in a contract. If a motor dealer sells you a car, they must give you a copy of the contract straight after you sign it. See page 9 of this guide for more information about what documents the motor dealer should give you when you buy a used car. Do I have to buy the car after I’ve expressed interest in it? No.

What are the conditions for buying a car from a motor dealer?

The wording on the contract is usually “subject to…”. Common conditions are: • finance must be approved • the car must pass an inspection to your satisfaction • the motor dealer has to buy the car from a previous owner in order to sell it to you.

When does a car dealer make things worse?

If your car has lots of problems, the dealer’s mechanic might actually be making things worse when trying to find the cause of other problems. If a “new” problem occurs immediately after your car was serviced, there’s a good chance it was the mechanic’s fault.

Can you sue your car dealership for breach of contract?

When he phoned back after having verified the financing approval and check mailing date, he stated that the finance company told him that they still needed to verify income and that they would be phoning my in the morning to confirm and that after they did that that the finance company would phone him to further validate the loan.

What happens if you don’t take a car from a dealership?

If you take the car, you’re probably stuck unless the dealership can’t complete the deal at the agreed upon terms (eg, they can’t arrange financing for some reason). If you haven’t taken the car, contact the dealer board or consumer affairs board. In some states, there is a dealer licensing board.

Can a buyer cancel a car dealership contract?

If a cooling-off were required by dealerships, they would be forced to sell practically brand-new vehicles for a fraction of the price and would likely be unable to sustain operations. Because of how car valuation works, there is not a cooling-off period required as part of a car buying contract.

Why do people have disputes with car dealers?

Of course, these disputes play into people’s built-in distrust of car dealers anyway. We assume that all dealers are robbing us blind and dodging their legal responsibilities, so we’re starting with some very negative assumptions as soon as an issue arises.

What should I do if my car dealership sold me a bad used car?

If your dealership sold you a bad car, call us now to receive free legal advice from one of our experienced auto dealer fraud lawyer. What Should I Do if My Car Dealership Sold me a Bad Used Car? You should hire an auto dealer lawyer if your car dealer sold you a bad car by lying to you.

What happens if something goes wrong after buying a car?

So, if something goes wrong or breaks down after you purchase the car, the cost of any repairs is almost always the buyer’s responsibility. Generally, unless the dealer made a representation about the condition of the vehicle that he knew to be false, “as is” pretty much covers the dealer on any faults the car has.

Can you sue a dealership for consumer fraud?

Can I sue the dealership for consumer fraud and damaging my vehicle? When a car is sold “as is”, the car is sold in its current condition, which means the buyer accepts the car with all known and unknown problems at the time the car is purchased.

If the fault is serious, eg it can’t be repaired for a reasonable cost, you can reject the vehicle. By rejecting the vehicle, you can get a refund or a replacement of the same or similar vehicle. You must tell the dealer you are rejecting the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time.