---

Released: May 02, 2005

Help Desk FAQ

The used car I bought has many problems. What can I do?

There is no "cooling-off" period for used car purchases. A used car can be sold legally only if its lights, horn, windshield wipers, tires, and brakes are working properly. Most used car dealers sell vehicles "as is," which means, "with all faults." If the seller provides any type of warranty, such as a 60-day parts warranty, then you are automatically entitled to the implied warranty of fitness. The implied warranty will last as long as the written warranty, although not less than 30 days, or more than 90.

If your decision to buy the used car was based on specific statements made by the dealer, those statements constitute an express warranty. To prove that you were given such an express warranty, it helps to produce a witness to the seller's statements and copies of advertisements.

If the used car is still under the original manufacturer's warranty, you may have rights under the lemon law. See below.