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Yes, there is a California Lemon Law for used car that is much
like that for new cars and leases. There are some differences however
from the California used car lemon law than that offered for new
vehicles.
If the car has under 36,000 miles on it, then it may have some
mileage left covered under the manufacturer's warranty.
An extended warranty is also recommended for used vehicles if offered
especially for expensive items like engine and transmission (drive
train) and even a bumper-to-bumper warranty if offered.
For the California lemon law for used cars to apply, the vehicle
purchased must still be under warranty. Be sure when buying a used
car that you do not buy on that is in AS-IS condition, which means
you will pay for all repairs and not the dealer (the California
Highway Patrol does handle safety equipment problems, however).
There is no cooling off period for used car purchases in California.
However, if the vehicle is priced less than $40,000 then the dealership
must offer a Contract Cancellation Option Agreement. Under this
document the car buyer has two-days in which to cancel the contract.
The California
Car Buyer's Bill of Rights will explain this in more detail.
In addition, for a California
used car with no manufacturer's warranty there is some protection
offered through the DMV Investigations Division.
Disclaimer: while the editors of this website try to get all of
the information factually correct, there may be mistakes we have
either overlooked or the legal codes may have changed. See the official
government websites listed for up to date information and consult
with a California Lemon Law attorney to discuss specific options.
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