Dealers Buying Back Used Cars
The Used Car Lemon Law provides a legal remedy for buyers or lessees of used cars that turn out to be lemons. The law requires dealers to give you a written warranty. Under this warranty, a dealer must repair, free of charge, any defects in covered parts or, at the dealer's option, reimburse you for the reasonable costs of such repairs. If the dealer is unable to repair the car after a reasonable number of attempts, you are entitled to a full refund of the purchase price. No used car covered by this law can be sold by a dealer "as is." (A copy of the law may be found at the back of this book.)
dealers buying back used cars
Under the Used Car Lemon Law, a dealer is any person or business which sells or leases a used car after selling or leasing three or more used cars in the previous twelve month period. Banks or other financial institutions, except in the case of a lease, are not included. Others excluded are: a business selling a used car to its own employee; a regulated public utility which sells at public auction cars used in the ordinary course of its operations; a lessor selling a leased car to the lessee, a member of the lessee's family or the lessee's employee; and the state and local government or any of their agencies.
Under the Massachusetts Lemon Laws, you may be eligible for compensation for your used vehicle if it has at least one qualifying defect that impairs its use or safety. The car must have been purchased from a Massachusetts dealer and be used for personal or family purposes (i.e. not used primarily for business). In Massachusetts, a dealer is defined as someone who sells more than 3 cars in a 12-month period, even if they do not have a valid used car dealer license.
For new and used cars, when obtaining financing from the dealer, the dealer must give you a Notice to Vehicle Credit Applicant. This shows the credit score that was used by the dealer, the name and contact information of the credit-reporting agencies and their range of all possible credit scores.
While it is generally advised to never buy an As-Is used car from a used car lot, the unfortunate fact is that many people do not have the resources to do otherwise and are in need of a car immediately for transporting children and getting to and from work. And, while not all dealerships are predatory, enough are to make this a real problem for society.
First you must choose between buying a new car and buying a used car. A new car may cost more but will come with a longer warranty and no history of abuse or neglect. However, new cars depreciate (lose value) almost immediately when they leave the new car lot, which means that if you can find a well-cared-for used car, it might be a good bargain.
Consider the price of the car. This sounds obvious, but car dealers, new or used, may tempt you with a low monthly payment. You should be sure to look at the total price of the car, including interest.
Don't just assume you will finance through the dealer. Sometimes, you can get better financing from your bank or credit union. You should also check your credit score before you go shopping as this can affect the terms such as the interest rate you are offered. By shopping around, you may be able to negotiate a better deal. Note that Texas law sets maximum interest rates for financing used cars. The rates vary according to the age of the car and the amount owed on it.
All used car dealers are required by federal law to tell buyers whether a used car is being sold with or without a warranty. Dealers must clearly display this information on a side window of each used car. This buyer's guide, or window form, should state either:
The law prohibits rolling back or changing the number of miles on an odometer. Texas law requires the seller of any used vehicle to state on the title assignment the total number of miles the vehicle has traveled. Make sure you get a copy of the odometer statement when you sign the contract.
When car leases end, a lot of consumers simply choose to turn in the vehicle and lease another new vehicle from the same automaker. But the math has changed lately because of the pandemic and because a global shortage of microchips needed in new cars that has pushed up prices for vehicles new and used.
Fast-forward to the first few months of 2021, when consumer demand for both new and used cars came roaring back. Automakers were (and still are) hungry for microchips, needing dozens for every car, but suppliers were focused on other products and recovering from myriad challenges, including a fire at a major chip factory. The semiconductor industry is still working to adjust to the new demand, but it is taking time to get rolling. Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel, a major manufacturer of microchips, said in April that the semiconductor shortage could stretch into 2024.
If you buy a used vehicle that you think is covered by a warranty or service contract, follow the instructions outlined in the contract. If the warranty is backed by the manufacturer, contact the dealership.
We've all seen them - among the daily pile of junk in your mailbox, you find a postcard from your dealership that catches your attention. It claims that your current vehicle is so popular that the dealer is willing to buy it and offer you an amazing deal on a brand new car in return. Should you mull it over or toss this marketing piece directly into the trash and continue on your merry way in your current vehicle? If your first thought is that buyback offers are the dealership's way to get you in the door to spend more money, you're correct, but in some cases, trading in can work to your advantage.
It may come in the form of the aforementioned mailer, an email, or a phone call. The dealership where you bought your car contacts you letting you know that your used car (make, model, and year) is highly desirable and they are willing to give you the deal of a lifetime on a new vehicle in exchange for your gently used car. Before you grab the keys to your 'immensely popular' vehicle and race to the dealership, it's important to understand the strategy behind these marketing tactics.
First, you should remember that you're not the only one who is receiving the buyback offer. This is a very common strategy that dealerships use with customers, sending out thousands of similar brochures or emails at once. Usually, the buyback offers are sent to customers two or three years after the purchase of the car, and before it's fully paid off, but the timing can vary.
The type of deal that is offered can also vary between special financing, rebates, and discounts. If it seems too good to be true, it likely is. MotorBiscuit uses an example of a dealership offering a discount of $5,000 and special financing rates when you trade in your used car for new. Usually, the fine print will specify that you'll need to choose between the low interest financing and the immediate cost savings on the vehicle. You won't get both.
Although it can seem like a marketing ploy to sell more vehicles, a dealer buyback program shouldn't automatically be written off as a lie or a way for the dealership to take advantage of its customers. Depending on your situation, there are both benefits and risks that can come from trading in your vehicle in exchange for a new car deal.
If you were already thinking about trading in your car when you received the buyback offer, this may be your chance to get a better interest rate or save on a new car purchase. Trading your car in at the dealership will also save you the time and hassle of selling the vehicle privately. The convenience factor alone motivates some drivers to head to the dealership and sell the car. In some cases, the payments for the new vehicle may not be much higher than for the one you traded in with a lower interest rate. According to Car and Driver, the shortage of dealer inventory on both new and used cars means it's currently a seller's market, and if you're thinking about selling your vehicle, now is the time to do it.
If you decide that selling or trading in your vehicle at the dealership is the best route, it's still not advisable to rush into the process. Even if the buyback offer sounds like an excellent deal, you should first do some research on the value of your vehicle.
To determine a fair value for your car, check websites like Kelley Blue Book to find comparable used vehicles. You'll be able to enter your make and model, year, condition, and mileage to get an estimated value. Compare various used car sites to see what similar vehicles are going for and make note of the market values. This will give you more power to negotiate (or the insight to pass on the buyback offer altogether). If the dealership can't match or come close to the fair value, it won't be in your best interest to trade-in.
In addition, it is important to remember that you always have the right to shop and compare when making any purchase, especially when buying an item as costly as a new or used vehicle. You will find the process much easier if you understand that you can shop and compare not only for your local auto dealers, but also your financing and warranty services as well.
A thorough test drive and mechanical inspection are the only ways to make sure the vehicle you are contemplating buying is in good mechanical condition. Verbal representations about the vehicle by a salesperson are not necessarily binding promises to help you with any problems that develop. Many quality dealers will stand behind vehicles they sell and will work to solve problems, but a buyer should not expect that the dealer will always solve every problem. If you buy it "as is," and it is defective, you cannot always expect the dealer to fix it.
Most used vehicles are offered by dealers "as is." If you explicitly negotiate and knowingly accept such an offer, you give up your implied warranty of merchantability. Nothing in any law requires you to sign a waiver of your implied warranty rights under any circumstances.
A vehicle with this label has been repaired or constructed with a glider kit, but not one manufactured in two or more stages. A glider kit includes all components of a vehicle except the power train. It is generally used to rebuild heavy trucks or tractors that have been extensively damaged. Passenger cars built from custom kits are not considered reconstructed vehicles. 041b061a72