Does the lemon law cover used vehicles?
California’s lemon law applies to all new and used consumer goods sold with any warranty. Also, any used vehicle sold with the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty is covered. Essentially, the warranty goes with the car. For example, if you buy a used car with 20,000 miles, you automatically get the remainder of the factory 36 month/36,000 mile warranty, just as if you were the original owner. Many used vehicles are sold with a “service contract” (sometimes erroneously referred to as an “extended warranty”). These entitle the buyers to limited protection under the Lemon Law, usually only reimbursement of the cost of the repairs. Often, a dealer will sell a used car with a limited warranty, such as for 30 days/1,000 miles. When the dealer gives its own warranty, such as this, it places the vehicle back under the protection of the Lemon Law. The best protection a used car buyer can get is some form of warranty, even if only 30 days, from the dealer. If the vehicle is a lemon, at leas
