A: Lemon laws do differ significantly by state. There's no clear
reason why, but what's important is knowing the laws in YOUR state so that
you can fully exercise your rights as a consumer.
There are two sets of national laws that govern transactions and protect consumers:
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act - this law protects the buyers of any
product that cost more than $25 and came with a written warranty
- Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) - a broad-reaching set of laws that covers contracts governing the purchase and sale of products.
Generally speaking, all of the states have found that these laws are insufficient to protect consumers from defects in cars. Consequently the states have each adopted their own set of laws that protect consumers from defective cars.
The varitions in state lemon laws range from definitions of a lemon,
to the amount of money due the consumer, even to when a car is considered
covered in a state. Continue to read through the FAQ for more insight
into what Lemon Laws are.
If it all seems overwhelming or confusing, take heart - there are many
attorneys who can help you, and most work on what's called a contingency
basis, which means they don't charge you any fees unless you are successful
in your claim. If you are successful, they'll typically take a reasonable
percentage of your settlement amount but still leave you more than enough
to buy a car to replace your lemon.
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