Connecticut Lemon Laws for Used Cars: What To Know
A brand-new or new-to-you car should be a time for pride and excitement. You’ve worked hard to acquire this set of wheels, so it’s easy to get frustrated when something goes wrong. A wide variety of protections covers brand-new cars, but what do you do if you’re having mechanical trouble with a recently purchased used car? If the vehicle was bought in Connecticut, you might be lucky as Connecticut has lemon laws for used vehicles.
While every state offers protections for new car purchases, Connecticut is only one of many states with consumer protection or “lemon” laws that cover used vehicles. Named after defective items—often automobiles—referred to as lemons, lemon laws are regulations that protect purchasers of products that turn out to be flawed.
While some states, like New York and Massachusetts, have a dealer buy-back provision in case a defective, used car cannot be repaired, Connecticut’s laws have no such requirement. Similarly, Connecticut’s used car lemon law has no stipulation for an arbitration process where a neutral third party intervenes to resolve the situation.
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This article is only for educational purposes and is not legal advice. You should always consult an attorney when seeking help with legal matters. With this in mind, let’s look at the details of Connecticut lemon laws for used cars.
The Basics: Connecticut Lemon Laws For Used Cars
Enacted in 1987 and updated over the years, the state’s used car lemon laws require auto dealers to provide an “express warranty” to car buyers of used vehicles costing $3,000 or more.
According to Quimbee, a legal education company, an express warranty is defined as:
“a guarantee by the seller or manufacturer of goods regarding the quality or performance of those goods, which is expressly stated by the parties in a written or oral agreement.”
Connecticut’s used car lemon law has specific requirements for express warranties. For cars less than seven years old and cost between $3,000 to $5,000, a dealer is responsible for all required repairs to maintain the vehicle in a mechanically sound and operational state for a minimum of 30 days or the first 15,000 miles whichever comes first.
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If a used car costs more than $5,000 and is less than seven years old, then a dealer must cover necessary repairs for a minimum of 60 days or the first 3,000 miles, whichever comes first.
For cars that are more than seven years old and selling for less than $3,000, a dealer is permitted to sell the vehicle without any warranty, meaning “as-is.” In this situation, the dealer is mandated to include a disclaimer on the front page of the vehicle sales contract requiring the buyer to confirm this is an as-is sale.
Connecticut law adds further requirements to a used car sale at a dealership.
- A dealer cannot modify or remove an implied warranty on a car costing more than $3,000. In other words, Connecticut used car buyers can assume that vehicles costing over $3,000 are fit for their intended purpose: the car can be driven in a routine and safe manner. This is known as an implied warranty of merchantability.
- The dealer’s express warranty must cover all necessary repairs to restore the vehicle to a mechanically sound and operational condition. In addition, the dealer is responsible for all associated costs for this coverage and cannot require contributing payments from the buyer.
- Each day that a malfunctioning car is receiving warranty repairs at the dealer or the dealer’s authorized service shop, the warranty is extended for another day.
Other Used Car Lemon Law Requirements For Connecticut Dealers
Used car sales regulations in Connecticut also require dealers to:
- Include all promises to conduct repairs or vehicle updates in the sales contract.
- Permit buyers and their designated mechanic to inspect the car before purchase.
- Specify all the terms of any legally required warranties in the sales contract.
- Honor any expired mandated warranty as long as the buyer notified the dealer of a claim within the warranty term.
It’s important to note that the state’s used car lemon laws apply only to vehicle transactions made between a consumer and a licensed car dealer.
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FAQs: Connecticut Lemon Laws For Used Cars
Now that you’ve reviewed your Connecticut protections for used car purchases, let’s go over some frequently asked questions.
Who Do I Contact If There’s a Problem With My Recently Purchased Used Car?
Always first reach out to the selling dealer if there’s a mechanical problem with your car. If needed, send the dealer a letter via certified mail to confirm the issue. More importantly, document every interaction and follow up your phone calls and in-person visits with an email summarizing your conversation.
What Should I Do If The Dealer Is Not Being Responsive To My Claims?
If you’ve exhausted every avenue with the dealer, you should contact the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles Consumer Complaint Center at (800) 842-8222. You can also file a complaint with the state’s Office of the Attorney General. An attorney is another option for help, but there are costs involved.
Where Can I Learn More About Connecticut’s Used Car Lemon Laws?
You can click here to see the full text of the state’s used car lemon laws.
Are There Any Other Protections Available To Me As A Used Car Buyer?
Yes, while technically not called lemons laws, federal regulations offer some protection for used car purchasers.
These laws include the implied warranty of merchantability that we covered early, also included in the Uniform Commercial Code provisions (UCC). As with Connecticut’s requirements, the UCC stipulates that a used car sale carries an implied warranty that the car is safe and operable unless sold explicitly as an “as-is” purchase (unless prohibited by state law). The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also specifies similar requirements regarding implied warranties.
Do CT Lemon Laws Apply to Private Sales?
Yes. Cars purchased from a private party are generally protected by lemon laws, provided that the manufacturer’s warranty still covers it. Fortunately, the manufacturer’s warranty is easily transferable to another owner, even through private sales.
Also, the law requires private sellers to disclose all known defects a used car might have. Failing to do so entitles the buyer to rescind the sales and get a refund within 30 days. If the buyer initiates subsequent suits, it must be in good faith. Frivolous or bad faith suits will award the seller attorneys’ fees and costs.
What Qualifies as a Lemon?
Specific requirements must be met to be considered a lemon, and the specifics may vary from state to state. However, there are general things that apply across the board.
First, a lemon has some type of defect or non-conformity. Subject to state laws, the defect must have happened within a specific time frame or a certain number of miles after the sale of the vehicle. Additionally, a lemon continues to have defects after a reasonable number of attempts to repair. Again, the “substantial defect” definition may vary by state laws.
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