Want to buy a used car but afraid of being scammed by title washing or lemon laundering? Well, you don’t have to worry about such scams now. The recently introduced Hawaii’s used car lemon law protects you against all such swindles.
As part of the lemon law for used cars, Hawaiian dealers are required to state all material defects of the car in black and white. Moreover, if you are buying a car which is not more than 5 years old, has traveled less than 75,000 miles, cost above $1,500 and is not custom built; then you are entitled to get a warranty on the major mechanical parts, for at least one year.
Mechanical parts, as defined in the lemon law, include the engine, water pump, transmission case, gaskets, manifolds, drive axle, brakes, radiator, wheel cylinder, power steering pump, valve body, generator and ignition system excluding the battery. From piston to brake calipers, the warranty covers every part of the engine and the internal system.
The Uniform Commercial Code of the law gives you the right to cancel your agreement in case the car dealer disclaims the warranty of merchantability. The most important law that will save you from the fraud of odometer rollbacks is the ‘truth in mileage act’. According to a government estimate, approximately 4% of car owners roll back the odometers before putting them up for sale. This law allows you to claim a refund in case you doubt the odometer statement provided by the seller.
Make sure that your dealer gives you a ‘buyer’s guide’ for the vehicle that you plan to buy. The FTC used car rule implies that a dealer has to publish a buyer’s guide of every used car that is sold under their dealership. This guide will serve as your sales contract and will override any other written or verbal agreement.
Now that you have made up your mind to buy a used car, you need to locate a reliable dealer who sells used cars in Hawaii. Browse through the internet and you will come up with hundreds of names. Keep yourself informed about the used car laws and your legal rights; and save yourself from being manipulated by fraudulent dealers.
