Can I get a refund or repair for a broken car bought privately?

Full question:

I bought a car from a private owner and it broke down only twenty days after I bought it. Is there anything I can do to get my money back or get them to repair it?

  • Category: Automobiles
  • Subcategory: Lemon Law
  • Date:
  • State: National

Answer:

If you didn't receive a warranty with the sale, check your state's lemon law. Some states require private sellers to disclose known defects. If they fail to do so, you might be able to rescind the sale within a certain timeframe, often around thirty days.

This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.

FAQs

If a car breaks down after purchase, your options depend on whether you bought it from a dealer or a private seller. For dealer purchases, you may have warranty protections. For private sales, the seller may not be liable unless they failed to disclose known defects. Check your state's lemon law for specific rights regarding private sales.