| United States car lemon laws were enacted to | | | | show that a lemon car can be an extreme |
| protect consumers against buying defective, | | | | financial hardship. The last time you picked up |
| unrepairable vehicles. The major automobile | | | | your car from the repair garage, were you happy |
| manufacturers mass-produce their products, and | | | | with the bill, or were you dreading it? A car with |
| generally the quality control is very good. | | | | four to six (or more) attempted repairs, with all |
| However, when you connect more than a few | | | | the parts and labor charges, can easily add up to |
| parts together, you have a chance for a lemon. | | | | thousands of dollars. If your car is stuck in a |
| What is a lemon car? A lemon or lemon car is an | | | | repair garage for 30 days or more, with the |
| automobile that has a defect that cannot be | | | | mechanics billing hour after hour of labor, the bill |
| repaired by the consumer after a reasonable | | | | might approach the price of the car itself! |
| number of attempts. Alternately, if the car has | | | | If your car meets your state's lemon car criteria, |
| been in a repair garage for 30 calendar days or | | | | you have the right to seek a refund or |
| more for repairs on the same defect, it may also | | | | replacement from the car manufacturer (not the |
| be classified as a lemon car. The term can also | | | | dealer from which you bought it). You are |
| apply to a vehicle in which the defect negatively | | | | probably entitled to be reimbursed for related |
| affects the value and safety of the vehicle. Car | | | | costs such as towing, rental cars, and maybe |
| lemon laws vary by state, so you should consult | | | | even long distance calls to the manufacturer. Be |
| your own state laws to determine the exact | | | | absolutely sure to keep all bills and invoices related |
| definition that applies to you. | | | | to your attempts to get your car repaired. |
| Why is a terminally defective car called a lemon? | | | | If you decide to proceed with a lemon law claim |
| One can only speculate why the name of a tart | | | | against the manufacturer, it is beneficial to consult |
| yellow citrus fruit came to be associated with | | | | with a lawyer that specializes in lemon law cases. |
| defective cars. Lemons are very sour in taste, | | | | A lawyer can help make the stressful process go |
| and traditionally sour tastes have been associated | | | | more smoothly. No doubt are already stressed |
| with bad luck. If something negative happens to a | | | | enough over your lemon car. |
| person, he or she might say, "It left a sour taste | | | | Some states have passed lemon laws to protect |
| in my mouth." A salesperson whose big deal falls | | | | consumers against defective purchases of boats |
| through might say, "The deal went sour." It | | | | and even pets. Regardless of the origin of the |
| seems plausible that the sour taste of the lemon, | | | | term, lemon laws are here to protect you. The |
| with its negative connotations, was used to coin | | | | car manufacturers can hire teams of expensive |
| the phrase "lemon car" to describe a car purchase | | | | lawyers, and they know you can't. Car lemon |
| gone sour. | | | | laws help to level the playing field in your favor. |
| Why were lemon laws needed to protect car | | | | If the guys at the car repair shop know you by |
| consumers? Look at the general definitions of | | | | your first name, you should consider the lemon |
| lemon cars shown above. Some quick math will | | | | law tips below. |