What Los Angeles Drivers Should Know About Vehicle Buybacks

If you drive in Los Angeles and are facing ongoing car troubles that repairs just don’t seem to fix, you may need to take advantage of the Lemon Law option for a vehicle buyback. 

What Los Angeles Drivers Should Know About Vehicle Buybacks and the Lemon Law

A vehicle buyback is when the manufacturer takes back a car after there have been repeated, unsuccessful attempts to repair a substantial defect, meaning the issue substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. You don’t need to reach a fixed number of shop visits to qualify in every case, but the courts typically consider that four or more attempts for the same problem, or thirty days or more out of service, is the tipping point.

In a buyback, the manufacturer must refund your purchase price minus a reasonable mileage offset based on your miles driven before the problems piled up. That refund includes a refund of everything you paid, including sales tax, registration fees, document fees at the dealership, and any other official charges. If you financed the car, the manufacturer must also handle paying off the loan balance, too. Incidental costs, like towing or the cost of getting rental cars during repairs, are often factored in as well. 

You can choose between a full buyback or getting a replacement vehicle of the same model, though most people get the buyback because they don’t care to take a risk that the same model will have the same problems. 

How the Process Works

Keep a record of every repair order, invoice, and communication you have with the dealership or manufacturer. Document the dates, your mileage, and exactly what was fixed each time the vehicle went in for repairs. Then your lawyer will use all this to send a written demand to the manufacturer outlining the defects and repair history. Manufacturers often first respond by offering an inspection or settlement discussion, and your lawyer will advise you on the best steps to take depending on the response you get. 

If the manufacturer objects and talks stall, you can pursue arbitration, and many cases settle before either step when the evidence is clear and a lawyer has laid it out in a convincing way. Expect the manufacturer to also cover reasonable attorney fees if you win, so it’s in your best interests to get a lawyer if you don’t get a prompt, proper response to your problem. The whole refund process typically closes within a few weeks, once you’ve settled with the manufacturer and the paperwork clears.

Talk to an Experienced LA Attorney Today

Vehicle buybacks give you a way to get relief when a car fails to deliver and a manufacturer has sold you something that’s defective. If you’ve been sold a lemon, reach out to the Law Offices of William R. McGee in Los Angeles today to speak directly with an attorney. We also serve clients in San Diego, San Francisco, Glendale, Irvine, Sacramento, Carlsbad, and Oxnard, CA. 

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