California Lemon Law Used Car Fraud in California Car Repair Fraud in California Motor Home Lemon Laws Unfair/Deceptive Business Practices Consumer Legal Remedies Act

Contact UsComplete this form and we
will contact you shortly.

Law Offices of
Howard D. Silver

513 Water Oak Lane, No. A,
Oak Park, CA 91377

Phone: 818-597-2610 or
866-49-lemon (866-495-3666)
Fax: 818-879-0862

E-mail: hsilver@howardsilverlaw.com

Visit the California lemon law web sites
of attorney Howard D. Silver:
California Motorhome Lemon Law
California Lemon Law
CA Lemon Laws

Southern California Used Car Fraud Lawyer

What Is Used Car Fraud?

Even if you bought a used vehicle, you still have rights in California. If the vehicle is fairly new, its original manufacturer's warranty may still apply and will allow you to bring a lemon law claim. If the vehicle came with a dealer's warranty, you can also bring a claim that the warranty has been violated. If the vehicle came with no warranty -- that is, if it was sold "as is" -- or with a service contract, you may still be able to bring a claim for used car fraud.

Used car fraud is forbidden by the California Consumer Legal Remedies Act, which prohibits used-vehicle dealers and most other retailers in California from using unfair and deceptive business practices to sell their goods. That means dealers may not lie to or mislead customers. They are also legally obligated to disclose any material defect in the car, which includes a past wreck or a former life as a rental. If you ask a question, dealers must tell the truth, even if the truth is that they don't know the answer. If dealers are advertising their cars as fully serviced and inspected, they have a legal obligation to actually inspect it, fix material defects and disclose any remaining problems. You also have the right to get the car inspected before you buy.

Common types of used car fraud include:

• Rolling back the odometer.
• Not disclosing that the car is a "lemon buyback" that the original owner returned for a refund.
• Not disclosing that the vehicle has a "salvage title."
• Not disclosing that the vehicle used to be a rental, a demonstrator or was previously sold and returned.
• Quoting a lower price than the one on the contract, or charging you for features you were told were free.
• Contracts that are incorrectly dated, forged or not provided to you.

Victims of used-car fraud should go to the dealer first to ask for a refund or exchange (or any service you're entitled to under a contract or warranty). If the dealer won't play fair, you may have to file a lawsuit to get your money back. You have three years from the day you bought the car to bring such a claim. In a used-car fraud lawsuit, you can recover what you paid for the car and all of its repairs; any money you paid for alternative transportation and other costs caused by the lemon; attorneys' fees; and anything else the court thinks is fair. In cases of extremely illegal behavior by dealers who knew better, you may be able to get punitive damages, which are designed to punish wrongdoers financially, as well.

Since 1987, the Southern California used car fraud attorneys at the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver have focused only on representing consumers who were tricked into buying a lemon. With a success rate of more than 95%, Silver has the knowledge and experience you need to help you win your case. And that success means he can afford to take your case on contingency, meaning you only pay attorney fees if you win your case. If you're a victim of used-car fraud, call the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver today at 1-866-49-LEMON for a free evaluation of your case, or fill out our confidential Request for Consultation form online.

• Frequently Asked Questions