Lemon Law Attorney
Get used to it: That deal is a done deal
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I recently traded in my old car and leased a high-end convertible. Six hours after entering into the lease, I changed my mind. I called the dealership and got an appointment to see the manager the next day. When we met, he said nothing could be done. He told me that my trade-in had been sold, and that if I wanted to return the leased car, it could end up costing me thousands of dollars because the car was now used. What can I do? ANSWER: As of now, there is no cooling-off period for the purchase of a vehicle in the state of California. The contract you entered into is binding, without regard to the sale or retention of your trade-in vehicle. Also, when you signed a contract and drove off the car lot, your leased car became a used vehicle. And, unless fraud, defects or lack of financing are involved, your lease is binding and you are obligated to honor its terms. A few weeks after buying a used SUV, I realized, after looking at the 2004 models on the new car lot, that I paid over sticker price. Isn’t that against the law? Can I return the vehicle to the dealership? In general, a dealership cannot charge a buyer more than the sticker price of the vehicle, unless there is a separate dealership sticker indicating that extra equipment was added by the dealership. For example, did the dealership put extra equipment on your vehicle that was not on the SUVs you looked at on the lot? Did you purchase a used top-of-the-line model, and are you comparing your price to newer bottom-of-the-line models? Did you purchase a service contract or other extra items for your SUV? Are you comparing the price you paid for your SUV, including tax and license fees? Remember, tax and license fees, without anything additional, will add about 10 percent to the price of your vehicle. Any extra equipment, model differences, a service contract and tax and license costs might be the reason for any discrepancy. Go to the dealership and have the finance or sales manager review your contract with you line by line. There might be a simple explanation that eases your distress. Toni-Diane Donnet is a California consumer lawyer specializing in automotive litigation, such as the Lemon Law and other auto-related legal issues. This column contains generalized information; it is not intended as legal advice. Send questions to: |
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