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Lemon Law Consumer Tips & Advice

Good advice is hard to come by, but mistakes relating to car purchases and lemon laws are easy to make. Here are a number of articles that provide background into making informed decisions that range from best car repair practices to whether suing or arbitrating a lemon law claim is a better option.

Car Buying Tips
There are so many considerations when purchasing a new or used car, motorcycle, motor home or other vehicle.

Deciding the Best Means and Place to Buy Your Next Vehicle
If you have ever gone to a very good diner, which offers breakfast, lunch or dinner at anytime of the day or night, as well as, a great selection of cuisines from different nationalities, you will experience difficulty in making decisions when you are given too many choices.

Litigation or Arbitration of Lemon Law Claims
In New York State, there are various ways to enforce or settle a consumer's claim for relief against a manufacturer of a new vehicle or dealer of a used vehicle (car, truck, SUV, hybrid, motorcycle, motor home, etc.). The process may be as simple as dealing directly with the manufacturer or dealer or as complex as prosecuting a civil lawsuit.

Have Your Vehicle Repaired At the New Vehicle Dealer, Repair Shop, or Local Mechanic
The old adage "penny-wise, pound-foolish" comes to mind when considering where to take your vehicle for routine repairs, oil changes and the like.

Used Car Extended Warranties
During my years of practice, I have often heard complaints from consumers having great difficulties with used car dealers and extended warranty companies. Unfortunately, most of the extended warranties written by companies other than automobile manufacturers are not worth the paper they are written upon.

New York Statutes Applicable to Common Topics Concerning Motor Vehicles (Other Then the Lemon Laws Discussed Elsewhere)
The following is a partial list of the New York Statutes applicable to common topics concerning motor vehicles other then the Lemon Laws discussed elsewhere.

What to Do When the Lemon Law Limits Have Been Exceeded or Do Not Apply to Your Vehicle
The New York Lemon Law applicable to new and used vehicles is provided under New York General Business Law Sections 198-a (new vehicles) or Section 198-b (used vehicles), et sec.

Beware of High Priced Dealer Add-ons, Accessories and Protection Plans
It is common practice for dealers to attempt to sell pricey options and add-ons to a consumer at time of contract or during the delivery of a new or used vehicle.

How to Determine if Your Vehicle is a Lemon or if Operating Normally According to the Manufacturer’s Specifications
I often receive calls from consumers with chronic problems involving their vehicles where they report various complaints that the dealer states are normal characteristics of the vehicle, or the vehicle is operating according to the manufacturer’s specifications, or there is no problem found (NPF).

Obligations Of Repair Shops And Dealers To Provide Consumers With Written Repair Orders And Invoices
It is of upmost importance for consumers, owners or lessees of vehicles and automobiles, to obtain and keep complete copies of all repair orders and invoices for their car, truck or motorcycle so as to show all repair attempts and product defects in a Lemon Law Proceeding or action for breach of contract or warranty.