The short answer is no. However, there are California laws protecting car buyers from dealership fraud and purchasing defective vehicles. However, dealership fraud is a common problem in California. Primarily, if a salesperson fails to disclose important information about the vehicle, such as selling a salvage vehicle without the car buyer’s knowledge, this may be fraudulent. The best way to avoid such issues is to be diligent. BE SURE TO GET ALL PROMISES IN WRITING. If the seller insists the vehicle was inspected, then request a written inspection
What Is a Salvage Vehicle?
In California, a car receives a salvage title when it has been damaged,or destroyed to the extent that it is considered uneconomical to repair. Cars will be marked as a total loss or “salvage” when the cost of making necessary repairs after an accident would be equal or nearly equal to the total value of the vehicle. Cars considered “junked” are typically taken apart after a major collision.
Can a Dealership Sell Me a Car without Disclosing that it is Salvage?
A seller must disclose if vehicle has a salvage title. That doesn’t stop some sellers from removing the salvage title information from consumers. If you are concerned about the vehicle’s history, run a VIN check prior to purchase on a site such as NMVTIS title or CarFax.
Does My Salvage Vehicle Qualify Under Lemon Law?
If you were sold a vehicle with a salvage title, and that information was not disclosed, then you may be protected under the vehicle code. You may also be a victim of fraud. The lemon law pertains to vehicles sold with new car or manufacturer’s used car warranties.
You can file a dealership fraud claim to prove that the car salesman failed to disclose that the vehicle you purchased was salvaged or a junked vehicle. A skilled dealership fraud attorney can gather the evidence needed to prove your case and get your money back. Filing a dealership fraud claim requires extensive understanding of car buying laws. For such reasons, it is important that you get experienced attorneys on your side.
Contact our California dealership fraud attorneys today at (949) 390-9695 to schedule a consultation!