Pennsylvania’s first county-level used-car lemon law to take effect in 2023

With its clusters of applied-auto dealerships alongside Lincoln Freeway and Route 13 in Lower Bucks, Doylestown, and Quakertown, Bucks County has handed Pennsylvania’s initial county-stage utilised-car or truck lemon regulation. The new regulation, which usually takes impact Jan. 1, presents minimum amount ensures to individuals who order utilized motor vehicles fewer than seven model years previous and that have a lot less than 100,000 miles.

Sellers who sell autos with damaged motor blocks or bent frames without having disclosing it to the consumer, or offer cars that just cannot pass state inspections, will be in violation of the new restrictions, officials explained. Violators can be fined $1,000 by the community district justice.

Mike Bannon, director of the Bucks County Workplace of Purchaser Protection, one particular of few county-stage consumer places of work in Pennsylvania, advocated for the laws adopted by county commissioners past thirty day period.

“I’ve taken hundreds of problems on employed cars and trucks above time,” Bannon reported. “It’s a frequent complaint for our business office. It’s been a trouble stage simply because a several situations the business has not accomplished the ideal thing by the shopper.”

The regulation does not apply to dealers in Pennsylvania exterior of Bucks County. New Jersey has its have used-vehicle lemon legislation.

Two made use of-motor vehicle dealers in Lower Bucks County said they heard practically nothing about the legislation that passed in mid-June. Anthony Trapani, supervisor at John’s Route 13 Autos, claimed on Wednesday, “I only know about a new-car or truck lemon regulation.”

Melanie Stine, the spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Automotive Association, said the organization’s “stance is that the new ordinance reinforces a great deal of what dealers are essential to disclose under the attorney common laws.”

The affiliation has 950 associates who are new automobile sellers that also promote applied autos. Stine mentioned the trade team is looking at no matter whether the regulation places Bucks County applied-car dealers at a pricing disadvantage compared with sellers in surrounding counties who do not have to comply with similar needs.

1 provision: A used auto with much less than 100,000 miles has to move point out inspection for exhaust and safety within 10 days of the sale. If it fails, the seller has to take care of the car so it passes, or refund the consumer the order cost.

Joe Khan, the Bucks County solicitor, stated the penalty was crafted as a felony summary offense with no jail time. The utilized-car supplier can be fined $1,000 via a regional district justice business office.

Bannon believes his business office can get the job done with utilised-motor vehicle sellers to resolve concerns ahead of resorting to the wonderful.

Lots of customers know of new-car lemon rules. Pennsylvania’s Auto Lemon Legislation covers problems that happen through the very first 12 months, or 12,000 miles of possession, for a new car or leased new motor vehicle. The regulation makes it possible for the maker three repair service tries for the identical issue, in accordance to the Pennsylvania Business office of Attorney General’s Bureau of Customer Defense.

But just 7 states have lemon guidelines for used motor vehicles, according to client knowledge and study company J.D. Electric power. New Jersey — right throughout the Delaware River from Bucks County — is one.

Bannon states that is a reason why the Bucks ordinance will advantage community dealerships: it will assist by leveling the participating in discipline when they are competing with New Jersey dealers who can tout the protections of their state’s applied-motor vehicle lemon legislation.

Underneath the law, a used-car or truck seller also has to supply a warranty of 90 days, or 3,000 miles, for a motor vehicle with 24,000 miles or significantly less. Amongst 24,000 miles and 60,000 miles, the supplier has to give a warranty for 60 times or 2,000 miles.

For autos that have extra than 60,000 miles but less than 100,000 miles, the legislation involves a guarantee for a thirty day period or 1,000 miles.

The used-motor vehicle lemon law doesn’t use to motor vehicles sold for under $3,000, or that are a lot more than seven decades outdated. It also won’t utilize to a vehicle with a lot more than 100,000 miles or a single that has been “declared a full reduction by an insurance plan business.”

A seller violates the new legislation by hiding a bent or cracked auto frame, a cracked engine block, a lousy transmission, or flood destruction.

Bannon, the county official, mentioned he would be educating made use of-auto dealers about the new regulation. Stine also said the automotive association will notify dealers.

“I have not heard about it,” Patrick McCafferty, operator of Discount Car in Penndel, said a short while ago. “I’ve been carrying out this for 32 many years and I never ever heard about a employed-motor vehicle lemon regulation.”