New Jersey Used Car Lemon Law Tips

Sergei Lemberg, an attorney specializing in lemon laws is sitting in the guest blogger’s chair today. He’s outlining some of the ways that consumers with used car lemons can get justice.

I don’t know anyone who doesn’t feel at least a little bit of trepidation when they buy a used car. Always lurking in the back of your mind is the thought that you might just be buying someone else’s troubles. Unfortunately, although every state in the nation has a new car lemon law, few states have lemon laws covering defective used cars. Luckily, New Jersey is one of them.

New Jersey's Used Car lemon law requires dealers to provide express warranties to consumers who buy used passenger cars for personal use costing $3,000 or more, are less than seven years old, and have odometer readings of less than 100,001 miles. The law prohibits you from waiving your rights to a warranty if the odometer reading is greater than 60,000 miles and the waiver is in writing.

The length of the required warranty is based on the vehicle's odometer reading. The warranty must last 90 days or 3,000 miles (whichever comes first) if a vehicle has 24,000 miles or less on the odometer. The warranty must last 60 days or 2,000 miles (whichever comes first) if a vehicle has between 24,001 and 59,999 miles. The warranty must last 30 days or 1,000 miles (whichever comes first) if a vehicle has between 60,000 and 100,000 miles.

Vehicles aren’t covered if they’re sold for less than $3,000, are seven or more years old, have been declared a total loss by an insurance company, have odometer readings of more than 100,000 miles, or weren’t purchased from dealers.

According to the law, the dealer has to fix problems associated with the engine, transmission, and front- or rear-wheel drive (although you’re required to pay $50 for each repair attempt). The car’s considered a lemon if the dealer doesn’t fix the problem after three attempts, or if the vehicle has been out of service for a total of 20 days while the dealer is trying to fix it.

If you think you have a lemon, it’s best to consult with a lemon law attorney who can explain all of your options, as well as the settlement you might receive.