Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Potential Changes in New Jersey Used Car Laws



There are many obvious benefits to buying a used car. It's a much more economical decision, especially since new cars decrease in value as soon as they're off the lot.  But with the way that Jersey's lawmakers have been pushing to better cover used car buyers, browsing the used cars for sale in NJ is becoming an even more attractive option for drivers.

 The New Jersey Senate and Assembly introduced two new bills last month to better protect used car consumers in the state. The bills propose to extend the lemon law to cover pre-owned vehicles, so should a vehicle be materially defective, the buyer can potentially be fully compensated for the purchase. Any vehicle with a defect that significantly compromises the usability or safety within the specified time period will, under this law, need to be repurchased by the dealer as opposed to waiting for the dealer to make repairs and, in some cases, have the buyer be responsible for the costs.

If you're buying from a reputable used car dealer, this shouldn't be an issue – in any case, the law only covers abuse or damage caused by the dealer or the dealership's personnel. Regardless, it's great news for Jersey car buyers. Many buyers are wary to purchased pre-owned vehicles as they are concerned that they don't know what they're getting. Now they can have the peace of mind of knowing that they aren't liable for buying a faulty vehicle.

New car buyers would benefit from the bills as well, since they can now ask the manufacturer allow an immediate return of any vehicle with fewer than 24,000 miles that is defective.