Laws on Buying Used Cars in Michigan

• Be careful when buying a used car.Cars and Parking Meters image by Towards Ithaca from Fotolia.com
  
  Car laws, more commonly referred to as lemon laws, are laws that protect consumers from buying defective vehicles. Michigan's lemon laws do not apply to the sale of used cars, but other laws such as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protect Michigan consumers who have purchased used cars.
  
  

Used Cars Laws

• Michigan law and the Federal Trade Commission require all dealers to place a buyer's guide in the window of the used vehicle being sold, which states whether the car is being sold with some residual warranty or "as is" with no implied or express warranty attached. Additionally, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act requires warranties on used vehicles be available for review and inspection by any consumers prior to purchase. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act also requires manufactures to honor any implied or express warranty associated with the vehicle.
  
  

Other Remedies

• Consumers who buy defective or used cars that don't meet minimum quality can file a complaint against the dealer who sold the used car with Michigan's Bureau of Regulatory Services. Alternatively, they can bring a suit against the dealership under Michigan's law for Unfair and Deceptive Acts and Practices (UDAP), which provides a remedy for consumers who buy a defective used car based on misrepresentations made by the seller. Sellers who fail to disclose information about the vehicle prior to purchase also fall under the UDAP.
  
  

Michigan Lemon Laws

• Michigan's lemon laws apply to vehicles that were purchased new by a Michigan resident for personal and family use only. Michigan's lemon laws do not apply to used or leased vehicles or vehicles intended for commercial use.