Driving your new (or new-to-you) car off the lot for the first time should be a moment of relief and excitement.

You’ve made it through the shopping phase. You’ve gone through the fear and anxiety of negotiating the best deal you can get with the car dealership.

You’ve signed the paperwork and finally, the car is yours.

And nothing is more frustrating than dealing with repeated repairs and issues with your new car immediately after you get it home.

But you can do something about what’s called a “lemon” vehicle–even if you’ve bought a used car.

Here are the five things to help you better understand the used car lemon law in Louisiana.

1. Determine if Your Car is a Lemon

What is the Lemon Law?

Some cars have issues after you get them home and drive them for a while.

But if ongoing maintenance issues show up after you buy the car, how do you know if your car qualifies as a lemon?

The first criteria come down to recurring repairs for the same issue and how long your car is out of service during repairs.

• If you try to fix an issue at least four times
• If your car is out of service for at least 45 days

But with used cars, be sure and consider your timing.

2. Know Your Timeframe

In Louisiana, the state’s Lemon Law can apply to used cars within a certain amount of time from purchase and within the car’s warranty or delivery.

If you’ve tried to repair the car within one year of taking ownership of the car or it’s still within the warranty period, there’s a good chance you have a used car lemon.

3. Not All Cars Qualify

Used car laws only apply to purchased cars, either for personal or commercial use. Vehicles under a lease do not qualify.

The type of vehicle is also important. In addition to cars, trucks, and SUVs, the law includes personal watercraft and ATVs purchased after August 1999.

However, the law does not include all motorcycles, RVs, and mobile homes.

4. Understand Redhibition

In addition to the state’s Lemon Law (or the Motor Vehicle Warranty Act), Louisiana has something known as redhibition.

This additional protection allows a buyer to demand a full refund or a reduction in the purchase price if your car has an ongoing defect that existed at the time of sale.

5. Help is Available

My used car dealership sold me a lemon. Now what?

Navigating the details can be tricky. There’s no need to figure it out on your own.

If you think you have a lemon, get help from experienced lemon law attorneys.

Used Car Lemon Laws Protect You

You’ve done the hard work of buying a car. Used car lemon laws are there to help protect you from getting stuck with a bad car. At Bowie & Beresko, we have years of success when it comes to Lemon Laws and Redhibition. We’ll try or settle your case and get you back on the road.

Contact us for help today.