SolveYourProblem eLearning Series:
Got Shafted?
Fight Back if Your Car is a Lemon!
( 27 pages )

What Documents do I Need?

The most important documents that you should have if you want to prove a Lemon Law or a Breach of Warranty Case are the repair orders that you are given immediately after your vehicle has been in for a repair. Each time you take your vehicle in for repair you should make sure that all of the information that is contained on these documents is correct.

For example, you should be sure that all the complaints are written up exactly as you have stated them; that ALL of your complaints on that visit are included and written down; that the dates that you came in and the dates out are correct; that the mileage is set properly etc.

In most states, dealers are required under the Lemon Law to give you a copy of all of your repair orders. Furthermore; if you keep a calendar of appointments, which shows when you took the car in to the dealer because this can be helpful also with the repair orders.

Basically, you need to keep copies of all documentation that you have with regards to your car and its history. This will include such things as all repair orders, purchase contracts, warranty book and owners manual that came with your car.

You will also want to keep written notes of all of the conversations that you have with your dealership and repair technicians concerning your vehicle and its lemon status or potential. Include the date, time and what specifically was discussed and to whom you were speaking to. This includes phone calls and in-person contact. Here some more quick tips:

• DO NOT leave the dealership without your repair order because if you don’t have a repair order it means no proof of repair either.
     
• Make sure the repair order accurately reflects the date that you dropped off the vehicle for repair and the date you picked up the vehicle when the repairs were finished.
    
• Make sure that the dealership accurately describes your complaints in your words, and not theirs.
    
• Save all your repair orders.
    
• Ignore the dealership and the manufacturer if they tell you that you don’t have a lemon law claim for the obvious reasons
  

What If I Bought a Used Car?

If you still had any warranty left over from the manufacturer when you purchased your vehicle; or if your vehicle was "Certified" by the manufacturer or dealer, and you made at least one unsuccessful warranty claim before the warranty ended, you may be able to get compensation for breach of warranty.

Check out these tips for finding out if there is something about your vehicle that you were not told:

• Go to CARFAX.com and get a vehicle history for your car
    
• Consult an auto body shop to determine if your car in an accident already
     
• Have your Insurance Company run your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) on their computer to see if an accident claim was ever made about your car through another insurance company

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