In the market for used car? The following is a list of recommendations from the Lemon Law Attorneys at
1-800-MY-LEMON, to ensure that you don’t end up with a lemon car.

The Kelley Blue Book and N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides have been the standard for determining car values for years and now you can check prices online.

Next, check on the vehicle’s history. If you have the vehicle identification number, you can use a service such as Carfax to purchase a history report on that vehicle. However, the report will only show what has been reported to insurance companies or government agencies. If the vehicle was in an accident, for example, and this was not reported, that information will not appear on the report.

Always inspect the car thoroughly in order to see signs of damage or fraud. This is especially true regarding the mileage shown on the odometer. Cars with low mileage may have had their odometer rolled back. A quick check can show if the odometer reflects the accurate mileage. For example if a car’s odometer shows 4,000 miles but the pedal pads are worn, one can assume that the mileage shown is incorrect.

A valuable source of information are the contents in the glove compartment. Many times the original paperwork for the car, such as prior sales orders or repair orders, are left in the glove compartment. Look at the mileage on these documents and compare to the odometer.

Another clue to discover problems is to check the tire wheels or rims for marks from wheel weights. The more marks, the more often the tires have been balanced, indicating age. Another method to check for fraud is to turn the key on with the engine off. Always compare the warning lights you see, to the owners manual. If any of the warning lights do not work or display, then someone may have tampered with the vehicle to hide a problem.

Finally, and most important, have the car thoroughly examined by an auto expert who is ASE certified. If the dealer or salesperson refuses to let you have the vehicle inspected, walk from the deal. Chances are the dealer is hiding something from you.

The above are just a few methods you can use to protect yourself from buying a used lemon car.

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