What to Do If your New Car was Damaged When you Purchased It in Pennsylvania

If your new motor vehicle was delivered with prior damage, you may have a New Motor Vehicle lemon law claim. Each year thousands of consumers, without their knowledge, purchase new motor vehicles in Pennsylvania which have been damaged prior to sale. Pennsylvania specifically addressed this problem with the enactment of the Pennsylvania New Motor Vehicle Damage Disclosure Act. The Purpose of the Act is to assure that purchasers of new motor vehicles are made aware of any repairs made to their motor vehicle before they take title to it.

The Act requires the dealer/manufacturer to disclose damage in writing, both repaired and repairable damage, which exceeds $500.00 or 3% of the manufacturer’s suggested retail price, whichever is greater. The act requires that the repair or repairable cost to be used, is the dealers retail charge for the same work on the date the repair was made.

Where it is determined that a disclosure is required, the Act requires the dealer to make the disclosure in writing prior to the sale, and obtain a signature from the buyer acknowledging the damage. If a dealer fails to comply with the requirements of this act, the buyer is entitled to seek a refund of the purchase price of the damaged vehicle.

Should the purchaser of a new car discover that it was damaged, or suspect that it was damaged, prior to sale, Pennsylvania Lemon Law Attorney, David J. Gorberg , suggests the following: “First, have an expert, such as a certified collision expert, examine the car to determine if damage exists. Next, should the expert determine that damage exists, have the expert prepare a estimate of repair, and submit this estimate to the dealership, along with a letter demanding a full repurchase of the damaged car. Should the dealership refuse to refund the purchase price, you should contact a lemon law firm in order to further pursue this matter.”

David J. Gorberg & Associates, has handled many new motor vehicle damage disclosure claims over the past several years, resulting in full or partial refunds for it’s clients. The Firm has become a household name in the field of Pennsylvania Lemon Law and New Jersey Lemon Law as a result of it’s extensive TV, Radio and Billboard advertising, and use of it’s famous 1-800-MY-LEMON jingle.

David J. Gorberg & Associates is the largest lemon law firm in Philadelphia and one of the most successful lemon law firms in country. The firm’s offices are located in Philadelphia, PA, Pittsburgh PA and Marlton, New Jersey. Mr. Gorberg can be reached at 1-800 MY LEMON (1-800-695-3666) or by visiting the David J. Gorberg & Associates website at https://www.mylemon.com


To learn more about the Pennsylvania Lemon Law please call 1-800-MY-LEMON (1-800-695-3666) or email us.