More
FAQ's
(frequently
asked questions)
Why
haven’t I heard more about the California
Lemon Law?
Though not drenched in media attention, the
California Lemon Law is one of the most
attractive, “consumer friendly” consumer
protection laws in the nation. It is for
this reason that you should take
advantage of it. The Law Offices
of William R. McGee can defend your rights
and bring a swift and fair resolution to
your lemon ownership experience.
What
am I entitled to under the California Lemon
Law?
If you financed or leased your vehicle, you
are entitled to get back your down payment
(or lease inception fee), government fees,
trade-in equity, license fees and all the
monthly payments you have made up to the
date of settlement. You may also be
entitled to towing reimbursement, as well as
rental car expenses you personally paid
during your warranty repair visits.
The manufacturer pays off the existing loan
(or lease), you turn the vehicle back
in to the car dealership, and you get your
Lemon Law refund check. This is known
as a vehicle repurchase. In certain
circumstances you may also elect to take a
replacement vehicle in lieu of a repurchase.
This is known as an exchange of
collateral. Your loan remains the
same, and you simply “swap” your present
vehicle for a new one with the same
equipment. Leased vehicles are treated in
the same way.
In
any Lemon Law action, the manufacturer is
entitled to an offset for mileage
based on the odometer reading at the first
time you had your vehicle repaired for a
recurring problem. There is a specific
formula for calculating this offset, which
your Lemon Law attorney will discuss with
you.
How
long can this process take?
We can usually reach a settlement with the
manufacturer within 30-90 days by retaining
our firm. A very large number of cases are
settled in as little as 30 days! You
will not damage or compromise your credit by
taking advantage of the Lemon Law.
As
you can see, after you retain our firm it
can be a very quick process. And we
keep you updated on your cases progress. You
no longer need to be involved with car
dealers or auto manufacturers and suffer the
frustration and anxiety of dealing with
these problems.