| If you have had the misfortune to buy a 'lemon', but | | | | for any defect or situation that may hamper the |
| are residing in the state of Florida, you are in for luck, | | | | value, use or safety of your vehicle. However, if the |
| as the Florida Lemon Law is a veritable law that can | | | | defect or problem arises from the manhandling or |
| protect you. Now for the newly initiated, 'lemons' are | | | | modification of the vehicle by anyone other than the |
| products that have a recurrent mechanical problem or | | | | manufacture's service agent or has occurred due to |
| fault that cannot be repaired, usually within the | | | | an accident then it is not covered. |
| warranty period or if the problem persists even after | | | | Vehicles that do not fall under the ambit of the |
| several repairs. There are different lemon laws in the | | | | Florida lemon law |
| various states in the US so it is always advisable that | | | | If you possess any of the following you are not |
| the consumers check out the details. | | | | entitled to any protection from the Florida Lemon |
| What you need to know | | | | law: |
| In case of vehicles the Florida Lemon Law can be | | | | - Motorcycles or mopeds |
| applied only for new ones, no used vehicle fall under | | | | - Trucks that cross the ten thousand pounds gross |
| its purview. The new vehicle however could be used | | | | weight limit |
| for family, household or personal purposes. Or it could | | | | - Vehicles bought for reselling |
| be a vehicle that has been leased to you for a period | | | | - Living amenities of recreational automobiles |
| of more than a year with a written document | | | | - Vehicles that run on tracks only |
| indicating that the lessee is assigned for all mending. | | | | - Off-road vehicles |
| In special cases, vehicles that are demonstrators but | | | | Final reminders |
| are sold with a manufacture's guarantee also fall in | | | | The defects that plague your vehicle must be |
| this category. | | | | reported to the manufacturer within the "Lemon Law |
| Moreover, if the vehicle changes ownership within the | | | | Rights Period", which is usually within the first 2 years |
| first 2 years after its delivery to the initial customer, | | | | after the delivery date. Time is of essence here as if |
| with both the customers having used it for | | | | you delay in reporting then you may lose out on |
| household, personal or for family purposes, the end | | | | many things including a purchase price refund or a |
| customer to whom the vehicle is transferred is also | | | | replacement vehicle. |
| covered under the law. | | | | Make sure you keep records of all the repair and |
| When you buy or lease out a vehicle in the state of | | | | maintenance bills and also a repair order in written |
| Florida you get the "Consumer Guide to the Florida | | | | form obtained from the dealer for each repair. This |
| Lemon Law". This document gives you vital | | | | also includes recording the time and date of the |
| information regarding your rights as a consumer, | | | | whole repair period. Recording the Odometer mileage |
| offer solutions to problems, a form that you can use | | | | is also essential along with a thorough knowledge |
| to inform the manufacturer about serious faults and | | | | about Technical Service Bulletins about your car. |
| also gives you a toll free number that is the Lemon | | | | Last but not the least and the most important thing |
| Law Hotline. | | | | of all is to get hold of a lawyer who specializes in |
| Finally, always remember you may be compensated | | | | Florida Lemon law. |