Is your car a Lynchburg lemon?

Lynchburg, Virginia, car buyers who have too many problems with their new car or truck may be able to get relief under Virginia’s “lemon law.”

A dealer typically will not want to replace a vehicle but can offer to fix a recurring problem, sometimes over and over. It is not uncommon to have a few problems with a new vehicle, but if certain conditions exist, the lemon law may apply.

You must have purchased the vehicle in Virginia

For Virginia’s lemon law to apply, you must have purchased the vehicle in Virginia. Other states have similar laws, so if you purchased your vehicle out of state, you should get advice about that state’s laws.

You may qualify if you tried to get the vehicle repaired 3 or more times for the same problem

One way a vehicle may qualify for a remedy under the Virginia lemon law is if you have attempted to have it repaired three times or more for the same problem within a year.  A series of different problems would not qualify under this part of the law but may qualify the car if the amount of time it spent in the shop was excessive.

You may qualify if your vehicle has spent more than 30 days in the shop

If your vehicle is not satisfactory because of a series of different problems, the lemon law may provide relief if the car has spent more than 30 days in the shop in a year. This part of the law protects motorists when the vehicle has had many different problems. If your vehicle qualifies and a successful claim results, the manufacturer will have to give you another comparable vehicle or a refund.

The claims process is somewhat involved, and an attorney can assist you in the process. The lemon law protects you if you have a defective vehicle and can successfully make the claim.