How is Your Automotive Aptitude? Take the Car Quiz!
by Craig Kimmel |
| Ask Craig your
question! Craig Thor Kimmel is a nationally recognized automotive
consumer advocate and managing partner of Kimmel & Silverman, P.C., the nation's
largest lemon law firm. For more information on automotive consumer issues,
visit
http://www.lemonlaw.com |
Buying
a car can be both exciting and intimidating. You land on the lot,
looking to get behind the wheel of the shiny new SUV, convertible,
sedan, sportscar you had seen in the flashy TV commercial. Oh,
wow...they have the color you want, with the features you want....it
is a match made in heaven! Sign me up, I am ready to ride home in my
dream car, right? WRONG! STOP! Take a breath. Aside from a home,
this is going to be one of the largest purchases you make. The wrong
choice could spell disaster for you down the road, while if you know
what you are doing, you could find yourself on Easy Street.
 To test your automotive aptitude, I
have put together a 10-question quiz on car buying and consumer
rights, based on the myths and misconceptions we hear the most. Take
out a number 2 pencil and see how well you fare:
TRUE OR FALSE
| 1) |
If I
buy a car and something goes wrong with it, I have three days
to return the car. It's a law. |
| |
| 2) |
Once I
have driven a car off the lot and signed a sales agreement,
there is no way a dealer can change the price on me. |
| |
| 3) |
If I
purchase a car and later figure out that I can't afford to
make the payments, I can return the car and it won't affect my
credit as long as I can prove financial hardship. |
| |
| 4) |
I can
ask the dealer to show me what he paid for the car he is
selling. |
| |
| 5) |
If I
buy a used car and the car has been in an accident, the dealer
must tell me that prior to sale. |
| |
| 6) |
The
Lemon Law not only applies to major problems such as the
transmission and engine, but also to electrical problems,
water leaks, rattles, and paint problems. |
| |
| 7) |
If a
new car is in the shop for 30 days in the first year,
regardless of whether it's for the same problem or different
problems, the driver can file a lemon law claim. |
| |
| 8) |
If I
have a manufacturers warranty and something goes wrong with my
car, I have to take it to the dealer where I purchased the
car, even if it's far from my home. |
| |
| 9) |
Used
cars are covered under the Lemon Law. |
| |
| 10) |
A
consumer under the age of 25 may be denied a loaner while
their car is in service because of their age. |
ANSWERS
| 1) |
If I
buy a car and something goes wrong with it, I have three days
to return the car. It's a law. |
| False. It's one of the most common
misconceptions around. This 3-day rule applies to home sales such as
vacuum cleaners and cutlery. It is not for cars. Once you sign the
papers, and you drive the car off the lot, it is yours no matter if
the check engine light turns on when you are driving home or if the
tire falls off. This is more of a reason why you should test drive
the exact car you are planning to buy BEFORE you sign the final
papers. Also, if you are buying a used car, pay to have a private
mechanic look at the car prior to purchase. There is a worksheet
available online which you can take with you when purchasing a
used car. Plus, check out on-line car reporting services, such as www.carfax.com,
which can provide the history of the vehicle. |
| |
| 2) |
Once I
have driven a car off the lot and signed a sales agreement,
there is no way a dealer can change the price on me. |
| True. Once you sign a retail sales
agreement, the sale is binding and the car is yours for the amount
of money agreed upon. If a salesman tries to call you later and tell
you that your financing didn't go through, or they forgot to add in
the commission for the salesperson, and they need you to come back
to the dealership, be very weary. You could end up the victim of
"spot
delivery" a practice some shadier dealers commit to get you
to buy the car on the spot. Then, they pressure or threaten you to
come back 3 or 4 weeks later and pay more money. If this happens to
you, hold on to all of your original paperwork. You could file a
lawsuit against the dealer. |
| |
| 3) |
If I
purchase a car and later figure out that I can't afford to
make the payments, I can return the car and it won't affect my
credit as long as I can prove financial hardship. |
|
False A retail sales agreement is
binding so if you buy a car and then figure out you can't afford it,
don't think anyone is going to cut you a break. You are financially
responsible for the terms of the agreement regardless of the
situation and if you don't abide by agreement, it will significantly
hurt your credit report. |
| |
| 4) |
I can
ask the dealer to show me what he paid for the car he is
selling. |
| True. It is a good practice to ask to
see the dealer's invoice to find out exactly what type of profit the
dealer is making off the purchase. If the dealer doesn't want to
show you his invoice, you have to question what he may be hiding. |
| |
| 5) |
If I
buy a used car and the car has been in an accident, the dealer
must tell me that prior to sale. |
| False: When it comes to accidents,
it's a "don't ask, don't tell" policy. If you buy a used
car and you never ask the dealer about the history of the vehicle,
he is not required to tell you. However, if you ask if the car has
been in an accident, the dealer is now liable if he gives you wrong
information. This is very important to know and another reason why
you should use carfax to research a vin number prior to purchase of
a used car. Also, if you buy a new car, the dealer is not
responsible for telling you about any damage that cost less than
$500 to fix, so if the door was scratched and they buffed it out
prior to you buying the car, they do not have to tell you. |
| |
| 6) |
The
Lemon Law not only applies to major problems such as the
transmission and engine, but also to electrical problems,
water leaks, rattles, and paint problems. |
| True. When many people think of
lemons, they think that it has to a major catastrophe, but problems
such as mold, lights flickering, knocking in the front end, and
electrical sliding doors could all be a basis for a lemon law claim,
provided the car has been in three times for the same problem or for
the same part. Keep track of your invoices. In addition, if you
notice a severe paint problem, a manufacturer normally has only one
chance to fix that problem and if it's not fixed to your liking, you
can file a claim. For more information on the Lemon Law, you can
visit www.lemonlawamerica.com |
| |
| 7) |
If a
new car is in the shop for 30 days in the first year,
regardless of whether it's for the same problem or different
problems, the driver can file a lemon law claim. |
| True. Many Lemon Laws cover cars in
the shop for an extended period of time. The Pennsylvania Lemon Law,
for example, covers cars that are in the shop for 30 days in the
first year. That includes if the car is waiting for a part on back
order. The New Jersey Lemon Law covers cars in the shop for 20 days
in the first year. The only thing that normally doesn't count is
recalls. The number of days does not have to be consecutive either. |
| |
| 8) |
If I
have a manufacturers warranty and something goes wrong with my
car, I have to take it to the dealer where I purchased the
car, even if it's far from my home. |
| False. No matter what your dealer
tells you, if your car has a manufacturer's warranty, you can take
it to any authorized manufacturer service shop for repairs. You do
not have to take it back to the dealer you bought the car from.
Also, if you are unhappy with the service you are receiving at a
particular dealership, you can switch and get your car serviced at
another shop at any time. |
| |
| 9) |
Used
cars are covered under the Lemon Law. |
| False. Used cars are not covered
under the state Lemon Laws. However, if your car has a
manufacturer's warranty and there are a number of significant
repairs, you can file a claim under the Federal Law known as the
Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. |
| |
| 10) |
A
consumer under the age of 25 may be denied a loaner while
their car is in service because of their age. |
| True. Certain rental car agencies
will not rent cars to drivers under the age of 25. If you a younger
consumer, you need to ask about the loaner car policy before you buy
your car to protect yourself. |
So how did you do?
8-10 right SPEED RACER --You have
CAR-nal knowledge and the drive to get a good deal on wheels.
5-7 right FAMILY SEDAN--Be
comfortable in the fact that you know a lot about the car buying
process. You should feel safe visiting your local auto dealer.
2-4 right 1964 PINTO--I don't know
where you got your information on autos, but it is not reliable. You
are liable to stall when it comes to making a deal or you could find
yourself traveling down a road to disaster.
0-1 right LEMON! Go back to
car-buying 101. Don't go to any dealership alone! Learn about your
rights.
For more information on consumer
rights, the best and worst cars on the road, car-buying tips and
more, visit www.lemonlaw.com
|
