Saturn

Many used cars in California once served as rental cars, taxis or rideshare vehicles, police units, or other commercial/fleet vehicles. That history matters. Prior commercial use usually means harder miles, more wear, and a lower fair market value. California dealers cannot quietly pass off heavy-use vehicles as ordinary personal-use cars when the law requires disclosure.

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Finding out after the sale that your car has a serious accident history, frame or structural damage, or a prior total-loss/salvage title can be a gut punch. In California, dealers cannot hide material damage, frame/structural issues, or branded titles when they know about them – especially when those problems affect safety or value.

Free Case Review – Call us now at (888) 536-6628 or start your Free Vehicle Evaluation.

In California, Dealership Fraud and Repair Fraud are so common that many employees in the automotive business may not even know that their exaggerations or omissions are illegal. Whether intentional or simply through negligence, The California Civil Code protects Auto Buyer's from being misled.

Repair and Dealer Fraud in California applies to all vehicles and transactions and is defined by the Civil Code as follows:

TITLE 14. LIEN
CHAPTER 2b. AUTOMOBILE SALES FINANCE ACT
California Civil Code Section 2981-2984.4

2981.As used in this chapter,unless the context otherwise requires:

A Gray Market Vehicle is a vehicle that is normally sold in the United States with an express written warranty, but has been imported through a channel other than a manufacturer’s authorized distributor, and therefore does not have an express warranty that is valid in the United States.

Yo-Yo Sales, Spot Delivery Fraud and Conditional Delivery Scams are one of the most widespread abuses in the automotive industry. This sophisticated form of fraud applies to both leased and purchased vehicles that are being sold as either new or used and is very difficult for most consumers to recognize that they are being defrauded. Yo-Yo Sales, Spot Delivery Fraud and Conditional Delivery Scams always require the buyer signing a second loan or lease agreement.

If a dealership, either orally or in writing, negotiates the sale or lease of a vehicle to a consumer in the Spanish, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog or the Vietnamese language, then the dealership must give that consumer a translation of the Buyer's Guide and the vehicle's final contract in the language that the sale was primarily negotiated in prior to presenting the buyer with a final contract for the sale or lease to sign.

Submersion in water due to storms, swollen rivers or any sudden flooding can cause extensive damage to vehicles and must be disclosed to potential buyers prior to a sale.