At Shainfeld Law, P.C., our California lemon law attorney in Los Angeles work tirelessly to ensure our clients get a fair and just settlement from their vehicle manufacturers when pursuing a legal remedy under the California Lemon Law.
Our aggressive approach to producing results for our California clients reflects our 99% success rate, and ability to typically produce results in as little as 30-60 days.
This means we are always looking out for each of our client’s best interests. Here are a few things to consider when pursuing a lemon law claim where a vehicle buyback may be your best option, so you know it is fair.
A vehicle buyback is the most common result of a successful California lemon law claim. This means the dealership has failed to repair your vehicle after a qualifying number of repair attempts or has had it in the repair shop for a total of 30 days or more, and now they are legally required to either replace the vehicle or buy it back from you.
What is a Fair Price for a California Lemon Law Buyback Claim?
When a dealership issues a buyback under the California lemon law, they are required to reimburse you for:
- All vehicle costs, less mileage offset.
- Additional options provided by the dealership that increased the price of the vehicle (which do not include any upgrades installed by the vehicle’s owner), which could be leather seats or an advanced sound system, to name a few.
According to a successful California lemon law claim, the manufacturer is required to pay only up to the price you paid for the vehicle. However, there are a few ways the manufacturer will try to undervalue your buyback.
- Negative Equity
Negative equity is the difference in the amount a vehicle owner owes on a car, truck, or SUV, and what it is worth. This means if you owe $25,000 on a vehicle that is only worth $20,000, the manufacturer will attempt to pay the lower amount. This means the vehicle’s owner will still be on the hook for the outstanding loan of $5,000. This is unfair.
- Mileage Offset
While mileage offset is a legitimate manufacturer deduction during a lemon law claim that results in a buyback, there is a straightforward formula to calculate it.
The formula is: the number of miles the driver got out of the vehicle before it was first taken to the dealership for repairs, divided by 120,000. That number is then multiplied by the total the driver paid for the vehicle. The final figure represents the offset.
Unfortunately, the manufacturer may try to manipulate both numbers to reduce the buyback price. That is why we are here. If you are experiencing persistent problems with your new or used warranty-protected vehicle in California and believe you may qualify for a Lemon Law buyback, contact our skilled lemon lawyers today to ensure you get a fair assessment of your claim.
Contact Our Skilled California Lemon Lawyers Today for Help
Contact our experienced Los Angeles County lemon law attorney at Shainfeld Law, P.C., today by calling 310-295-1888 or request a free consultation online to pursue the vehicle’s manufacturer for a legal remedy that fits your needs.