Maine protects used-car buyers> Dealer guidelines strictly enforced

Maine has no lemon law for used vehicles, but there are still protections.

COMBAT offers these tips for consumers shopping for used cars or trucks:

Choose a dealer with a good reputation. Ask friends where they bought their used vehicles and if they were satisfied.

Have a mechanic examine the vehicle or ask the dealer if you can take the vehicle to a garage to be checked out thoroughly on a lift. If a dealer won’t allow either, go elsewhere.

You are entitled to a warranty of inspectability. Car dealers must guarantee that a used car sold for transportation can pass state safety inspection and must give you this guarantee in writing. The law applies even if the car is marked “as is.

If your car violates this warranty, the dealer must repair it, free of charge, so it can pass inspection. It is not enough that an inspection sticker is on the car. It must actually meet state standards. A “used car is a car that was once registered or is not covered by a manufacturer’s new car warranty. A “demo model is technically a new car and carries the protections afforded new cars.

An inspection sticker must be affixed within 60 days of the purchase. Further, the following parts must pass state inspection: bumpers, fenders, chassis, frame, brakes, glazing (windshield, side and rear windows), exhaust system, horn, lights and directional signals, rearview mirrors, suspension system, safety belts (1966 and subsequent models), steering mechanism, tires, windshield wipers, catalytic converters (1983 and subsequent models), and filler neck restriction (1983 and subsequent models).

The only time the state inspection guarantee does not apply is when the car is sold for purposes other than transportation. Then it must carry a large, yellow “UNSAFE MOTOR VEHICLE sticker. This sticker will clearly list what parts of your car cannot pass inspection. Such cars must be towed off the lot. The dealer must also have you sign a copy of this disclosure sticker and provide a copy of the signed document.

You have a right to a written disclosure statement describing your vehicle’s history and copies of any guarantees, such as 30-day or 50-50 warranties.

You have a right to adequate and timely repairs. These rights fall under the “Used Car Information Act. If a dealer does not adhere to the act, you may be able to force the dealer to take the car back and refund your money. Furthermore, if you go to court a judge may order the dealer to pay liquidated damages of $100 to $1,000 plus attorney fees.

When purchasing a car from a private individual, there are no protections at all under Maine’s used vehicle laws, even if your vehicle falls apart 10 minutes after the sale.

If the dealer has complied with the Used Car Information Act and has not offered an express warranty, oral or written, and has properly disclaimed any implied warranties, then the car need only pass inspection.

If a vehicle passes inspection as the only warranty offered by the dealer and it breaks down within a day or two of purchase, you can immediately reject the vehicle. If it is a minor defect, the dealer may attempt to repair or “cure the problem. If the dealer cannot repair it in a week or two, you may still reject the vehicle.

Consumer Forum is a collaborative effort of the Bangor Daily News and Northeast COMBAT. Send questions to Consumer Forum, Bangor Daily News, P.O. Box 1329, Bangor 04402-1329. COMBAT is a nonprofit organization with annual dues of $10.