Idaho Lemon Law
Although it is not extremely common, sometimes new car buyers realize they need to use the lemon law in Idaho when they learn that their vehicle is defective. When a car dealership or manufacturer mistakenly sells a defective new car, lemon law guidelines are set in place to give drivers a place to turn in hopes of resolving the issue.
The federal lemon law sets guidelines for those who end up in this situation so they can be rightfully reimbursed for the faulty vehicle or get a good replacement car. Some drivers may want to hire an attorney to help them through the process so they do not accidentally jeopardize their chances to get compensation from the dealership.
To get more information about this law, read information sections that follow.
What is the Lemon Law in Idaho?
The lemon law in Idaho explains that a new car with a defective issue that cannot be fixed is classified as a lemon. The particulars of these laws often change throughout each state, but in order to meet the lemon law definition, it is required that vehicles be:
- Licensed or purchased in Idaho.
- Weigh under 12,000 pounds.
- Used mainly for personal business needs or family, individual or household reasons.
The Idaho Office of Attorney General implements these laws in Idaho. The laws cover all new purchased and new leased vehicles, including both cars and trucks. These laws also cover nonconformity issues covered in the warranty for the vehicle from the dealer.
The law does not extend to all-terrain vehicles, motorcycles, trailers or farming tractors.
Does the Idaho Lemon Law apply to used cars?
Used car lemon law is available in the state of Idaho as long as they meet the aforementioned criteria. The new and used car laws that determine if a car is a lemon are applicable for all eligible vehicle purchases.
How does the Lemon Law work in Idaho?
Idaho residents’ vehicles are eligible to be labeled as lemons if, under the Idaho lemon laws, vehicles meet the following qualifications:
- You must have purchased the car in new condition within two years OR 24,000 miles, whichever happens first.
- The vehicle must demonstrate a significant deficiency. These defects must be extreme and must affect the vehicle’s operation ability, safety or value.
- A mechanic must have attempted at least four repairs on the car to fix a nonconformity problem OR at least one repair attempt for a defect that is life-threatening.
- The car must have been in the mechanic’s shop and out of service for at least 30 days.
If drivers want to come to a resolution and get their compensation, they should begin by the manufacturer of the vehicle with a lemon law written notice that lists:
- The problems with the car.
- Copies of the work orders and invoices.
- A request for a replacement vehicle, a refund or another solution.
If these lemon law qualities are present in their car, drivers should send the grievance by certified mail with a return receipt request to the car manufacturer. This complaint gives the manufacturer one last opportunity to inspect and fix the vehicle before drivers use the law to move forward.
If the manufacturer does not want to cooperate, Idaho drivers can think about bringing on a lemon law attorney to defend their case and get the return they are owed. Only sometimes are manufacturers reluctant to provide their legal dues, so drivers should know what rights the law allows them so they do not believe they have no choices left.
If it is confirmed that their vehicle is a lemon, drivers can apply for a state arbitration hearing where a decision panel can grant them one of two lemon law buyback options from the manufacturer:
- A replacement vehicle
- A refund
Idaho residents can contact the Idaho Office of Attorney General to begin the lemon law process and get their entitled repayment. As proof of eligibility for having this law applied to them, drivers should always maintain copies of records and documentation of their car’s mechanic service history that demonstrates its defective status.
Also, drivers should keep any communication records between themselves and the car dealer, which will be beneficial to use as evidence in a court setting.
Idaho Lemon Law Lawyers
Drivers always have the option to hire a lemon law attorney if they are unsure how to proceed with the lemon laws and want to know how to get a refund or another car. Lawyers for lemon law warranty issues are very well-versed in the area and will know what the best way is for you to build your case and appeal to the court.
The following tips are helpful to keep in mind as you being your search for an attorney:
- Conduct good research: Consult with a number of lemon law lawyers before selecting one to defend your case in court. If you go with the first lawyer you meet, you might miss out on another lawyer who would have been better for you.
- Make sure the attorney has past experience: Verify that your attorney has experience with lemon law cases in the past and a good success rate with similar cases.
- Find a local lawyer: Hire a lawyer with knowledge about the Idaho lemon law since these laws are not the same in every state.
- Compare fees and terms of payment: Verify how much the lawyer expects you to pay them for their work. You must be able to afford the price of a lemon law attorney so you are not caught off guard by fees and terms later.
Drivers who know very little about the ID lemon law can greatly benefit from working with an attorney on their lemon vehicle case. Lemon law attorneys are helpful in settling cases on the best terms and making sure drivers get their fair reimbursement, especially if the dealership does not want to comply.
Many car owners do not want to deal with the manufacturers, but attorneys can also help drivers with car lemon law in many other ways, a few of which are listed below:
- They explain drivers’ rights to them.
- They make sure the manufacturer obeys the law in Idaho.
- They make sure drivers receive everything to which they are authorized.
- They handle the whole case from the beginning to the end.
- They deal with all of the paperwork for drivers.
Additional New and Used Car Laws in Idaho
If an Idaho resident purchases a used car that is not eligible for the ID lemon law, they can instead turn to the Consumer Protection Act through the Idaho Office of Attorney General.
This law is essentially a used car lemon law because it allows drivers to file a claim if the dealer from whom they purchased the vehicle gave them false or misleading information and the car demonstrates a major issue that was not disclosed before purchase. Deceptive practices and acts of trade.
How to Tell if Your New Car Is a Lemon
Drivers who cannot tell if their car meets the definition of the Idaho lemon law can answer their questions by verifying whether or not it meets the following standards:
- Their vehicle has an extensive nonconformity that appeared within two years or 24,000 miles after they got it.
- Their vehicle’s nonconformity is covered by a warranty.
- Their vehicle’s nonconformity cannot be repaired, even after they tried getting it fixed at least one or three times, depending on the type of defect.
Idaho drivers can follow the new car lemon law to get their lemon law buyback or refund if they find that their car meets these criteria. Drivers should also know what cars to be aware of that experience these issues more often than others. The 2018 vehicles with the most defective complaints are listed below.
- Mercedes-Benz B
- Chevrolet Volt
- Hyundai Santa Fe Sport
- Chrysler Pacifica
- Tesla Model S