Wyoming Lemon Law
The Wyoming lemon law pertains to consumers who purchase brand new vehicles with major unrepairable defects. Under the Wyoming Law Statutes, consumers may obtain a free replacement automobile if their new vehicle is defective and covered under an express warranty.
Under the car lemon law, however, consumers generally need to file a claim and request a replacement vehicle within one year of receiving the automobile from the dealership.
Moreover, consumers may contact a lemon law attorney at any time if they wish to obtain legal assistance.
With the help of an attorney, consumers will receive legal representation if they decide to file a claim, and a lawyer who specializes in these laws can help them to gather any necessary documents that can be used to support their case.
In most cases, the manufacturer will be responsible for paying the lawyer’s fees. To learn more about these laws, Wyoming drivers can review the information below.
What is the Lemon Law in Wyoming?
The Wyoming lemon law definition is explained under Statute 40-17-101.
Under the new car lemon law statute, any consumer who purchases an unreliable motor vehicle weighing less than 10,000 pounds may qualify for a refund or replacement if his or her automobile is defective and cannot be repaired after multiple attempts.
However, the automobile must be new and covered under an express warranty, and the consumer must file a claim within one year of receiving the vehicle from the manufacturer or dealer (whichever expiration date is later).
After filing a claim under the state lemon law, the manufacturer must attempt to fix the defective vehicle as many as three times, even if consumers file the claim after the one-year period expires.
If the manufacturer cannot repair or correct the problem and if the defect impairs the vehicle’s use and fair market value, the manufacturer must refund the customer or provide the consumer with a replacement automobile.
Under the Wyoming car lemon law Statute, a vehicle may also qualify as a lemon if the automobile has been “out of service” for at least 30 cumulative days within a one-year period due to its need for repairs.
Does the Wyoming Lemon Law apply to used cars?
There is no used car lemon law in Wyoming, as these laws only pertain to brand-new, dealer-purchased vehicles.
As an exception to this law, however, consumers may file a claim for a gently used automobile if the vehicle’s original buyer completes the title transfer process into the name of the new owner while the car’s express warranty is still in effect.
How does the Lemon Law work in Wyoming?
Wyoming lemon laws protect car buyers who purchase brand new, defective vehicles from dealerships. If a vehicle qualifies as a lemon, however, consumers must file a claim to receive compensation.
To do so, consumers must send their vehicle’s manufacturer a written notification. For additional information on filing a claim, consumers may contact an attorney or refer to their vehicle’s ownership manual.
After filing a claim under the lemon law warranty, the vehicle’s manufacturer must do the following:
- Attempt to fix the defective vehicle up to a maximum number of three times AND
- Replace the defective vehicle with a new or comparable automobile of the same or similar type OR
- Accept the defective automobile as a return and provide the consumer with a full refund that covers the entire purchase price of the vehicle
Wyoming Lemon Law Lawyers
While hiring a WY lemon law attorney is not mandatory, consumers will expedite the legal process and receive their full refund or replacement vehicle more quickly if they do so.
For instance, an attorney can help consumers to make difficult decisions, gather paperwork and supporting documents, and negotiate with the manufacturer and dealer, while also representing them in court.
Additionally, hiring an attorney can increase a consumer’s chances of winning the case. When the consumer wins, the manufacturer will also need to pay any reasonable lawyer’s fees.
Additional New and Used Car Laws in Wyoming
In addition to the state and federal lemon law (known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act), consumers may file a complaint if they work with a dealership who violates other car-buying laws.
If necessary, consumers may file a complaint against a licensed Wyoming dealership by submitting a Witness/Complaint Statement to the Compliance and Investigation division under the State Department of Transportation (DOT).
Consumers completing the car buying process should stay alert for any unethical or illegal practices form dealers.
How to Tell if Your New Car Is a Lemon
Under the WY lemon law, a vehicle may qualify as a lemon if the buyer has submitted it for repairs as many as three times within its first year in operation, or if the automobile has been “out of service” for at least 30 consecutive or nonconsecutive days within the same one-year period.
However, lemons are generally unreliable vehicles with reoccurring issues, even when they are brand-new and covered under the manufacturer’s vehicle warranty.
For instance, commonly-reported lemons include the GMC Acadia, Dodge Challenger, Chevrolet Cruze or Silverado, Ford Escape or Focus, or the Jeep Cherokee or Wrangler.
Under the state’s laws regarding faulty vehicles, vehicles must contain major defects that affect the buyer’s ability to operate the automobile. For instance, a lemon often has issues with its transmission, brakes, or engine. A lemon may stall when driven or fail to start.