Buying a used car is always a trickier prospect than buying a new one.
New cars come with more built-in protections (express warranties) and Utah laws regarding new cars are stricter.
But, while it’s always riskier to buy a used vehicle, especially in Utah which has minimal laws protecting used car buyers, there are some ways to get around the Utah “as-is” used car policy if you’ve gotten a real clunker.
Utah Used Car Warranty Laws
Utah does not require used cars to come with warranties.
All used cars in the state may be sold “as-is”.
Some used cars may come with warranties as incentives, but warranties are offered on an individual basis by dealerships and not state-mandated.
One major exception to this is if a vehicle is still under its original manufacturer’s express warranty.
Most express warranties stay with the car, not the buyer, which means if you buy a lightly-used vehicle still under its original warranty, that warranty typically remains in effect.
It does not, however, mean the car is subject to Utah’s lemon law.
Utah’s lemon law expressly omits used vehicles.
While the Utah lemon law doesn’t apply to used vehicle, however, even if it’s under the original warranty, if the manufacturer fails to comply with their warranty, you can still seek restitution through the courts under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (as explained below).
Utah Used Car Return Laws
There is no right to return a used car in Utah.
Even if a used vehicle comes with a warranty and the dealer cannot fix a problem covered by that warranty, the dealer is under no obligation to take the car back.
However, if the dealer does fail to comply with their warranty, you can seek justice under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Or, if you believe the dealer failed to disclose an issue with the vehicle or made deceptive statements about the vehicle’s condition, you can file a Consumer Complaint with the state’s Division of Consumer Protection.
Used Car Warranty & Car Return General FAQ
To further your understanding of used car warranties and return rules here are some answers to frequently asked questions.
Do used cars come with warranties?
Many do, but not all.
And in most states, used cars have no requirement to be warrantied.
Used cars may be sold either with a warranty attached or “as is.”
Those with warranties may also have very limited warranties, with either a short time/mileage window or only a few parts of the car that are covered.
All this said, dealerships often offer warranties as incentives to buy their pre-owned vehicles.
And, if they don’t, you can certainly negotiate one into your purchase contract.
Does an express manufacturer’s car warranty transfer to a new owner?
Generally speaking, yes, an express manufacturer’s warranty transfers to a car’s new owner as long as the warranty is still in effect (though, the rules or coverage period of the warranty may change).
But this isn’t always the case.
If a vehicle’s warranty does not transfer, this should be clearly spelled out in the vehicle’s paperwork, and the seller is also required to tell you.
Do extended vehicle service plans count as warranties?
Yes, in most cases, service contracts are considered a form of warranty under the law.
However, they’re unlikely to do you much good if real issues arise.
Service contracts typically don’t provide much more than general maintenance, so if your car breaks down it is unlikely the dealer will have a duty to repair it.
However, if they refuse to do your oil change, rotate your tires, or anything else actually included in your service plan, you can certainly seek justice under warranty laws.
Is there a federal law that deals with used car warranties?
Yes. In a way.
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act applies to all warranties, regardless of whether those warranties are attached to new or used products.
The law is not specific to vehicles, but can be used to enforce any warranty on a used vehicle.
What’s in the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (as it applies to vehicles)?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act includes several key points that pertain to vehicle warranties.
These points are:
- No product is required to have a warranty (and many used cars don’t).
- The terms of a warranty must be fully disclosed in simple, understandable language.
- Any ambiguity in the language of a warranty is held against the warrantor (in this case, the manufacturer or dealer).
- Warrantors cannot require only branded parts be used with their products for a warranty to remain valid (Ford can’t require only Ford parts be used on your vehicle).
- Service contracts must follow these same rules.
Basically, if you feel like you’ve been duped by a warranty, you may have a case under the Magnuson-Moss Act.
And if your used vehicle does come with a warranty, the dealer/manufacturer must repair any defect for free and to satisfactory condition, or you can seek justice under your local (or the federal) warranty law.
What about the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling-Off rule?
The FTC’s 3-day cooling-off rule or “right to cancel” does not apply to vehicles.
For more on the FTC’s rule and how (and why) it doesn’t apply to vehicle sales, see Does The FTC’s 3-Day Right To Cancel Apply To Car Purchases?