Used Cars: Help with Used Car!, department of motor vehicle, best bet

Question
I just bought a used  car from a small dealer in Philadelphia last Friday (Dec. 14), and found a couple of serious problems right away: 1) engine is very much noisy, 2) acceleration is extremely slow, and 3) engine check light comes on the day after the purchase. The car is in three month warranty. I signed every paperwork, but the dealer might not send it out to DMV (Department of Motor Vehicle) yet.

Now I want to return the car back and get refund. Is it possible? In addition, the majority of payment was made by credit card, and can I just ask the credit company to hold the payment before we resolve all the problems? The dealer is gonna leave outside of the states for a couple of weeks  since next Tuesday (Dec. 18). What is the best strategy for us  to deal with the dealer?

Thanks


Answer
Charles,
As for a refund... you will have to check with your local/state laws (every area is different)... as some states have a return policy on vehicles while some do not. Easiest way to do that is call the DMV - it is a pain to try to find correct info on the internet about it. Also the dealership may have a return policy, for that you will need to check with them, and read any paperwork you signed. You can try to ask the credit card company to hold the payment - it will be up to them & the dealership if that is allowed.

It is dangerous buying from a small dealerships as MOST (not all but most) used car sales are AS-IS... meaning no matter what happens after purchase... you cannot do anything about it... but you do have a warranty - I would carefully read what that warranty covers... You may be in for a surprise.  Your best bet is to talk to the dealership first.. explain the problems... and ask about a resolution.. a good dealership will take the car back for a refund - or fix it without charge - but they don't have to. Talk to them... if they say no to both options - you should call your DMV now just in case - and see if you have a return law... if you do - take the car back- print out the law or just remember it - and explain to them that you have the legal right to return it. If all else fails - read the warranty - if engine repairs are covered - you should be able to get it fixed...

And unfortunately - if all those options fail - you are out of luck... Problems like those are the reason test-drives are so important... a proper test drive would have revealed most of those things - if not all...

Best of luck and if you have any other questions just ask.

Thanks.