CALPIRG Calls for a “Tune-up” for Car Buyers Bill of Rights
Statement by Pedro Morillas upon the release of a new report by CARS on consumer protections in the used auto market
"The car buyer’s bill of rights needs a tune up. It has a few miles on it now, and it is clear that it still needs work.
Specifically, the two day return policy is not working the way it should. The return policy is intended to give consumers a way out of a bad deal. If they discover that the car they have is not the car they thought they were buying, they have the option to return it. However, car dealers are requiring consumers to spend an additional $75 to $400 upfront for the ability to return the car later. By charging consumers, car dealers are putting up a road block for a whole segment of consumers who would otherwise use the return option. If the car seems fine during a test drive, spending the extra money “just in case” doesn’t seem necessary.
Unfortunately, from funny noises to funny smells, sometimes you miss things. As many car buyers know, funny smells are on the low end of the spectrum when it comes to car problems. The way the law stands, if someone doesn’t buy the return option they could be stuck making payments on a car they can’t even drive.
At the end of the day, all consumers should have the option to return a car within 72 hours if they find something wrong with it. Car dealers may oppose this policy, but they don’t have much ground to stand on. After all, if a consumer does return a car, they have the ability to charge consumers a restocking fee for their trouble. Dealers can charge a restocking fee to discourage joy riders, but charging a fee for the return option as well is overkill. Kicking the tires shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg."
