What if I Bought a Stolen Car from a Dealership?
Changes to California’s Lemon Law Starting in 2025
July 15, 2025
Legal Help for California Consumers
If you purchased a car or truck from a California dealership that was later seized or confiscated by law enforcement because it was previously stolen or had an altered or defaced Vehicle Identification Number (VIN), you are not alone. At Luis Aguirre Law, we represent California consumers whose vehicles have been taken under these circumstances. Our focus is on protecting your rights, recovering your losses, and holding the selling dealer and any involved lender accountable.
When Police Take Your Car or Truck as Stolen Property
Many buyers first learn of a problem during a traffic stop or when trying to register or sell their vehicle. Law enforcement may determine that the vehicle is in active theft status or that its VIN has been tampered with. In those cases the sale may be void from the start, leaving you without the vehicle and still responsible for loan payments, insurance premiums, and other expenses.
Dealer and Lender Responsibilities
Dealers must sell only vehicles with clear, legitimate ownership and properly transferred title. They are expected to check the VIN and confirm the vehicle is free of active theft issues. Finance companies and lenders that the dealer arranged for you at the point of sale can also be responsible if they financed an illegal sale.
How We Can Help
If your car or truck was seized or confiscated by law enforcement because it is flagged in active theft status or for prior theft or VIN tampering, you may be entitled to:
- Full cancellation of the sale and return of all money paid
- Recovery of costs tied to the loss of the vehicle and related expenses
- Additional compensation if the conduct was intentional or reckless
The information on this posting is for general information and/or educational purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice or a guarantee on the outcome of a particular case. This publication may contain dramatization. This posting is intended for California consumers only. This posting is considered advertisement by Luis Aguirre Law, who is also responsible for its content. Viewing, reading, or receiving the information on this posting does not create an attorney-client relationship. We are not your attorneys until you sign a written contract with Luis Aguirre Law, and the contract is fully executed (signed by attorney). Although information on this posting is deemed accurate, information on this posting should not be acted or relied upon without first conducting an independent investigation and/or obtaining qualified legal counsel, or you do so at your own risk. Attorney is licensed in the state of California only. Attorney Luis Aguirre is bilingual and also speaks Spanish and will provide help in Spanish if you request it. Although attorney limits his practice to the particular field of breach of contract – lemon law, attorney is not a certified specialist in this particular field or any other field of law. See “Our Policies” tab for further details regarding our Privacy Policy, Disclaimer, and Attorney’s Fees.
