A vehicle inspection, also known as a vehicle surrender, as its name states, is an inspection of the consumer’s vehicle performed by the vehicle manufacturer or its agent before, or at the time, the vehicle buy-back, or vehicle repurchased by the vehicle manufacturer, takes place. In most instances, a vehicle inspection is a condition of the vehicle manufacturer before the vehicle manufacturer pays the consumer any lemon law damages.
At the vehicle inspection, the vehicle manufacturer will assign a vehicle inspector to inspect the vehicle’s condition to make sure the vehicle is in a reasonable condition, excluding the damage alleged by the consumer. For example, if the vehicle does not start because of an alleged problem that would make the vehicle a lemon, this would be acceptable. Generally, normal vehicle wear and tear is also allowed. The consumer is expected to surrender the vehicle along with the vehicle’s keys, owner’s manuals, and as originally equipped by the vehicle manufacturer. A consumer is normally allowed to remove “extras” installed by the consumer as long as removing the extras does not damage the vehicle.
Related reading: non-manufacturer items
Also, typically, the consumer would need to sign paperwork transferring ownership of the vehicle to the vehicle manufacture at the vehicle inspection.
Generally, the vehicle inspection would take place at the dealership where the consumer purchased the vehicle or at a dealership within the geographical area where the consumer lives.
Whether a consumer would receive a check for their lemon damages at the vehicle inspection would depend on the vehicle manufacturer and whether the consumer or attorney for the consumer negotiated this upfront with the vehicle manufacturer. In most lemon buy back instances, the manufacturer would tender the consumer a check for their lemon damages. However, it is not unusual for a vehicle manufacturer to tender a check to the consumer for the consumer’s damages a few days after the vehicle inspection has taken place.
This depends on who the consumer hires as his or her attorney to represent them on their lemon law claim. In some instances, a lemon law attorney would opt not to be at the vehicle inspection. Barring a scheduling conflict, we at Luis Aguirre Lawprioritize being at the consumer’s vehicle inspection. We at Luis Aguirre Law believe it is important to be at the vehicle inspection with the consumer to protect the consumer’s rights.
The vehicle inspection is an important part of a consumer’s vehicle buy-back, or vehicle repurchase process. Sometimes, a consumer may find the vehicle inspection process nerve-wracking. This is why having a competent and caring lemon law attorney at the consumer’s side at the vehicle inspection is important.
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Luis Aguirre California Lemon Law Attorney 26060 Acero Suite 111
Mission Viejo, CA 92691 Telephone: 949.342.6199.
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