FTC Buyers Guide
Shows whether the dealer offered a warranty, sold the car as-is and what share of covered repair costs the dealer agreed to pay.
Florida Used Car Lemon Law
USED CAR.SERIOUS PROBLEM.REAL OPTIONS.
Florida’s new-vehicle Lemon Law usually is not the starting point for a used-car dispute. But the Buyers Guide, an active written warranty, sale documents and representations can open other paths.
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Bad Vehicle · Consumer guideExplore ↓
Buyers GuideStart with the window form
As-isRead the exact disclosure
WarrantyCheck what remained active
RecordsProof drives the analysis
Start here
A used-car case starts with the paper trail
The first question is not simply whether the car is defective. It is what the seller, dealer or manufacturer promised in writing. The FTC Buyers Guide identifies whether the dealer offered a warranty or sold the vehicle “as is,” and negotiated changes should appear on that document.
A used vehicle may also retain part of the original manufacturer warranty, carry a dealer warranty, or be covered by a separate service contract. Those are different promises with different responsible parties, exclusions and procedures.
Important: This page provides general educational information, not legal advice. Eligibility, deadlines and remedies depend on the complete facts, current law and the proper jurisdiction.
Eligibility and evidence
Six documents that change the answer
Gather these before assuming a used vehicle has no protection.
Sales contract
Confirms price, disclosures, add-ons, arbitration clauses and written promises made at closing.
Manufacturer warranty
A remaining factory warranty may support repair obligations and a federal warranty analysis.
Dealer warranty
Coverage may be limited by time, mileage, components, deductibles and required repair locations.
Service contract
This is generally a separately purchased promise, not the same thing as a manufacturer or dealer warranty.
Advertising and messages
Save listings, inspection promises, texts and emails that may show what was represented before the sale.
The record tells the storyWhat changes the analysis
“As is” matters—but it is not a substitute for reading everything
An as-is sale often shifts repair risk to the buyer. The complete transaction may still require review for written promises, active warranties or misrepresentations.
01
Compare the final Buyers Guide with the contract and keep the original or a clear copy.
02
Verify any unexpired factory warranty directly using the VIN and written warranty terms.
03
Separate a true warranty from a paid service contract before deciding whom to contact.
Step by step
A practical response to a defective used car
Move quickly, keep the vehicle safe and make every communication traceable.
Preserve the sale file
Secure the Buyers Guide, contract, listing, financing documents and all warranty papers.
Document the defect
Record symptoms, warning lights, dates, mileage and safety concerns without altering evidence.
Request covered service
Follow the written warranty or service-contract claim procedure and obtain repair orders.
Give written notice
Explain the unresolved issue to the responsible dealer, warrantor or administrator in writing.
Review legal paths
Assess warranty, contract, disclosure and consumer-protection issues before deadlines expire.
Build the file
Documents worth preserving now
The best time to organize a claim is before a deadline or contested memory turns a simple fact into an argument.
Original Buyers GuideThe FTC says the dealer must give the buyer the final Guide after the sale.
Vehicle history reportKeep the report and any statements about prior accidents, title or ownership.
Independent inspectionA written diagnostic can help identify the condition and likely repair cost.
Repair invoicesCollect every estimate, authorization, invoice and parts list.
Warranty claim recordsSave denials, authorizations, claim numbers and adjuster communications.
Pre-sale representationsScreenshots and written promises can be important when they conflict with reality.
Possible resolution
The outcome must fit the legal path
No result is automatic. Coverage, evidence, procedure, calculations and settlement terms all require case-specific review.
Warranty repair
The responsible warrantor may owe repair of a covered defect under the written terms.
Breach-of-warranty relief
State or federal warranty law may provide remedies when a written warranty is not honored.
Contract or consumer claim
Misrepresentation, disclosure or contract issues may create a different path; the exact facts control.
Straight answers
Frequently asked questions
General information to help you prepare for a focused case review.
No. Florida’s motor-vehicle Lemon Law focuses on qualifying new or demonstrator vehicles. A used car may require a warranty, contract or other consumer-law analysis.
It generally means the dealer is not providing a warranty and the buyer assumes repair risk, subject to the exact disclosures and any other applicable legal rights.
Yes. An unexpired manufacturer warranty may support covered repairs and potentially a warranty claim if obligations are not fulfilled.
Not necessarily. A service contract is usually purchased separately and has its own covered items, exclusions, deductibles and claim procedure.
FTC consumer guidance says the Buyers Guide controls when it promises a warranty but the contract says as-is. Preserve both documents for review.
Often yes, especially before purchase. After a problem appears, coordinate carefully so inspection or repair does not violate warranty procedures.
Federal law does not generally require a three-day cancellation period for dealer car sales. Any return policy should be obtained in writing.
The Buyers Guide, contract, warranty or service contract, advertisement, communications, inspection and complete repair history.
Free case review
A used-car dispute becomes clearer when every promise is on the table.
Send the vehicle year, make, model, delivery date, current mileage, repair orders, total downtime and a concise description of the unresolved defect.