Cars Covered Under the Used Car Warranty Law

• The Connecticut Used Car Warranty Law covers all used vehicles that are less than seven years old if the vehicle owner paid $3,000 or more for them and purchased them from a dealer. If the vehicle owner paid between $3,000 and $5,000, his vehicle is covered for the first 1,500 miles he drives or the first 30 days, whichever comes first. If he paid more than $5,000, the vehicle is covered for the first 3,000 miles or 60 days.
  
  

What the Warranty Covers

• The warranty covers all repairs on the vehicle. During the warranty period, the dealer must repair the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The warranty covers repairs regardless of whether the malfunction is the owner's fault or a defect in the vehicle. If the driver brings the vehicle in for repairs during the warranty period, Connecticut law extends the warranty by one day for each day the vehicle is in the shop for repair.
  
  

Additional Warranties

• Dealers may offer further warranties on vehicles in addition to the warranty required by Connecticut law. If they do so, the terms of the warranty must clearly be listed in the Buyer's Guide. Under federal law, dealers must post Buyer's Guides in all used cars they offer for sale on their lots.
  
  

Recourse if You Do Not Have a Warranty

• Cars sold for less than $3,000 or sold by individuals rather than dealers are not protected by warranties. However, if you believe a dealer or individual sold you a car under false pretenses (e.g., he lied about the car's condition), you may file a complaint with the Dealers and Repairers Division of the Department of Motor Vehicles as well as with the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection. You can also file a complaint with these agencies if a dealer refuses to honor your warranty or does not make repairs in a timely manner. If you paid $3,500 or less for the vehicle, you may also sue the dealer in small claims court for the cost of the vehicle if you cannot drive it or get it repaired. Consult an attorney to determine whether you have a case.
  
  

Other Used Car Laws

• Connecticut law requires dealers to allow customers to inspect cars prior to purchase. Customers may use the mechanic of their choice to check potential purchases for mechanical problems. Connecticut also enforces federal laws regarding the sale of used cars, such as requiring dealers to spell out which repairs they will be responsible for if the car is not under warranty in the sales contract.