How to avoid a lemon when shopping for a car.

Lemons are great in the kitchen, but lousy parked in the garage. Both new and used cars can turn out to be lemons, but the risk of getting a troublesome car is higher with used cars. Fortunately, there are some steps you can take to avoid buying a lemon.

Check the vehicle’s history
Vehicle history reports from companies such as CARFAX and AutoCheck offer valuable information that may affect the value of the car or indicate prior problems. For example, a history report can show how many people have owned the car; if it was involved in an accident, junked or salvaged; if the car suffered flood or hail damage; or if the car was leased, used for personal, taxi or police use.

If the owner can provide maintenance records, review them to see how the car has been maintained.

Take a test drive
Your senses are some of your best tools for evaluating a car.

During a test drive, listen for any unusual sounds, such squeaks, rattles, grinding noises or rushing air.

Notice the feel of the car. Does it pull to one side? How does the suspension feel when you go over bumps and go around curves? How does the car feel when you brake? Don’t forget to test the air conditioning and heat systems.

Observe the performance of wipers, power windows and locks. If you accelerate the car by giving it gas does white, blue or gray smoke come out of the exhaust? This can indicate a problem.

Pay attention to the smell of the car; do you get a whiff of mold that might indicate prior water damage? Are there other unusual smells such as an acrid or burnt smell? This could mean engine damage.

Have a trusted mechanic inspect the car
Paying a mechanic to inspect a used car is a wise investment. If they find something wrong, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should walk away from the car. A mechanic’s discovery could be used to negotiate a lower price to cover a necessary repair.

Michigan’s Lemon Law is limited
Michigan’s Lemon Law covers “any defect or condition that impairs the use or value of the new motor vehicle to the consumer or prevents the new motor vehicle from conforming to the manufacturer’s express warranty.” In general, it doesn’t cover used vehicles unless it meets these two criteria: the vehicle is covered by a manufacturer’s express warranty at the time of purchase or lease, and if the problem is reported to the manufacturer or its authorized dealer within one year from the date of delivery to the original purchaser.

Check out the Department of Michigan’s website to read more about Michigan’s Lemon Law.

Get competitive financing for your new ride
After you eliminate the lemons and find a quality car, turn to Consumers for an auto loan with some of the best rates around.

Consumers provides banking services for more than 117,000 members. If you have banking questions, call us at 800-991-2221. We make it easy to bank how you want, when you want.

All loans subject to approval. Rates, terms, and conditions are subject to change and may vary based on credit worthiness, qualifications, and collateral conditions.

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