But that means that you must be sure the car's in good shape before you buy from a private seller. You can also demand a refund within 30 days if you can prove that a private seller knew about something seriously wrong and acted in bad faith by not telling you. But that's hard to prove, and it's often difficult to get your money back from a private seller, who may have used it to buy another car. And private parties are not required to repair the cars they sell. For advice on private sale contracts Dealers Anyone who sells or negotiates the sale of more than 3 cars a year is legally considered a car dealer.
New cars come with manufacturers' warranties, which vary in length and what they cover.
But even if defects are covered under warranties, some dealers are more willing to solve problems than others, and some service departments are better than others. Find out if there have been consumer complaints about the dealership and how they've been resolved by contacting your local consumer office and Better Business Bureau. Don't wait until after you've purchased a car to learn that the dealer has a poor record of customer satisfaction. There are some exceptions to this rule . Always have a mechanic look at any used car you are considering.