Can I Sue the Car Dealership?
Car dealers are not known for ethical behavior. And even with all of California’s laws that govern retail standards, car dealerships are still being found guilty of fraudulent activities. From the big brand dealers to the corner lots, if you feel like a dealer defrauded you out of thousands of dollars, contact a lawyer to discuss your legal options.
In some ways, buying a car is like making a business deal. And while it’s no fun to make a bad a business deal, it’s not always illegal. However, if a car dealership is systematically misleading customers, lying about product quality, or overcharging clients, then you probably have a case against the dealership.
Car dealers have to make money. And compared to the profit margins on other, smaller retail items like shirts and shoes, car dealers don’t make as much. In addition, no car deal is perfect, and you might gain or lose a few hundred dollars depending on any number of random factors. Feeling like you unfairly lost $300 is generally not a sufficient reason for suing a car dealer.
However, if you were coerced into a buying decision, promised one car but given another, or did not fully understand the lump-sum fee you had to pay, you might have a case for a lawsuit. Keep in mind, now all lawyers will take on such cases for a contingency fee — meaning you might have to pay an hourly rate. However, if the dealership is guilty, you might find that a phone call and a letter from your attorney could suddenly mean a turnaround in the dealership’s willingness to recalculate the deal.
