Connecticut Used Car Lemon Law Statutes

CHAPTER 743f* USED AUTOMOBILE WARRANTIES

*See also chapter 743b (Sec. 42-179 et seq.) re new automobile warranties. See also chapter 743g (Sec. 42-227 et seq.) re automobile manufacturers’ warranty adjustment programs. Used automobile warranties act cited. 31 CA 634, 635.

Sec. 42-220. Definitions.

As used in sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive:

(1) “Dealer” means any person, firm or corporation licensed pursuant to section 14-52, as a new car dealer or a used car dealer, as defined in section 14-51, or any person, firm or corporation licensed pursuant to section 14-15 which engages in the business of selling a used motor vehicle to a consumer;

(2) “Motor vehicle” means a motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1;

(3) “Used motor vehicle” means a used or secondhand motor vehicle, as defined in section 14-1;

(4) “Cash purchase price” means all amounts charged for the purchase of a motor vehicle, including the value of a trade-in vehicle, except a finance charge; and

(5) “Consumer” means the purchaser, other than for purposes of resale, of a used motor vehicle normally used for personal, family or household purposes, and the spouse or child of the purchaser if such motor vehicle is transferred to the spouse or child during the duration of any warranty applicable to such motor vehicle, and any other person entitled by the terms of such warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty. “Consumer” does not mean the lessee of a motor vehicle or the spouse, child or other family member of the lessee who, pursuant to a lease contract option, purchases such vehicle at the end of the lease term.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 1; P.A. 92-20, S. 1, 2; P.A. 95-121, S. 1, 2; P.A. 04-199, S. 15; 04-217, S. 34.)

History: P.A. 92-20 amended Subdiv. (5) to provide the term “consumer” does not include the lessee of a motor vehicle who, pursuant to a lease contract option, purchases such vehicle at the end of the lease term; P.A. 95-121 redefined “dealer” to include any person, firm or corporation licensed pursuant to section 14-15 which engages in the business of selling a used motor vehicle to a consumer, and redefined “consumer” to specifically exclude the spouse, child or other family member of the lessee who, pursuant to a lease contract option, purchases such vehicle at the end of the lease term, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 04-199, effective July 1, 2004, and P.A. 04-217, effective January 1, 2005, both amended Subdivs. (2) and (3) to eliminate reference to Sec. 14-1(30) and (62), respectively.

Cited. 31 CA 634, 641.

Sec. 42-221. Implied warranties. Express warranties. Exemptions. Waiver.

(a) A dealer selling a used motor vehicle which has a cash purchase price of three thousand dollars or more shall not exclude, modify, disclaim or limit implied warranties on the motor vehicle.

(b) Each contract entered into by a dealer for the sale to a consumer of a used motor vehicle which has a cash purchase price of three thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars, shall include an express warranty, covering the full cost of both parts and labor, that the vehicle is mechanically operational and sound and will remain so for at least thirty days or one thousand five hundred miles of operation, whichever period ends first, in the absence of damage resulting from an automobile accident or from misuse of the vehicle by the consumer. Each contract entered into by a dealer for the sale of a used motor vehicle which has a cash purchase price of five thousand dollars or more shall include an express warranty, covering the full cost of both parts and labor, that the vehicle is mechanically operational and sound and will remain so for at least sixty days or three thousand miles of operation, whichever period ends first, in the absence of damage resulting from an automobile accident or from misuse of the vehicle by the consumer. A dealer may not limit a warranty covered by this section by the use of such phrases as “fifty-fifty”, “labor only”, “drive train only”, or other words attempting to disclaim his responsibility.

(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to: (1) The sale of a used motor vehicle having a cash purchase price of less than three thousand dollars; (2) the sale of such motor vehicles between dealers; or (3) the sale of a used motor vehicle which is seven years of age or older, which age shall be calculated from the first day in January of the designated model year of such vehicle.

(d) The consumer may waive a warranty required pursuant to this section only as to a particular defect in the vehicle which the dealer has disclosed to the consumer as being defective. No such waiver shall be effective unless such waiver: (1) Is in writing; (2) is conspicuous, as defined in subdivision (10) of section 42a-1-201 and is in plain language; (3) identifies the particular disclosed defect in the vehicle for which such warranty is to be waived; (4) states what warranty, if any, shall apply to such disclosed defect; and (5) is signed by both the customer and the dealer prior to sale.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 2.) Subsec. (b): Cited. 31 CA 634, 635.

Sec. 42-222. Effect of notification of breach of warranty during warranty period.

A dealer shall honor any warranty required by sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive, notwithstanding the fact that the warranty period has expired, provided the consumer notifies the dealer of a claimed breach of the warranty within the warranty period specified in subsection (b) of section 42-221.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 3.)

Sec. 42-223. Extensions of warranty period. Voidable agreements.

(a) The term of any warranty required under the provisions of sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive, shall be extended by any time period during which the used motor vehicle is in the possession of the dealer or his duly authorized agent for the purpose of repairing the used motor vehicle under the terms and obligations of said warranty.

(b) The term of any such warranty shall be extended by any time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war, invasion or strike, fire, flood or other natural disaster.

(c) Any agreement entered into by a consumer for the purchase of a used motor vehicle which waives, limits or disclaims the rights set forth in sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive, except as provided in subsection (d) of section 42-221, shall be voidable at the option of the consumer. If a dealer fails to provide a written warranty as required by said sections, the dealer shall be deemed to have given said warranty.

(d) Nothing in sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive, shall in any way limit the rights or remedies which are otherwise available to a consumer under any other law.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 4.)

Sec. 42-224. “As is” sales. Disclaimer.

(a) A used motor vehicle may be sold “as is” by a dealer only if its cash purchase price is less than three thousand dollars or if such used motor vehicle is seven years of age or older, which age shall be calculated from the first day in January of the designated model year of such vehicle.

(b) No “as is” disclaimer by a dealer shall be enforceable unless all of the following conditions are met:

(1) A disclaimer shall appear on the front page of the contract of sale, which shall read as follows:

“AS IS”
THIS VEHICLE IS SOLD “AS IS”.
THIS MEANS THAT YOU WILL LOSE YOUR IMPLIED WARRANTIES.
YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS NEEDED AFTER SALE.
IF WE HAVE MADE ANY PROMISES TO YOU,
THE LAW SAYS WE MUST KEEP THEM, EVEN IF WE SELL “AS IS”.
TO PROTECT YOURSELF, ASK US TO PUT ALL PROMISES INTO WRITING.

(2) The text of the disclaimer shall be printed in twelve-point boldface type, except the heading shall be in sixteen-point extra boldface type. The entire notice shall be boxed. (3) The consumer shall indicate his assent to the disclaimer by signing his name within the box containing the disclaimer.

(c) An “as is” sale of a used motor vehicle waives implied warranties but shall not waive any express warranties, whether oral or written, which may have been made nor shall it affect the dealer’s responsibility for any representations which may have been made, whether oral or written, upon which the buyer relied in entering into the transaction.

(d) Nothing in sections 42-220 to 42-226, inclusive, shall be construed to limit the effect of any other requirements of law or of any representations on a certificate of title that the vehicle is in suitable condition for legal operation on the highways of this state.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 5.)

Sec. 42-225. Deceptive statements. Motor vehicle declared constructive total loss. Disclosure required. Promise to repair.

(a) No dealer may make any false, misleading or deceptive statements about the condition or history of any used motor vehicle offered for sale.

(b) No dealer shall fail to disclose to a consumer in a contract for the sale of a used motor vehicle that such vehicle has been declared a constructive total loss, as defined in section 38a-353, if: (1) The certificate of title of such vehicle is stamped “totalled”, “salvaged” or with a comparable designation; (2) the bill of sale of such vehicle states such vehicle has been declared a constructive total loss, as defined in section 38a-353; or (3) such dealer has been notified by (A) the seller of such vehicle or (B) the lender holding title to such vehicle that such vehicle has been declared a constructive total loss as defined in section 38a-353.

(c) If a dealer promises that any repairs will be made or any conditions corrected in connection with the purchase of a used motor vehicle, he shall list such repairs in writing, attach a copy of such list to the contract and incorporate such list into the contract.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 6; P.A. 93-397, S. 1.) History: P.A. 93-397 inserted new Subsec. (b) requiring dealers to disclose to a customer if a motor vehicle has been declared a constructive total loss, relettering former Subsec. (b) as (c). Subsec. (a): Cited. 33 CA 575, 588.

Sec. 42-226. Independent inspection.

No dealer may refuse any consumer the opportunity to have an independent inspection of any used motor vehicle offered for sale. If the consumer requests an inspection it shall be conducted by a person chosen by the consumer, but the dealer may establish reasonable conditions regarding the place, time and extent of the inspection.

(P.A. 87-393, S. 7.)

Sec. 42-226a. Penalty.

Any dealer who violates any of the provisions of sections 42-221 to 42-226, inclusive, shall be subject to the penalties provided in section 14-64.

(P.A. 93-397, S. 3.)