New Car Purchases Declining
» Posted November 21, 2018 • Resources | Share This Post
So much for those television commercials with the shiny new cars wrapped up in bows as holiday gifts. It turns out that the New Year comes with a recent downturn in new vehicle purchases.
New vehicle registrations in California were recently on pace over the year to dip below 2 million for the first time since 2014. Some sellers call it an ordinary part of the ebb and flow of the passenger car market, but the down turn also highlights a larger decline in car purchases in the Golden State during 2018.
California new car sales were down about 2.7 percent in the third quarter, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. That put transactions down 10.6 percent over the first three quarters of the year. It also means that call sales were expected to fall just shy of 2 million for the first time since 2014.
The slowing sales track a larger trend across the country, where analysts say reports of an unseasonably slow October may be the sign of a larger pull back.
If there’s good news for California auto dealers, it’s in the sport utility vehicle market. SUV registrations were up by more than 5 percent in the first nine months of the year.
Legal Protections for Car Buyers in California
Despite the slowdown, plenty of Californians find themselves in the market for new wheels. Anyone considering purchasing an automobile should understand some of the basic rights and protections afforded by state law.
The California lemon law forces manufacturers to take responsibility for defective cars when they’re still under warranty.
The law requires car makers to repair various defects and other problems with a covered vehicle. If those efforts don’t work, the manufacturer is required to compensate the owner for the purchase price and/or down payment and financing charges, as well as other expenses like car rentals, towing and repair costs. The manufacturer may also offer to replace the car instead.
The law applies to both new and used cars, if repair attempts happen during the vehicle’s warranty period. The number of repair attempts required for the law to kick in depends on the situation.
How an Experienced California Lemon Law Attorney Can Help You
If you’re a California car owner who’s stuck with a lemon, it’s important that you consult an experienced lawyer to consider your rights and options. The California Lemon Law lawyers at the Bickel Law Firm have represented hundreds of clients in defective vehicle cases across the state. We understand the significant stress that can come with haggling with car dealers and manufacturers. Our lawyers work aggressively to resolve these cases for the people that we represent.
Our offices are conveniently located in Los Angeles, San Diego and San Francisco. Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with an attorney.
