Utah has no laws regulating the sale of used vehicles, so education is the best protection against purchasing a used car or truck with problems, says Francine Giani, director of the Utah Division of Consumer Protection.

"Because of this lack of regulation, consumers need to meticulously do their homework before purchasing a used vehicle," she says.Giani urges Utahns who are in the used-car market to do the following before they finalize a purchase:

- Make sure the car is exactly what you want. Federal law requires every car to have a window sticker. Compare the sticker to the bill-of-sale and to the vehicle. Check the options, equipment, accessories and service conditions.

- Know what type of warranty is on the vehicle, the percentage of repair fees the dealer will pay and which specific systems are covered (the frame, the body, the brakes, etc.). If the car is sold to you "as is," the dealer has no further obligation to make repairs once you leave the lot with it. Also, check the duration of the warranty period before you sign anything.

- Do your own inspection on the vehicle. With the dealer's permission, have a reputable, independent mechanic inspect the vehicle. Road test it, too.

- Do not take the car into your possession until all the problems are taken care of. In addition, get all promises in writing.

Some Utahns who purchase a used car believe the state's "lemon law" will help them if their car breaks down after they drive it from the lot. But Utah's "lemon law" applies only to new vehicles, not used ones.

The following conditions must be met in order for a vehicle to qualify under the lemon law.

- The car must have been purchased in Utah.

- It must be new and still under warranty.

- It must be a car or truck weighing less than 12,000 pounds, or a motor home.

- The defect must substantially impair the use, market value or safety of the vehicle.

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- The vehicle must have been in for repairs for the same defect at least four times or out of service to the consumer for a total of 30 days in either one year or the warranty period, whichever is less.

- The defect cannot be the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications to the vehicle.

- The consumer must first go through any informal dispute settlement or arbitration procedure the manufacturer may have established.

For more information on the lemon law, contact the Division of Consumer Protection at 530-6601.

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