Lemon Law Attorney Dani Liblang Gives New Car Buying Advice

Online news sources like Newswire.com are turning to lemon law attorney Dani Liblang, of The Liblang Law Firm, PC, for help. She has provided a checklist of new car buying advice to help consumers make sure they don’t end up with a lemon.

Online news sources like Newswire are always on the lookout for ways to make their readers’ lives easier. On January 31, 2018, that included a feature article by lemon law attorney Dani Liblang on how new car buyers can stay in control of the buying process. Dani has over 35 years’ experience helping consumers faced with the consequences of a bad deal on new and used cars, She happily shared some tips to avoid getting taken advantage of during the deal. 

Read the Newswire Article: Stay in the Driver's Seat When Buying a New Car: Advice From Leading Lemon Law Attorney Dani Liblang

 

Be Prepared Before You Buy

Much of Liblang’s new car buying advice come down to doing your homework before you head to the dealership. If you start browsing before you know what you need, it is far easier to fall for a salesperson’s pitch. Liblang recommends choosing two or three different car models that will meet your needs, and knowing which optional features are “must haves.” You should also know what kind of add-ons are available, and whether they are worth the money, so you don’t get upsold on the spot.

Being prepared also means knowing what you can and should pay for a vehicle going in. In the article, Liblang explains how you can research the invoice price – how much the dealership may have paid for the vehicle. This number is always lower than the sticker price (manufacturer’s suggested retail price or MSRP). By knowing how much the MSRP is marked up, you will have an idea going in on how far you can negotiate.

Have Financing and Insurance Prepared Ahead of Time

Liblang also recommends doing the legwork when it comes to financing and insurance before you head out shopping for your new car. She recommends checking your credit score, so you know how your past may affect interest rates and payment terms. 

You should also talk to your auto insurance company. Maintaining no-fault and liability auto insurance is mandatory in Michigan. Insurance on new cars can be substantially higher than on older models. Be sure you can afford the new policy rates before you take the new car off the lot. 

Liblang also recommends going to your bank or credit union for pre-approval on the lending. Even if the dealership is able to give you better terms, having that pre-approval can increase your negotiating power and make it less likely the dealership will hook you in at a higher rate.

Know Who You Are Dealing With

Dani Liblang also knows that where you shop can be as important as what you buy. Some Metro Detroit dealerships are notorious for lemon law complaints including selling rebuilt wrecks, rolling back odometers, and making misrepresentations about the quality of their vehicles. Even when buying a new car, you should check online reviews to make sure the dealer you are working with has a good reputation. You may also want to search your local court records to see how often they have been sued. 

You should also know ahead of time what a dealer is, or is not, allowed to offer you. Do you need that extended warranty? Do you have to sign a purchase agreement containing mandatory arbitration language? Can you buy auto insurance directly from the dealership? By doing your homework and understanding your rights when buying new and used cars, you can insulate yourself from deceptive practices. That way, you won’t be facing a lemon law case for consumer protection violations down the road.

Dani K. Liblang is a lemon law lawyer at The Liblang Law Firm, PC, in Birmingham, Michigan. She defends consumers against car dealers who sell bad cars. If your recent new car purchase turned out to be a lemon, contact The Liblang Law Firm, PC, today for a consultation.