Monday 9 April 2012

Contra Costa Times Your Turn: New law on car sales contains serious flaw for consumers

 

Contra Costa Times Your Turn: New law on car sales contains serious flaw for consumers

California used car buyers beware: A new law will hit this summer that threatens to put car buyers at risk when purchasing a used vehicle. NMVTIS is a U. It will provide consumers with more information about a used car's vehicle history by allowing dealers to provide NMVTIS and/or a "commercial data provider" or "commercially available vehicle history report" that receives branded title data from all 51 jurisdictions in the U. Juan Vargas, D-San Diego, will ensure that consumer protection is a top priority. In fact, it includes a disclaimer that acknowledges that "it does not contain detailed information regarding a vehicle's repair history.

NMVTIS fails to track total salvage, significant repair or maintenance tasks, and air bag deployment or recalls, among other important information. When their car breaks down, they will have little recourse.

The California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce knows that better vehicle history reports already exist; these reports are established, readily available and far more comprehensive -- and, no, it's not NMVTIS. Consequently, previously damaged cars from other states could end up on the market in California.

A simple change in the law is necessary to make certain consumer safety and confidence when purchasing a used car. This bill, which is known as the Used Car Safety Act of 2012 and was authored by Sen. Who will pay the price? Consumers will, when they buy cars that aren't as safe as they think they are. Who will pay the price? Consumers will when they find out that the car they purchased was dumped in California from another state and that there is more damage to the vehicle than they realized.

Third, consumers will have no recourse for being sold potentially unsafe cars.

In other words, the new law gives unscrupulous car dealers protection when they knowingly sell a bad car. government report administered by the Justice Department to help keep track of car titles.

In other words, SB 990 will ensure that consumers have access to the essential information about detailed vehicle histories before purchasing a car -- which is some thing that the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce can stand behind to protect hardworking Hispanic families in California. But what is even worse is that dealers do not have liability either since the law requires them to only provide NMVTIS. If a consumer is sold a car with unreported damages, the government-run NMVTIS holds no liability, even if it fails todescribe all past damages.

Contra Costa Times Your Turn: New law on car sales contains serious flaw for consumers



Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 09/04/2012