Car Buyers: The 3-Day Grace Period Is Just a Myth!

If you purchase a used car from a dealership and want to return it, you can. Is it legal for you to get your money back? Is the three-day cooling off period applicable?

That is what “Mack” had in mind.

Mack told me that he bought a used SUV and wanted to give it back to the dealer, but they laughed at him and wouldn’t let him.

When I asked if there was anything mechanically wrong with the car, he said, “No, it drives fine, but it is what I found under the front seats that scares me.” The longer we talked, the louder his voice became.

He was looking for something under the seats.

Vaping equipment was found instead of money or jewelry. That’s not legal. I want my money back because I don’t know what else is in the car. I have 3 days to cancel the contract.

I told Mack that the Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule isn’t applicable to car purchases. In his state, possession of e-liquid is not a crime. The dealership could decline his request if he didn’t have the right to return the car.

There is a mythical three-day return period on cars. He is the host of a highly informative video on the internet. People still insist that they can return a car within three days even though it doesn’t exist. Motor vehicle transactions are not covered by that right.

According to the Federal, the Three-Day Cooling-Off Rule is designed to protect consumers from high-pressure sales tactics more along the lines of door-to-door sales, or sales from a seller’s temporary location.

Mack is not lucky here.

I asked him to make a list of the steps anyone looking for a used car should take.

For free, you can research the price, model, mileage, and equipment of your car using the car’s vin. The National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB), Vehicle History.com or i See Cars.com/VIN will tell you the car’s year if there are any open recalls and other data that should influence your decision to buy it.

To make sure the oil is clean and not contaminated, check it out. Look at the brake fluid and transmission fluid if the seller will let you. All of the fluids in the car should never be dripping from it.

In a car with air conditioning running, the water will trickle off the condenser.

If you want to buy a car, it’s a good idea to have a mechanic check it out. Most mechanics like to inspect. They drive the car around the block and tell you if they found anything. It will be a good investment.

Don’t buy a car if you discover that something is wrong a few days later, and then take it to a mechanic.

Don’t just drive it around the block. Take the car for a test drive. It’s a good idea to get it out on the road. Is it vibrating? One of the most obvious signs of a problem is if it doesn’t drive straight. Is it pulling to one side?

Maybe it’s the tires. It’s possible that it’s the alignment. It could be a damaged vehicle.

The time is spent in broad daylight. Don’t allow them to rush you. Don’t buy a used car at night as it’s easy to miss body damage.

Don’t be fooled by the salesperson’s knowledge of the car. They probably got it two days ago. You need to check it out on your own or with the assistance of a knowledgeable friend.

Many are scam artists. The warranty that comes from the manufacturer is usually better.

“Don’t fall in love with a pretty face, there are lots of good used cars out there.”

Mack was the car buyer. He didn’t like the answer I gave him.

I need my money back. He yelled that he would picket their showroom.

When we hang up, I am going to call the dealership and warn them of your threats. It’s time to forget those ideas.

He wasn’t a fan of that statement. He yelled, “how can you do that?” The conversation is protected by the attorney’s privilege.

We have not established an attorney/client relationship. The lawyer may even be required to report the conversation to the appropriate people, including law enforcement, if you call and explain your plans.

I gave the dealership a heads up. Mack backed off from his threats after I told him to do so. He went back to the dealership to get the SUV he had tried to return, and his grandfather went with him to apologize for his grandson’s behavior.

Lesson learned.

This article was written by and presents the views of our contributing adviser, not the Kiplinger editorial staff. You can check adviser records with the SEC or with FINRA.

The author of “You and the Law” is an attorney at law.