At a time when the prices for new and used vehicles have reached record-breaking highs, due to President Trump's hiking tariffs on auto components, common car dealer scams, and other factors, the California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (SB 766) will make buying new and used cars in California more affordable and less risky – without costing taxpayers.

Leading economists project that the CARS Act's truth-in-pricing mandate and new protections against worthless add-ons will save California car buyers an estimated $234 million annually in reduced search costs, plus another 8.5 million hours in time savings each year.

In addition to those savings, the California CARS Act also creates a new, history-making first-in-the-nation 3-day cooling off period for used cars that cost $50,000 or less, freeing used car buyers to return vehicles for any reason for a full refund, minus a restocking fee between $200 – $600.

This new right will empower used car buyers in negotiating with car dealers, and help consumers, including rideshare drivers and many small businesses, avoid getting stuck with unfair deals or unsafe, defective cars. It will also help give dealers who don't scam their customers a competitive advantage.

The Act is aimed at protecting California new and used car buyers from the #1 source of consumer complaints nationwide: auto sales and service. According to the Consumer Federation of America annual consumer complaint survey, auto sales, manufacturing issues, and service complaints have topped the charts of the top ten consumer complaints to state and local consumer protection agencies for the past ten years.

• Requires car dealers to disclose the "total price" up front and in advertising, including any add-on items installed by the manufacturer, making the actual "off the lot" prices more honest and transparent, and encouraging competition over prices
• Prohibits car dealers from requiring the purchase of add-on items that were not installed by the manufacturer, in order to buy the new or used car
• Requires dealers to disclose at the time of sale or lease that add-on items not installed by the manufacturer are optional
• Bans car dealers from charging extra for add-ons that "would not benefit" car buyers, including lifetime oil changes or catalytic converter markings for electric vehicles, and service contracts that are void due to pre-existing conditions, such as prior damage from a crash or flood or preexisting mechanical conditions
• Prohibits dealers from advertising or claiming they are affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. military or any government agency
• Creates a new first-in-the-nation right to return a used vehicle that cost $50,000 or less within 3 calendar days for any reason for a full refund, minus a restocking fee between $200 – $600 (and sometimes other fees)

Exciting news for California used car buyers! Starting October 1, you will have an important new right that is the first in the nation, to return a used car for any reason and get a refund, minus a restocking fee. You don't have to explain why you are returning the car, or prove anything, to use your new right.

This means you will have 3 days without being under the pressure car buyers often face at car dealerships, freeing you to drive the car, check out the contract and other paperwork, compare interest rates and prices, scope out the car online, and possibly also get the car inspected by an expert auto technician. Then if you choose, you can return the car for a refund, without a lot of hassles.

But the law is complicated and there's more you need to know, to make the most of California's new car buyer protection law.

TIP: Be sure to check out #19, 20 and #33 below, about steps to take BEFORE you shop for a car, to help avoid killer cars.

All used car buyers or lessors IF the car, truck or SUV you buy or lease:

• Is used, meaning it was previously sold or registered to someone else or is described in the sales or leasing contract as "used"
• Was purchased or leased from a licensed car dealership in California after October 1, 2026 – including if you live out of state, but buy or lease the car from a dealer in California
• Has a total sales price of $50,000 or less
• Weighs less than 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)
• Was purchased primarily for personal use, or primarily for business use by an individual or business that bought fewer than 5 vehicles that year from the same auto dealership
• Is returned in the same condition as when you bought it, except for "reasonable wear and tear" and defects or mechanical problems in the car when you bought it, and that you did not cause (for example, if the "check engine" light comes on because there was a problem with the emissions system that showed up when you drove the car enough for the error codes to transmit information about the problem)
• Was driven 400 miles or less before you returned it to the dealership

• New vehicles, including cars, trucks, and SUVs
• Off-road vehicles
• Motorcycles
• Private sales between individual vehicle owners
• Used cars sold at an auction
• Vehicles that weigh more than 10,000 pounds Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
• Vehicles purchased by a person, including a small business owner, who buys or leases 5 or more vehicles that year, from the same auto dealer
• Vehicles purchased from a car dealership located out-of-state
• Vehicles purchased or leased before October 1, 2026

• You have up to 3 calendar days, starting the day after you bought the car, until the close of business on the 3rd day.
• Exception: If the dealership is closed on the 3rd calendar day, you have until the close of business on the day the dealer re-opens to the public to return the car.

TIP: The dealer is required to give you a written disclosure when you buy or lease a used car that tells you when you have to return it, to use the 3-day cooling off period. Be sure to read that disclosure carefully and plan ahead so you can return the car on time.

The CARS Act requires dealers to provide that written disclosure in English, Spanish, Chinese, Vietnamese, or Tagalog if the deal was negotiated in one of those languages.

• No. If you bought or leased the car, then you have to return the car "personally," yourself.

CARS recommends: Make a plan in advance. You may need to arrange for time off from work during the hours the dealership is open, and for transportation after you return the car. If you're not sure whether you can return the vehicle during the 3-day period, don't count on being able to use the cooling-off period, when you buy or lease the car.

• Yes. The limit is 400 miles.

Exception: Some dealers may offer return policies with more miles. To be sure how far you can drive the car, read the written disclosure that dealers are required to provide you when you buy the car.

• Dealers are NOT allowed to charge you for the first 250 miles.
• If you drive between 250 miles and 400 miles, the dealer can charge $1 per mile for every mile over 250 miles, up to a maximum of $150, deductible from your refund. Dealers are allowed to charge the mileage fee, if any, in addition to charging a restocking fee.

Yes, car dealers are allowed to charge a restocking fee, but the CARS Act limits how much they can charge.

• No more than 1.5% of the purchase price of the car
• A minimum of $200
• No more than $600

Exception: Online dealers like Carvana may charge a "shipping fee" instead of the restocking fee. The amount of the shipping fee must be the actual cost for shipping. If the dealer charged you more for shipping than the allowable restocking fee, and if you choose to return the vehicle, the dealer must refund you the difference between what it charged you for the shipping fee and the allowable restocking fee.

• Towing the vehicle back to the dealership if the car breaks down or is unsafe to drive. You may be able to recover the cost of towing from the dealership, depending on many factors.
• The amount of any negative equity, if the dealer gave you less for your traded-in vehicle than the amount you owed the lender.
• The difference between the restocking fee and the amount of the refund, if the refund is less than the restocking fee.

The dealer must give you a written receipt when you return the car, showing the date and time, and a list of any deductions from your refund.

Note: The CARS Act prohibits the dealer from doing "Anything to impede a buyer or lessee from exercising the right to cancel the purchase or lease of a vehicle" that is eligible to be returned.

• Usually no. Dealers are not allowed to charge you a restocking fee up front, before you get a refund. If they charge a restocking fee, they have to deduct it from the amount of your refund, to make it more affordable for people who don't have cash on hand.
• Exception: If the restocking fee is more than the refund, the dealer may require you to pay the difference up front in order to return the vehicle.

• No later than 48 hours after you return the car. Car dealers are required to provide a refund for the full purchase price, minus any deductions for the restocking fee and / or mileage, or outstanding amounts owed for the traded-in vehicle, within 48 hours.
• Exception: If you paid with a check or other form of payment that cannot be immediately verified, the dealer may delay providing a refund until two business days after the payment is verified. The dealer must provide you with documentation, such as a notice from their bank, showing when the payment was verified.
• Some dealers choose to offer return policies with longer time periods or more mileage. The CARS Act allows dealers to offer policies that "provide greater consumer protections" than the Act requires. But they still have to comply with the rest of the new law, including regarding how soon they must refund your money, and other provisions.

CAUTION: The law does not specify how car dealers must provide the refund, or whether it can be picked up at the dealership or mailed to you.

The law does prohibit dealers from "withhold[ing] the buyer's or lessee's downpayment or trade-in vehicle after the right to cancel has been exercised."

CARS recommends that you arrange to pick up the refund, if possible, particularly if you need that money to buy another car right away. Keep in mind that there may be a delay before a refund check clears and is credited to your account. Check with your credit union or other banking institution for details.

Make sure the car is in the same condition as when you bought it, except for "reasonable wear and tear" and "any defect or mechanical problem" that existed in the car when you bought it.

CARS recommends: Take photos of the car when you buy it, including the exterior and interior, and the odometer reading, so you can show what condition it was in at that time, and how many miles are on the odometer, in case you decide to return it.

If you decide to return the vehicle, take more photos that show the date and time when you arrived at the dealership to return the car, the condition of the interior and exterior, and what the odometer reading was at that time. Then you will have proof that you drove the car less than 400 miles.

Note: The CARS Act prohibits dealers from "claiming damage to the vehicle in excess of reasonable wear and tear without reasonable basis," or claiming "the person authorized to return the buyer's or lessee's downpayment or trade-in vehicle is not available."

The CARS Act prohibits dealers from refusing to provide a refund for vehicles that have major problems and need to be towed back to the dealership if the reason the car had to be towed is due to "any defect or mechanical problem that manifests or becomes evident," and that you did not cause.

Tip: Millions of vehicle owners belong to the American Automobile Association (AAA), a non-profit which provides various free or discounted towing services for members and also provides other services that are not free, such as battery replacements. Some AAA clubs also offer basic DMV services, including vehicle registrations, license plates, and title transfers.

In general, the dealer must return your traded-in vehicle and the keys – but there's a major exception, so you may not get your trade-in back.

Exception: If the dealer sold your traded-in vehicle or "initiated the process to transfer the title" of the trade-in.

If the dealer does not give you back your traded-in vehicle, the dealer has to pay you one of these three amounts, whichever is the MOST:

1. The agreed-upon value of the trade-in vehicle in the sales or lease agreement
2. The amount the dealer charged the next owner for your traded-in vehicle, and the dealer must give you written proof of the sale amount
3. The fair market value of the trade-in vehicle, as determined by a nationally recognized pricing guide chosen by the dealer, such as Kelly Blue Book.

CARS recommends: If you need to get your traded-in vehicle back, insist when you buy or lease a car that the dealer agree in writing that you will get back your trade-in (and keys) in the same condition and without any delay, if you use your right to return the car. If the dealer refuses to guarantee in writing that you will get your trade-in back, in the same condition as when you left it at the dealership, you are free to take your business somewhere else.

Tip: According to lobbyists for the California New Car Dealers Association, most franchised car dealers and other dealerships with a showroom and car lot do not sell traded-in vehicles right away and can easily store trade-ins on their lots for at least several days. However, online auto retailers such as Carvana argued against being required to return trade-ins, because they said they need to move those cars immediately.

Tip: Before trading in your vehicle, take a close look at the price the dealer is offering for your vehicle. Compare the dealer's offer with the Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds price to help find out if the dealer is making a fair offer.

Tip: If the dealer claims it has sold your traded-in vehicle, and you want it back, check the dealer's website to see if your trade-in vehicle is listed for sale, and the asking price. If it is listed, then you will know that the dealer has probably not sold your trade-in vehicle yet. If you borrowed from a lender to pay for your trade-in vehicle, and still owed more payments when you traded it to the dealer, check with the lender to find out whether the dealer has paid off the loan. That also means the dealer probably still has your trade-in, and should return it to you.

Many dealers sell used cars they don't actually own. Car dealers often buy used cars from people who still owe their lender for the remainder of their car loan, known as being "upside down" or having "negative equity." If the entire loan has not been paid, the former owner's lender still has a lien on that car. That means that lender may repossess the car from you – even if you paid cash to buy it, or make all the payments to your lender in full and on time.

This is a serious risk. Some victims of unpaid liens have lost their jobs when their vehicles were repossessed, without warning, by the former owner's lender. Some dealers have sold vehicles with unpaid liens to hundreds of used car buyers, then went out of business, leaving their victims in the lurch with huge loans to pay and no car. This problem is worst during economic downturns, but even in good economic times it's a persistent problem.

You may also have difficulty registering the car if there is an unpaid lien held by the former owner's lender. If you cannot get the car properly registered, you are subject to being pulled over by the police and ticketed, fined, and having your newly purchased car towed away and impounded. Not only is it expensive to pay impound fees, but you may not be able to get your car out of the impound lot at all, if you are not the registered owner.

• Research car models for safety, reliability and other features based on data provided by Consumer Reports, available by prescription and also often available for free at libraries.
• LIFESAVING TIP: Get the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) for any car you are thinking about buying, and check for unrepaired safety recalls that could kill you and other people. If it has an unrepaired safety recall, refuse to buy it. See #20 for more details.
• Super important, for used car buyers: Arrange an appointment with a trustworthy expert auto technician / body shop to inspect the used car you buy, in time for you to return the car during the 3-day period, with less than 400 miles added to the odometer.
  
  A typical car inspection costs approximately $150 - $200 and should include downloading the diagnostic error codes, evaluating the condition of the car and tires, putting the car up on a lift and looking for signs of prior damage from a crash or flood, checking the battery life on an electric vehicle or hybrid, checking for counterfeit or missing airbags, and checking for unrepaired safety recalls.
  
  Today's cars are highly computerized and it takes special scan tools and diagnostics to identify hidden problems that are hazardous or extremely expensive to repair, so it pays to have a professional check out the car. If you can arrange to have the inspection done before you buy, that's even better.
  
  NEVER rely on the dealer's so-called "whatever-point" "inspection" to ensure a car is safe or reliable. Unscrupulous car dealers routinely deceive car buyers about their "inspections," giving the false impression you don't need to get your own inspection. But millions of vehicles with potentially deadly safety defects have passed car dealers' bogus, deceptive "inspections."
  
  Warning: Some vehicle owners have been killed by deadly replacement airbags in vehicles that had airbags which deployed in a crash or were stolen.
  
  A popular place to find reviews of auto mechanics and body shops: Car Talk's Mechanic's Files.
• Join a reputable credit union that offers competitive rates for car loans. Credit unions are non-profits, and most credit unions offer better rates than other lenders. If you have credit problems, and don't need to buy a car right away, take advantage of credit counseling services that can help you improve your credit before you buy. Many credit unions offer free financial counseling to their members. Improving your credit score before you buy can save you hundreds or thousands of dollars.
• Save up and pay in cash or get pre-approved for a loan, so you know how much you can afford to spend and what interest rate you qualify to get.
• Join the American Automobile Association, a non-profit that offers various towing services and other services for vehicle owners.
• If you may want to trade in your current car, check a car pricing guide such as Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds to find out how much it is worth, taking the mileage, condition, and where you live into account. Car pricing guides are also available at local libraries.
• A popular place to find reviews of auto mechanics: Car Talk's Mechanic's Files.

It's shocking, but car dealers routinely sell millions of used cars that were recalled by the auto manufacturer because they have life-threatening safety defects such as:

• catching on fire, even when parked
• bad brakes
• loss of steering
• wheels that fall off
• ticking time bomb airbags that cause blindness or bleeding to death
• sticking accelerator pedals
• stalling in traffic
• seat belts that fail to work in a crash
• backup cameras that malfunction
• other obviously life-threatening safety defects.

An NBC Bay Area investigation checks nearly 1,000 cars and finds hundreds of recalled cars for sale on car dealership lots.

Car dealers even sell vehicles with defects that are so dangerous the manufacturer has issued a "DO NOT DRIVE" warning, or a warning that says "DO NOT PARK" the car near a home, office, or other building because it may burst into flames.

No. Unfortunately, you cannot trust the dealer to tell you the truth about how unsafe the car is. Many dealers downplay the risks, to make a quick sale.

When car buyers or their passengers or others who share the roads are injured or killed by an unrepaired safety recall, and they or their surviving family attempt to fight back in court, the dealers try to shift the blame onto them. Dealers also impose rigged, forced arbitration to keep victims from being able to hold them accountable in a court of law.

Get the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) and check whether the car was recalled by the manufacturer due to a safety defect. It may even have multiple safety defects. The best time to do this is BEFORE you agree to buy the car.

The VIN is 17 digits and is a unique identifier for that specific vehicle, like its fingerprint. The VIN can be found on the driver's side of the dashboard, on a sticker on the driver's door jamb, and on the vehicle title.

Here's how to check: Simply enter the VIN at the website for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, here: https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Checking for safety recalls is free and takes only a few minutes and access to the internet.

If you don't have access to the internet, you can also call the manufacturer's toll-free number to ask whether a car with that VIN has an "open" (unrepaired) safety recall defect.

Yes. Some more reasons include:

• Long delays before repairs are available. Tens of millions of vehicle owners have experienced long delays in obtaining recall repairs, sometimes for months or even more than a year, due to shortages of repair parts, shortages of mechanics to perform recall repairs, and delays caused by manufacturers who failed for a long time to diagnose problems and design fixes.
• Problems with accessing repairs. Most used car buyers are likely to face other barriers to obtaining recall repairs, such as difficulty getting time off from work during the hours when repairs are available, living long distances from the nearest authorized repair facility (which may be hundreds of miles away), not being able to leave your car at the authorized dealership when repairs take several hours or more than a day, and other logistical problems.
• You could be held legally liable. If you don't get the repairs done in time and someone is injured or killed as a result, or if the car catches on fire and destroys homes or other property, you could be held at least partially liable and may even face criminal prosecution for being negligent.
  
  In one tragic case, a young woman in Texas pleaded guilty to negligent homicide when her fiance was killed in a crash caused by a safety defect that General Motors concealed from the public for over a decade. Eventually her conviction was overturned, but it's not worth the risk.
• Potential lack of insurance coverage. Some insurers deny coverage for vehicles with unrepaired safety recall defects. You may believe you are covered, then discover that you are not, after a crash.
• Limited options for loans. Some lenders refuse to issue loans for vehicles with unrepaired safety recall defects.

The auto manufacturer's safety recall notice may give the false impression the defect is minor, but it could still kill you. Auto manufacturers often describe defects using language that is very technical and confusing, or fails to accurately reflect the real risks.

For example, many recall notices warn about a "thermal event." This may not sound dangerous. But it means the car may catch on fire and burn you, your family, or other passengers to death. If you park the vehicle in your garage, it may also burn down your home. It could also cause a wildfire. If you do not get it fixed in time, you could be held legally liable for the damage and harm to others.

YES. Even dealers who advertise that their cars passed an inspection and qualify to be sold as "certified" cars often fail to get safety recall defects fixed first – no matter how dangerous they are.

NO. Don't be fooled. Auto retailing giant CarMax has been exposed over and over again selling recalled used cars that are potential deathtraps. They admit publicly that they sell vehicles with unrepaired safety recalls. Instead of getting the repairs to fix deadly safety recall defects, CarMax merely provides a "disclosure" in an attempt to shift the legal liability onto their customers if people are injured or killed or if property is destroyed, as a result.

A federal judge in California told CarMax's attorney that after she found out how they sell cars, she warned her children "Don't you ever buy a 'certified' car from CarMax."

Many other car dealers make the same claims, cutting corners and rushing vehicles with killer safety recall defects to the market before they are ready to drive safely.

• It is a violation of federal law for car dealers to sell unrepaired recalled cars when they are "NEW." They can be fined or severely penalized if they violate the law.
• It is also a violation of federal law, the Raechel and Jacqueline Houck Safe Rental Car Act, for rental car companies with fleets of 35 or more vehicles to rent, loan, or sell unrepaired recalled cars that are classified as "USED" because the rental car companies bought them before renting them to the public. (Rental car companies are also licensed car dealers who sell former rental vehicles to the public.)
• The federal Safe Rental Car Act is named for two sisters who were ages 20 and 24 when they were killed by an unrepaired safety recall defect that happened when they were on their way home to Santa Cruz, after visiting their parents and friends in Ojai, California.
• Federal law does not yet specifically prohibit other dealers from selling recalled used cars – a loophole that needs to be closed, so that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration can crack down on dealers who violate the law, and get them to stop putting lives at risk, without anyone having to suffer damages or be injured or killed.

Even if you can't afford to buy a new car, or simply choose to buy a used vehicle, you still deserve a car that is safe and free from dangerous safety recall defects.

Depending on the specifics, it may be a violation of California's state consumer protection laws for a car dealer to sell an unrepaired recalled used car. Some of the laws that may apply include laws against:

• negligence or wrongful death
• violation of common law duty of care
• violation of express warranties and / or the implied warranty of merchantability
• unfair and deceptive acts and practices
• fraud

In addition to other laws that may apply, California has a law that specifically prohibits dealers from selling vehicles that fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards – a common reason for issuing safety recalls.

However, that law is rarely enforced, and car dealers frequently sell high volumes of unrepaired recalled vehicles that fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards for lights, airbags, seat belts, backup cameras, brakes, and other important safety features.

Some California consumers who bought unrepaired recalled used cars from car dealers fought back under existing state laws and won confidential settlements. But car dealers impose forced arbitration clauses to keep you from being able to pursue justice in court. So don't count on being able to hold the dealer accountable if you or others are severely injured or killed, or if your car catches on fire and destroys homes, offices, and other property.

Very often that is FALSE. Recall repairs may not be available for weeks, months, or even years. It is common for auto manufacturers to issue safety recalls, then fail to develop a fix for a long time. Software problems are especially common and difficult and time-consuming to properly diagnose.

Especially when millions of vehicles have the same defect, there are often severe shortages of repair parts, causing long delays. For example, the Takata airbag recall resulted in delays of over a year to obtain repair parts. Meanwhile, hundreds more people were injured or killed.

There's also a huge shortage of qualified automotive technicians who can perform safety recalls, causing long delays even when replacement parts are available.

Some recalls can be performed "over the air" without your having to take the car to a dealership authorized by the auto manufacturer to perform the repairs, but those tend to be the exception.

Sometimes. It depends on the age of the car, when the recall was first issued, and other factors.

Federal law requires auto manufacturers to provide free repairs for at least 15 years. Sometimes manufacturers opt to cover the cost of repairs for a longer period. But sometimes they refuse to pay for repairs after 15 years.

If the car is outside the 15 years, you may have to pay thousands of dollars out of your own pocket just to make the car safe to drive. Meanwhile, your life will be at risk.

Sometimes manufacturers refuse to cover the cost of repairing safety recall defects unless you first pay out of your own pocket for another expensive repair to a different part.

• Read the contract carefully and make sure the prices and other numbers are fair and that you're not being cheated over the terms of the sale or lease.
• Check car pricing resources such as Kelly Blue Book or Edmunds to see whether you were overcharged for the car you bought or leased.
• Also check car pricing resources to see whether you were shortchanged for the vehicle you traded in.
• Check the contract for unwanted add-ons or add-ons that violate the CARS Act's bans on worthless add-ons, such as lifetime oil changes for an electric vehicle.
• If you belong to a credit union, ask a financial manager to look over your contract and advise you about whether the interest rate and other terms of any loan are fair, or whether you could get a much better rate if you cancel the sale and change lenders.
• If the dealer sold you "GAP" (Guaranteed Asset Protection), ask your own insurance company if they offer GAP for a more affordable amount. Typically, car dealers charge between $400 – $1,000 for GAP. But many auto insurers offer the same coverage for approximately $20–$60 per year, and it's easier to cancel the coverage if you sell the car or pay off the loan.
• If you bought an electric vehicle or hybrid with a car battery, check to see how much longer the battery is likely to last, keeping in mind there are many variables, such as the outdoor temperature. Consumer Reports provides tips for used car buyers about how to find out how much longer the battery is likely to last.
• Check for a fake number on the odometer. According to vehicle history provider Carfax, California leads the nation in vehicles that are suspected to have altered odometers – more than 532,200 vehicles. Odometer fraud is increasingly common and can cost you many thousands of dollars. It can also mean that any warranty coverage is void, and cause other headaches.

California's auto lemon law no longer covers used cars, even if you buy a car that still has a warranty from the manufacturer. This also includes battery warranties, which can be difficult or impossible to enforce.

This drastic change in the law is due to a decision by the California Supreme Court, Rodriguez vs. Fiat Chrysler of America.

CARS and other consumer groups filed amicus briefs seeking to preserve protections for used car buyers, but the California Supreme Court ruled against consumers, overturning decades of law that allowed used car buyers to use California's landmark auto lemon law to get refunds when unscrupulous auto manufacturers fail to honor their warranties.

Some other laws may apply, but auto manufacturers now argue that any case involving a used car means that you have to pay out of pocket for repairs, even when you already paid extra for a car with a warranty from the manufacturer. Unfortunately, they often win those arguments.

CARS recommends: Do NOT rely on the warranty to protect you from having to pay for major repairs. Instead, check out the car as thoroughly as possible before you buy, and again after purchase, during the 3-day cooling off period. Better to avoid a problem car than risk getting stuck with a used lemon that is unsafe and unreliable, and that costs you thousands out of your own pocket to fix.

• California's Attorney General – California's Attorney General has the authority to crack down on illegal activity involving the sale or leasing of motor vehicles. Attorney General Bonta supported passage of the CARS Act.
  
  The Attorney General's office also has a history of pursuing justice on behalf of car buyers who were harmed by illegal auto sales practices, including obtaining over $99 million in refunds for victims of predatory auto lending practices who were harmed by subprime auto lender Santander.
• Your state legislators – they have the power to improve the law, and if they hear from enough of their constituents, may champion more improvements in the future. For example, many states have Used Car Lemon Laws that mandate warranties on used cars based on their price and / or mileage, while California still allows used cars to be sold "AS-IS."
• Your Labor Union – they represent you in Sacramento and also need to know how you are being affected economically by auto scams.

For the exact wording of the entire California Combating Auto Retail Scams (CARS) Act (SB 766, enacted in 2025), please visit:
https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=202520260SB766

Many Californians wrote to the Federal Trade Commission, supporting the FTC's CARS Rule, which was overturned in court over a procedural issue (not the merits).

• catching on fire - some people have burned to death
• loss of steering, including steering wheels that literally come off in the driver's hands
• faulty brakes that can cause a crash
• sticking accelerator pedals that cause cars to speed out of control
• seat belts that fail to work when they're needed in a crash
• child safety seat latches that come undone in a crash
• Takata airbags that explode with excessive force and propel metal shrapnel into drivers' and passengers' face, neck and torso, often causing blindness or bleeding to death

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission warns: "Unrepaired auto recalls pose a serious threat to public safety."

Mike Jackson, CEO of AutoNation, talks candidly about safety recalls.   Source: Tramel33166 at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 , via Wikimedia Commons

Who else warns about how dangerous safety recalls are? It isn't only government officials and safety experts. It's also industry insiders, such as the CEO of CarMax's #1 competitor, AutoNation, the largest new car dealership chain in the U.S.

Mike Jackson, the CEO of AutoNation, told Automotive News:

"These are not that the wrong tire-pressure sticker is on the car or some other little minor item....These are significant safety recalls, and we feel the time has passed that it's appropriate to take a vehicle in trade with a significant safety recall and turn around the next day and sell it to consumers."
-- AutoNation CEO Mike Jackson, quoted in Automotive News, "Used-Car Loophole Tightens up," February 8, 2016.