Are looking at joining the mobile food industry? If so, sooner or later you will have to purchase a truck to house your roaming bistro. When you can, we suggest you buy them brand new. However, most new food truck owners are in situations where they have to a buy a used truck from a truck builder or private party. The downside,  is that you can get a truck that at first seems like everything you ever wanted, but soon becomes your worst nightmare. Today we’ll discuss lemon laws and how they affect food truck vendors.

Understanding Food Truck Lemon Laws

Being unable to get your truck out to the streets to operate can be one of the most frustrating issues a food truck owner runs into. By the time that you begin to realize that you have a lemon, it is usually too late. The truck has already outlived its warranty which is often filled with numerous loopholes for the seller. What does this mean for you? If you’re like most people, you’re thinking to yourself, “It means you’re screwed.”

However, most people who buy their food trucks used know that dealers set up their agreements in terms that will serve only their best interests. Buyers also assume that there is really nothing that they can do to get the most out of their money. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In fact, there is a lot that you can do to protect yourself even after you have bought a lemon. That’s right: as a buyer you do have rights as well. In fact, there are lemon laws that are designed to protect you. Especially if you find that you got stuck with a bad vehicle from a terrible seller.

RELATED: Shopping For A Food Truck Doesn’t Have To Be Hard

How To Protect Your Food Truck Business

When you are looking for the best prices, visit several different sales websites. But also use different data when researching pricing information. Everything from sticker price to customer rebate information (if it’s even available) may vary from site to site.

When it comes to the basics behind the lemon laws, knowing the basics can be the difference between whether or not you get taken to the cleaners or get the chance to recover the money that you spent on the truck. State and federal statutes offer a wide array of relief for consumers who get stuck with a bad truck after they buy.

These statutes provide buyers with the chance for recovery of costs and attorney fees. This provides a strong incentive for attorneys who would like to take up the cause on behalf of unhappy lemon owners. “Lemon laws” basically outline all of the procedures that are used in order to settle these sorts of automotive problems.

Remember that lemon laws differ from one state to another. The key is that general lemon laws are designed to provide the owner with a refund or replacement vehicle should this problem occur. Some states mandate a refund or a new vehicle. This takes place if a large enough problems cannot be repaired within four tries. Another case might be if the truck has been out of service for around a month within the first year or the first 12,000 miles you own it.

Exceptions to the rule

Just as most things in life, there are some exceptions to lemon laws. The first is that some states only provide you with the chance to make one attempt for significant safety related issues such as the brakes or steering. Some states do not even stop with just providing lemon owners with either a refund or a new vehicle. Some of them will also let you recover any sort of attorney’s fees that you have to deal with during your pursuit of getting some satisfaction from your purchase of a lemon.

If you are interested in what your state lemon laws are check out Lemonlawamerica.com.

Buy or sell your food truck with Mobile Cuisine at Food Trucks for Sale.

The Bottom Line

It’s good to know that you can get some return on your money when you buy a lemon. We hope this article helps those of you where you have either bought a lemon, or buy one in the future to understand lemon laws and how they protect you.

Have you bought a lemon food truck? Share your thoughts on this topic in the comment section or social media. Facebook | Twitter

Disclaimer.  This article on lemon laws is intended to be a general resource only and is not intended to be nor does it constitute legal advice.