What Is the CARS Act (SB 766)?
The CARS Act is California’s answer to misleading auto-dealer tactics, hidden fees, and shady used-car practices. It gives car buyers more transparency, more power, and for the first time, a three-day right to return certain used vehicles.
Key protections include:
✔️ Mandatory “All-In” Pricing
Dealers must advertise and display the true total price — no hidden add-ons, no surprise fees at signing, and no bait-and-switch pricing.
✔️ A Real 3-Day Right to Cancel (Used Cars ≤ $50,000)
Buyers get up to three days to return a used car priced at $50,000 or less.
This is a major shift in California law and a huge win for consumers.
✔️ Limits on Dealer Add-Ons
Dealers can no longer push worthless or deceptive products — especially ones that provide no benefit (e.g., selling “oil-change packages” for an electric vehicle).
✔️ Stronger Enforcement & Record-Keeping Requirements
Dealers must maintain compliance records for two years, meaning more accountability and less room for abuse.
What the 3-Day Return Right Really Means
Not every car qualifies — and dealers are going to try to exploit the fine print.
Here’s how the rule actually works:
Eligible:
Used vehicles priced $50,000 or less
Returned within 3 business days
Driven less than 400 miles after purchase
Returned in essentially the same condition
Not Eligible:
New vehicles
Used vehicles priced over $50,000
Motorcycles, RVs, commercial trucks, etc.
What dealers may still charge:
Reasonable restocking fees
Excess mileage charges
Damage deductions
Bottom line:
This is a strong protection — but it is not a replacement for California’s Lemon Law.
If your vehicle has mechanical problems after those three days, you still need legal help.
Does the CARS Act Replace the Lemon Law?
- No.
- The CARS Act gives you a brief window to undo a bad purchase — but it does not force a dealer or manufacturer to repurchase or replace your car once the window closes.
- California’s Lemon Law (Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act) remains the primary protection when:
- Your car has been in the shop multiple times
- Repairs drag on for 30+ days
- Safety defects keep coming back
- The dealer refuses to fix recurring issues
- A manufacturer refuses to buy the car back
- If your car suffers repeated defects, you still need a lemon law attorney — and LemonDaddy handles those cases at no cost to the consumer.
What If My Car Is Already a Lemon?
If you are experiencing any of the following, call LemonDaddy immediately:
- Engine misfires
- Transmission slipping or jerking
- Electrical or hybrid-system failure
- Steering issues
- Brake malfunctions
- “Check engine” light coming back after repairs
- Your car has been out of service for 30+ days
- Dealer keeps telling you “it’s normal”
- You may be entitled to a full repurchase, including:
- Your down payment
- Monthly payments
- Taxes & registration
- Incidental costs (towing, rental cars, etc.)
- And the manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees — not you.
How LemonDaddy Helps You
LemonDaddy isn’t just another law firm — it’s a specialized consumer-protection team dedicated to helping Californians stuck with defective vehicles.
- What we do:
- Free case evaluation
- No-cost representation
- Immediate pressure on the manufacturer
- Fast negotiation for buyback or cash settlement
- Thorough review of repair orders and dealer violations
- What you get:
- Your money back
- Your defective car gone
- Peace of mind
- Zero out-of-pocket cost
When to Call LemonDaddy
- If your vehicle has been in the shop twice for major issues, four times for anything, or 30+ days total, call us.
- If you bought a car in the last 3 days and want to return it — call us.
- If you think the dealer lied — call us.
- If the manufacturer is stalling — call us.
- If something “just doesn’t feel right” — call us.
