If a car that you purchased from a West Virginia dealer has a defect that cannot be fixed, it may be referred to as a lemon. In many cases, you’ll be entitled to a refund of any money that you have already paid for the vehicle or a replacement vehicle. Let’s take a look at how your car loan may be impacted if your car cannot be fixed.
Continue making payments until your case is resolved
If you stop making payments to your lender, it has the right to repossess your vehicle. In the event that a vehicle is repossessed, you won’t be able to pursue your case any further. It may be a good idea to contact the lender anyway to see if they have any insight into how you should handle the issue. A bank or financial institution may have specific protocols that must be followed in the event that you seek a refund or obtain a new vehicle.
You might owe the lender money
In most cases, you will only be entitled to a refund for the car’s fair market value. This may be less than what you currently owe to the lender depending on the age and condition of the vehicle. In such a scenario, you could be required to pay any remaining loan balance. A lender may also charge a fee to cancel the loan that would be deducted from any amount that you would receive or added to any balance that you might owe.
A replacement should be similar to your current vehicle
If you choose to replace a defective car, you’ll need to replace it with something that is similar to what you currently own. It’s important to note that you may lose out on special interest rates or other deals that were applied to your original loan.
If you believe that your car is defective, it may be best to work with an attorney who is familiar with the state’s lemon law. This may make it easier to resolve your case in a timely and favorable manner.
