What can I do if a car dealer lied to me in California?

Dealer misrepresentations (hidden accident history, undisclosed prior rental use, false "certified" labels, payment packing) violate the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Civil Code section 1770. Remedies include rescission, damages, and attorney fees, but a damages suit requires the CLRA's 30-day pre-suit demand letter first.

Auto sales are among the most regulated consumer transactions in California, and the paper usually decides the case. Misrepresenting a vehicle's characteristics, history, or condition (concealing frame damage, prior rental or fleet use, or an undisclosed salvage title) violates the Consumers Legal Remedies Act, Civil Code section 1770, which supports rescission, damages, punitive damages, and attorney fees after the 30-day pre-suit demand of section 1782. Beyond the CLRA: a used vehicle sold as "certified" must meet the conditions of Vehicle Code section 11713.18, financed sales must put every charge in a single document under the Rees-Levering Act, Civil Code section 2981 et seq., and dealers must be bonded, giving judgment-holders a bond to collect against under Vehicle Code section 11711. Gather the purchase contract, advertising, window sticker, and a vehicle history report, and file a complaint with the DMV, which licenses dealers. Deceit claims generally run three years from discovery under Code of Civil Procedure section 338(d).

Authority: Cal. Civ. Code § 1770