Attorney general offers advice for buying a car in New Mexico
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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – New Mexico’s attorney general is tasked with protecting consumers in the state, and New Mexicans can face financial risk is when shopping for a new car. Now, the attorney general’s office has published some advice for consumers.
“Buying a car is a big investment, and, for more New Mexicans, a necessary one. Unfortunately, car dealerships and retailers know this too. Sometimes, that means that they try to take advantage of consumers,” the New Mexico Department of Justice says in the publication. “Thankfully, there are laws put in place to protect consumers in New Mexico, including statutes and regulations.”
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Officials warn of some red flags when purchasing from dealerships. They say to look out for:
High pressure sales tactics.
“No down payment” when there is actually a down payment.
Misleading or deceptive advertisements.
“Lemon vehicles,” vehicles that have a defect.
If you find yourself in a bad deal, the New Mexico Department of Justice recommends keeping records of everything – texts, emails, phone calls, documents, etc. You should try to resolve the issues with the dealership, officials say. Even if you can’t reach a solution, you might be able to get more useful information from the dealer.
If that doesn’t work, you should first make a complaint with the New Mexico Motor Vehicle Division’s Automotive Industry Complaint form and with the New Mexico Automotive Dealers Association’s Automotive Consumer Protection Program. Finally, as a last resort, you can file a complaint with the New Mexico Department of Justice and reach out to an attorney.
You can find more tips for staying safe while car shopping at this link.
