Louisiana VIN Search

Louisiana Vehicle Identification Numbers

In the state of Louisiana, the Lemon Law can be found in the “Louisiana Revised Statutes Annotated 51:1941 to 51:1948: Motor Vehicles Warranties.” According to the laws of Louisiana, you can not buy or sell a car which doesn’t have a VIN code. If a car doesn’t have a VIN, then they were either manufactured prior to 1980 or they were imported illegally. Checking the VIN code and history will enable the consumer to learn about the history of the vehicle.

Louisiana Lemon Law Statute

Auto Louisiana Lemon Law Statute

Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicle Offices

How do you check on a VIN number in the state of Louisiana?

You can visit your local DMV office to get the vehicle history of the car, but there is also an online VIN check which is not only a time saver but is also free for users. There are no limits connected to the number of checks that you perform, and the database only keeps genuine data from various databases. The online VIN check provided by the state of Louisiana is free which offers free VIN testing for the sole purpose of finding out if your vehicle, or parts on your vehicle are stolen. The information that is provided in the report from the state of Louisiana is collected from data from insurance companies, DMV offices, salvage yards, and auctions. The information that you will get from the Louisiana VIN Check includes:

• Records about any title changes;
• Facts about theft or full damage;
• Reports about road accidents;
• Any repairs that were registered; and
• Other facts that were registered by DMV offices.

Another searchable database that is very useful is the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System, which is used for cars that have been in the possession of auto recyclers, junk yards, and salvage yards. Places like this are often easy prey for thieves to steal VIN numbers from cars which have been destroyed. Therefore, they are more heavily regulated by the government and the data to be reported is mandated, including:

• The name, address, and contact information for the reporting entity;
• The VIN;
• The date the automobile was obtained;
• The name of the person or entity from whom the automobile was obtained;
• A statement of whether the automobile was crushed or disposed of, or offered for sale or other purposes; and
• Whether the vehicle is to be exported out of the country.

The National Insurance Crime Bureau is another free database and they recommend VINcheck as a free way to check verify a VIN number. VINcheck will tell you if a car has been reported stolen and has not been recovered.

Finally, there is instaVIN®, which provides the most up-to-date vehicle records that you can either download or you can get by visiting your local DMV. Your instaVIN® vehicle history and title report should include the following information:

• Current State of Title Information;
• Historical Title Information;

• Disclosure of Brand History on Title:
  • Flood;
  • Salvage;
  • Odometer Rollback
  • 61 Possible Problem Events.

• Odometer Information – when a car registration is performed in Louisiana an odometer reading is taken. A vehicle history report includes this reading;
• Information on Previous Accidents – an LA vehicle history check contains accident-related information. If a vehicle has been in an accident it may affect the life and/or the safety of a vehicle;
• Open Lien/Loan Information Including: Issuing Financial Institution – if there are any liens or loans against the vehicle then upon purchasing the car you assume the responsibility for those liens. In some states, debts such as child support can also be tied to the car, therefore, it is imperative that you make sure there are no outstanding liens against the car that you are purchasing;
• Impound & Towing Events
• Active Theft Data

Louisiana Department of Motor Vehicle Locations

VIN checker

National Title Motor Vehicle Information System

VINCheck

instaVIN®

Louisiana DMV Vehicle History Reports

Lemon Law in Louisiana

New cars which are defective in a way which causes serious harm and/or death should meet the criteria for the Louisiana lemon law and the consumer does have legal recourse under Louisiana’s Lemon Law. These laws only apply to new cars in Louisiana, although in some cases used cars or cars that are not covered by the Louisiana Lemon Law may be covered under the Federal Lemon Law – the Magnuson-Moss Law.

The Attorney General for the state of Louisiana defines a lemon to be a new vehicle with a defect that is significant enough to severely impair its use or market value. In other words, your vehicle is a lemon if:

• It has undergone repairs with at least four (4) attempts to repair the same issue within one (1) year of the original vehicle delivery (or during the warranty period); OR
• It has been out of service for at least 45 days during the same period.

For a vehicle to be eligible under the Louisiana Lemon Law it must meet certain requirements:

• Passenger motor vehicles sold in Louisiana;
• Passenger and commercial motor vehicles sold in Louisiana;
• Personal watercrafts (PWCs) and ATVs sold or still under warranty on or after August 15, 1999; and
• Drive train and chassis of a motor home that is used for personal and not commercial uses still under warranty on or after August 15, 1999, or sold in Louisiana.

Vehicles which are not covered by the Louisiana Lemon Law include:

• Newly-leased vehicles;
• Demonstrator vehicles;
• Motorcycles;
• Mobile Homes; and
• RVs.

If your car meets the conditions of being a lemon, you must work with the manufacturer through the free mediation or arbitration procedures. The manufacturer must either repair or replace the vehicle under Louisiana law. After four (4) attempts to repair the vehicle, or if the vehicle has been inoperable for 45 days, the manufacturer must either replace the car with a car of comparable value or refund the money to the consumer within ten (10) days. During the time when the vehicle is being repaired, the purchaser may rent another vehicle. If so, then the car manufacturer must reimburse the consumer up to $20 per day (if the vehicle is still covered under the express warranty.)

If you feel that you have been a victim of Auto Fraud, then you should call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Auto Fraud Section and file a complaint with them. The Consumer Info-Line is 1-800-352-4889.

Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

Louisiana Attorney General

Louisiana Attorney General Auto Fraud Line

Louisiana Lemon Law

Auto Louisiana Lemon Law Statutes

Louisiana Lemon Law

Better Business Bureau

Are used vehicles covered under Louisiana’s Lemon Law?

Used Car dealers in Louisiana operate under a different set of rules than those who sell new cars do. You should, of course, run a VIN check on any car that you are considering purchasing and take the car to an independent mechanic to have it looked at just to make sure there are no obvious problems. The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Used Car Rule requires dealers who sell more than six (6) cars a year to display a “Buyer’s Guide” on every used car they have for sale and they must display this guide in a prominent place.

The “Buyers Guide” must include information such as:

• If the vehicle is being sold “as is” or with a warranty – if the dealer checks the box next to “as is” on the warranty you should ask the dealer for a more complete explanation because “as is” is not a proper disclosure for a warranty in the state of Louisiana. You should contact the Attorney General for a description;

• Implied Warranties – when used car dealers sell cars which do not meet reasonable quality standards the state of Louisiana holds them responsible. This is called an “implied warranty” – unspoken, unwritten promises from the seller to the buyer. In most states dealers can use the words “as is” or “with all faults” in writing to eliminate implied warranties. There is no specified time for implied warranties;
  • Warranty of Merchantability – the most common type of implied warranty. This is when the seller promises that the product will do what it is supposed to do, and, in the case of a car, it applies to the basic functions of the car, but it does not cover everything that could go wrong. If a breakdown occurs after the car is sold that does not prove that the car salesman breached the warranty of merchantability unless the buyer can prove that a defect existed at the time of the sale.
  • Warranty of Fitness for a Particular Purpose – this applies when you purchase a vehicle based on the salesman’s advice that the vehicle is suitable for a certain use. An example of this is when a salesperson suggests you purchase a certain vehicle for the purposes of hauling a trailer. In effect, he is implying, or promising, that the vehicle will be suitable for that purpose.

If you have a written warranty which does not cover your problems, you may still have coverage because of implied warranties because when a vehicle is sold by a dealer with a written warranty or a service contract implied warranties are automatically included.

In states, such as Louisiana, which do not recognize “as is” sales, there is an “Implied Warranties Only” disclosure on the bottom of the Buyer’s Guide in the place of the “as is” disclosure. Dealers who offer a written warranty must complete the warranty section of the Buyer’s Guide and they may offer a full or limited warranty on all or some of the vehicle’s system’s or components; however, most used car warranties are limited, and coverage varies.

Remember that even if you are not covered by the state’s Lemon Law, you may have protection under the United States Lemon Law, the Magnuson-Moss, but you would need to speak with an attorney to find out.

Things to do before you purchase a used car:

• Examine the car using an inspection checklist. Inspection checklists can be found in magazine articles and Internet sites dealing with purchasing a used car;
• Test drive the car on different road conditions – highways, hills, and stop and go traffic;
• Ask for the car maintenance record. If the owner does not have it then you should contact the dealership or repair shop where the work was done;
• Talk to the previous owner if possible;
• Have the car inspected by a mechanic that you hire;
• Research the frequency of repair and maintenance costs on the model of car in auto-related consumer magazines. The U.S. Department of Transportation Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 gives information on recalls; and
• Check the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System and the National Insurance Crime Bureau databases.

Used Car Warranties in Louisiana

File a Vehicle Safety Complaint – NHTSA

National Motor Vehicle Title Information System

National Insurance Crime Bureau

Mediation and Arbitration

Mediation –

Mediation is when you and the manufacturer attempt to reach a settlement regarding the problem. If you are unable to reach a settlement, then the next step is arbitration.

Arbitration –

Arbitration is when an impartial third party is involved who will attempt to facilitate the process without the involvement of any attorneys. To prepare for your arbitration you should keep ALL correspondence from both the manufacturer and the dealer, including:

• Receipts for all car maintenance and repairs;
• Letters from mechanics;
• Letters from the manufacturers, dealers, and repair shops; and
• Any additional maintenance records for the vehicle.

You should call the state’s Auto Fraud Hotline at 1-800-352-4889, or use the Better Business Bureau’s Lemon Law complaint form.

DMV Louisiana Lemon Law

Louisiana Attorney General Complaint Hotline

Better Business Bureau Complain Hotline

When is it time to hire a Lemon Law Attorney?

Although the lemon laws appear to be clear, they can get confusing. When you are dealing with corporations and manufacturers it may be beneficial to have an attorney on your side. You are dealing with professional negotiators and many find it helpful to have an attorney or a professional on your side.

Lemon Law lawyers are also helpful because:

• Knowledge of the law – Experienced lemon law lawyers not only know they law, but they can also make educated decisions about your case;
• Experience – Attorneys who have experience with lemon law cases in the past will be able to handle your case better;
• Negotiating Power – Although it sounds unfair, having an attorney will help the process go faster and smoother and will help compel the manufacturer to comply; and
• Trusted Advice – your attorney can provide you with advice and can provide you the best ways to move forward.

To search for an attorney in Louisiana you can always search the Louisiana State Bar Association for a reputable attorney to handle your case.

DMV

Louisiana State Bar Association