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Can I return a car to the dealership where I purchased it?

I purchased a new car just last week and quickly realized it was not the right one for me. Can I return a car to the dealership?

avatar
Jack Walsh · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
Suffering from buyer’s remorse after a large purchase like a new car can be a terrible feeling. Unfortunately, returning a vehicle after driving it off the lot is not quite as easy as returning a pair of jeans that don’t fit, but that doesn’t mean you are totally out of luck.
The first thing you’re going to want to do is find out the
dealership’s
return policy. If you did not ask about a return policy before purchase, look through your contract with them or reach out directly and ask. Hopefully, the dealership allows returns within a specific time frame or mileage and that is the end of it. If the dealership does not have a return policy, things can get a bit more complicated but you do have a few options.
If you are returning the vehicle due to safety issues or unrepairable defects, take a look at your state’s
lemon law
to see if the dealership may be legally obligated to help you out. If lemon laws do not apply to your situation and you are returning for other reasons, you may want to consider one of the following:
  • Sell the car
  • Have the car voluntarily repossessed
  • Refinance your
    car loan
If you are trying to return your car due to not being able to afford it, refinancing the car loan could be your best option. At that point, you may also want to see if you can cut costs in other areas such as your car insurance. Consider using
Jerry
to refinance your car loan and compare insurance rates from up to 50+ car insurance companies.
MORE: How to refinance a car
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