Is a Car Deposit Refundable? How to Get Your Money Back
Whether you get a deposit back depends on the paper you signed and your state's dealer rules. What usually decides it, the states with specific rules, and the steps if the dealer will not pay.
Category: Dealers & Warranties
Dealer fees, warranty coverage, service and repair policies, lemon laws and what owners can demand.
Bumper-to-Bumper vs Powertrain Warranty: Coverage by Brand
The two warranties overlap at first, then the powertrain coverage keeps going alone. Here is what each pays for and how the major brands compare.
Dealer Doc Fees by State: Which States Cap Them and How Much
A documentation fee pays for paperwork and dealer profit. Here is which states limit it as of November 2026, and what to do where there is no cap.
Secret Warranty Laws: Hidden Extensions and Your Right to a Refund
Automakers sometimes extend coverage for a known defect without telling every owner. What these programs are, which states force disclosure and refunds, and how to find one for your car.
Free Maintenance by Car Brand: Which Automakers Include It
A few automakers include scheduled maintenance with a new car; most do not. Here is which brands do as of November 2026, how long it lasts and how it differs from a prepaid plan the dealer sells.
Does a Factory Car Warranty Transfer to the Next Owner?
A used car with a famous 10-year warranty may not carry 10 years of coverage for you. Who bought it first, and how, decides what is left.
What Voids a Car Warranty and What a Dealer Cannot Deny
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act limits how automakers can tie your coverage to their own parts and service. A claim can still be denied when the failure traces back to neglect, a bad part or a modification.
Is an Extended Car Warranty Worth It? How Service Contracts Work
What an "extended warranty" really is, what it leaves out, how to cancel one for a refund, and how to spot the scam calls that sell them.
How Lemon Laws Work: Repair Attempts, Deadlines and Refunds
Every state has a lemon law for new cars, and the federal Magnuson-Moss Act fills gaps. The details that decide a case are repair counts, days out of service and deadlines.
Carvana and CarMax Return Policy: Return Windows and Warranties
Online car buying comes with a test-own period instead of a test drive. The fine print on fees, miles and warranties decides how useful it is.