There are many benefits of buying a used car versus a new one, but one reason people sometimes hesitate with this is because used cars do not always come with warranties. If you are going to spend money on a used car, you will want to be sure that it will be worth the money you spend. While some used cars are sold as-is, others do come with warranties, and here are three things you should know about this.                        

Your State's Lemon Laws

Almost every state in the U.S. has lemon laws in place for consumer protection. A car is considered a "lemon" when a person experiences major problems with it shortly after purchasing it. While dealers do not always know that cars have problems, these laws encourage dealers to:

• Inform buyers of any problems the vehicles have
• Make necessary repairs before selling cars
• Complete thorough inspections of vehicles before selling them
• Ensure that cars are safe and reliable when sold

Under the lemon laws in place, you may have the right to return a used vehicle you purchase and receive the full value back if you can prove the car is a lemon. By knowing the laws in your state, you will know the exact requirements and procedures for this. You may have only a certain amount of time to make the return, and the laws may only cover cars that are less than a certain number of years old.

Manufacturer's Warranty

The second thing to understand is that a lot of used cars come with a manufacturer's warranty. This generally only applies to vehicles that are only a few years old because a typical manufacturer's warranty might cover all repair services for the first 36,000 miles or the three years (whichever comes first).

If you purchase a vehicle that is relatively new, it may still have some of the warranty in place. For example, if you purchase a two-year old car that has 20,000 miles, the warranty will still be in effect until the car is three years old, or once it hits 36,000 miles. There might be limitations as to what the warranty covers, but most of these warranties cover all major repairs on vehicles.

When you shop for a used car, keep this in mind, and ask the dealer if the car you are interested in comes with a manufacturer's warranty.

Dealer Warranties

Finally, some dealers may offer limited warranties on all vehicles they sell. A dealer may offer a 30-day warranty on every vehicle in stock. With this, you will have 30 days to drive the vehicle to determine if it is reliable. If you experience problems during this time, you can bring the car back for a refund, or the dealer will repair it for you. There may be rules and exclusions with dealer warranties, and you should find this out when making your purchase.

In addition to this, used car dealers may also sell extended warranty plans that you can purchase. These policies are often sold through third-parties and are usually affordable. With an extended warranty, you may be able to purchase additional coverage that will last for a certain number of years or miles. If you look into an extended warranty, find out:

• The types of repairs the warranty covers
• The restrictions
• Time frames or mileage requirements
• Where you must take the car for repairs if needed

While there are dealers that do not offer warranty coverage or protection, there are others that do. Make sure you look for a reputable automotive dealer when shopping for a used car, and always find out exactly what type of protection you have for this car.