The Ways
Dealers Cheat You

Car dealers use a variety of deceptive tactics to take advantage of unsuspecting buyers—here are some of the most common ways they cheat customers and what you can do if it’s happened to you.

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Dealer Lies, Promises Unkept

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Prior, Undisclosed Accident

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Salvage Title “Total Loss”

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Mechanical Damage & Defects Including Flood

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Prior, Undisclosed Rental Use

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Odometer Rollback

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Contract Mistakes, Errors

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Forged Signatures

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REVIEWS

What You'll Be Saying About Us Soon

Eric H
01:13 18 Jun 25
After trying to deal with a dealership myself for 3 months after buying a vehicle that was misrepresented in a massive way, I went ahead and contacted Auto fraud legal center. I provided all original documents to the legal center. They made the process extremely easy for me. I rarely had to appear in court except for 2-3 times. After a few years I was able to collect almost 4 times the vehicles originally value
Darlene O.
22:50 02 Jun 25
Huge thank you to the team at Auto Fraud Legal Center! Greg, Kathy, Josh & Valeria were a huge help with helping me with my case. They kept me up to date with what was going on with my case & let me know what was needed for it to go quickly & smoothly. I would absolutely recommend them to friends & family that need help! Thank you so much for everything you guys did for me, keep up the good work! (:
Amanda H.
20:50 22 May 25
Brianna and Greg did amazing made the whole process smooth from beginning to the end got me what I deserved .
Lee V.
23:24 20 May 25
Very helpful and listened to my case and kept in contact with me.
Fabiana S. P.
22:18 16 May 25
I highly recommend Auto Fraud Legal Center. Carly Roman, Michelle Cook and Valeria Gutierrez were always very patient and attentive. They were always willing to answer my questions and explained everything very well throughout the process. They always asked me questions to get my opinion and guided me to find the best path. After 1 year, I finally managed to get back all the money I paid for the car I had bought, the rental and insurance until the end of the process. I am very satisfied with the outcome. About the process: I bought a used car from Chevrolet that had a problem with the engine (burning oil quickly because according to Nissan the first owner did not change the oil correctly). Because of this, Nissan said that to fix it it would cost almost the amount I paid for the car. So I asked for my money back and Chevrolet said that I had no rights because it was a used car. So I contacted Auto Fraud and they said that I had a good chance of getting my money back. And here I am, super happy with everything I spent so far back.
Adam K.
20:46 30 Apr 25
We were the victims of a fraudulent car sale and felt completely overwhelmed and unsure of what to do next. Thankfully, we found Auto Fraud Legal Center. From our first conversation, their team was knowledgeable, responsive, and genuinely cared about helping us. They walked us through the entire legal process, kept us informed every step of the way, and ultimately secured a settlement that we truly deserved. Their expertise and dedication made all the difference. Special thanks to Hawk Berry and Valeria Gutierrez for seeing us through the end.
Carlos A.
21:14 25 Apr 25
Auto Fraud it is a great team very good communication, always answer all my questions, and always been on top of any inquiries regarding my case.
Great job I really recommend to anyone who had the same situation.
Bruno L.
04:08 19 Apr 25
Antonia helped us with our intake process and she was very attentive to the details and provided quick feedback. We are very pleased how the firm handles the process so far. Thank you!
pratik P.
19:01 18 Apr 25
I highly recommend Downtown San Diego Plumber for their fast, reliable service—they fixed my water heater in no time! Their team was professional, affordable, and made drain cleaning a hassle-free experience.
Aris M.
17:52 17 Apr 25
Antonia, at Auto Fraud Legal Center, did an awesome job with assisting me collecting all the necessary information to peruse a lawsuit against a shady dealership. She is constantly in communication with me and is still helping me with finalizing my lawsuit. I feel I am in good and caring hands and hope to be able to achieve a positive outcome with the help of Auto Fraud Legal Center. I am very glad I found them and accepted to represent me in a court of law. Thank you.
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Frequently Asked Questions

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How Much Will it Cost Me to Sue a Car Dealer?

All of our cases are taken on a contingency bases, which means if we take on your case, you won’t be asked to pay any money up front. The fees and costs we typically collect for your case are paid by the Defendant out of any settlement or winning verdict you accept and receive. Your Retainer Agreement will cover this in detail and you are encouraged to ask any questions you may have.

What Type of Lawyer Sues a Car Dealership Who Cheated, Lied or Broke the Law?

While there may be many reasons to sue a car dealership, if you did not get the proper value in your purchase due to lies, cheating or other bad acts by the dealership’s salesperson, finance manager or others, you should be looking for a Lawyer with experience in Auto Fraud law, sometimes called Car Dealer Fraud. The Auto Fraud Legal Center LLP has an entire team of lawyers and professionals ready to serve California car buyers in need.

How Do I Get Started?

Just fill out the Contact Form, chat with us or pick up the phone and we’ll discuss your situation for FREE! If you have the type of case that matches our firm’s focus, we’ll invite you to submit paperwork and other potential evidence and go forward as our attorneys advise and you agree. We are always focused on what is in the best interest of our clients and strive to achieve that goal.

Can My Used Car be a Lemon or Just New Cars?

Yes, but only if still covered under (i) the original manufacturer’s warranty or (ii) an extended warranty purchased from a Dealer and still in effect.Additionally, depending on how the sale was conducted, you may have been the victim of Auto Fraud or some other regulations governing how licensed car dealers are required to operate. Tell us your situation if you are unsure.

What's the Difference Between Auto Fraud and Lemon Law cases?

A lot. Auto Fraud law focuses on the behavior of the dealers like what was said, written and done by the dealer’s staff at the time of the sale and shortly thereafter. Cases focus on this behavior of the dealer and whether their conduct broke any regulations and laws and caused damage to you, the buyer. Lemon law focuses on the condition of a car that is under a warranty, and whether or not it has been fixed properly.

What Kind of Cases Will You Take?

We are a state-wide firm open to litigating cases all over California against licensed car dealers. If you suspect you have a bad contract or purchased a lemon, contact us today! Please note that the amount of money at stake in your claim may dictate that you file in Small Claims court, which would exclude you from our help.

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What We Do

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It May Not Be Too Late!

If a dealer lied to you – about the price, your down payment, your monthly payments, the vehicle’s accident history, the vehicle’s rental history, whether the vehicle was smogged or can even pass smog, warranty issues, or anything else – you may have a claim, and you may be able to return the vehicle you purchased, even years later, and get your money back.

Many dealers engage in sophisticated practices to break the law in ways that are not obvious to you. We’ve seen their scams and know their ways. Consumers are unaware that hundreds of thousands of contracts throughout the state are illegal. Even if you are not certain you were defrauded, you can contact us for a free contract review to make sure the dealer complied with the law. If your contract is illegal, you may be able to return the vehicle you purchased and get your money back.

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We provide you with solutions

How It Works

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Dealer Engaged in Illegal Contract or Selling Methods?

There are numerous illegal issues that may pertain to your case. If you think there was anything fishy about your contract, the sales process or financing, you are probably right!

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Dealer Sold You a Car That Wasn’t What They Claimed?

Your car hasn’t performed as expect, was used as a rental or in a wreck, a flood previously and not disclosed or was just not up to the level of the promises made including Certified Pre-Owned?

You Contact Auto Fraud Legal Center!

We assess your situation, let you know what remedies exist, work with you to sue the dealer, manufacturer, and/or your finance company and fight for you in court! Please note, we only accept cases for vehicles purchased in California within the last 3-4 years with a purchase price of at least $7,500.

California's Auto Fraud Legal Center

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