Car Shoppers In California See New Return Options And Pricing Transparency Rules

A display of electric vehicles was seen at a Hyundai dealership in Fresno on September 7, 2023. This year, California legislators significantly amended car-buying regulations, notably revising the law that permits buyers to secure refunds for defective vehicles and introducing a three-day vehicle return policy. Following extensive lobbying from auto manufacturers, dealers, and advocacy groups, additional legislative confrontations over vehicle purchases in California may emerge in 2026. With high vehicle prices persisting, a Republican-led Congress, alongside the previous Trump administration, has opposed Governor Newsom's vision of achieving 100% zero-emission cars by 2035. Senator Ben Allen, representing El Segundo, anticipates that California's legislative body will counter national Republicans' challenges to state vehicle policies, emphasizing environmental commitments. Governor Newsom endorsed Allen's Senate Bill 766, which establishes a pioneering three-day return policy for used vehicle purchases under $50,000, alongside measures enhancing pricing transparency and preventing misleading charges for unnecessary add-ons.