ABA Family Legal Guide

Automobiles

Consumer Protections

Warranties and the Uniform Commercial Code

With regard to automobile purchases, what is a warranty?

A warranty is a guarantee of the product's quality and performance. A warranty may be written or oral. The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) provides for three kinds of warranties given by a car seller: an express warranty, an implied warranty of merchantability, and an implied warranty of fitness for a particular purpose. A seller may also sell a car "as is," which means it is not covered by any warranties.