Although the Lemon Laws are there to protect you, the one thing you don't want is to actually have to use them, because that means you've gone and bought yourself a 'sick' car. Odd squeaks and rattles don't count as they're just fair wear and tear, but if you are experiencing major vehicle defects (such as with the engine, drive axle, brakes, steering or radiator, for example), you might want to start a paper trail. You could have a lemon.

With any issues you might be having, check your car warranty first. Give the manufacturer an opportunity to put right it (this can be up to 3 or 4 attempts to repair a problem). At this point, a Lemon Law attorney may not be essential.

If you are experiencing major problems with your car, however, the most important thing you can do is keep all receipts and records concerning your vehicle. Be sure you have a copy of the car guarantee in a safe place. Keep all receipts concerning repairs that have been made to your vehicle. You might also want to consider keeping a log or notebook that contains all of this relevant information, including the number of days as a running tally that it was kept in the shop for a related problem. Start to research the Lemon Law in your state.

Start to research the Lemon Law in your state, and get hold of any 'service bulletins' that have been issued for your make and model of car. Do your homework - quite often it's simplest to do much of it online - and copy any information you find into your diary.

In most states, the Lemon Law provides a legal remedy for consumers who purchase a car that turns out to be a lemon. Dealers are required to give you a written car warranty under which a dealer must repair, free of charge, any probkems in covered parts. In some cases, the dealer may have the option to reimburse you for the reasonable cost of repairs; check your car guarantee to see if this applies to you.

But if your car needs excessive repairs, start researching the Lemon Law statutes in your state. Many problems during the car guarantee period may not constitute a defect, but one grave problem or problems might be a breach of the Lemon Law. Note the dates of all repairs to your car in a notebook, and how long your car was "in the shop" and "off the road." Make the receipts for repairs in a safe place. At this point you may want to look into finding a Lemon Law attorney in your state.

It won't normally be long before you've made up your mind if you really do have a lemon and then is the time to start getting your notes and receipts all together. You should become familiar with your state's Lemon Law statute and put together a list of local Lemon Law attorneys. Check with the Attorney General's office in your state for more information.

Take the time to put together all the necessary paperwork. Take the car service contract with you and be sure to have each and every work order performed on your car, as well as any service bulletins issued that may relate to the problem or defects you're having. Your will find that your individual state Lemon Law will include a list of records that you must have to proceed with an action. You should take with you any reports or correspondence you've received from the dealer concerning the repairs.

It makes for a long paper trail, but, as with all legal matters, the devil is nearly always in the detail and you can never keep enough details to ensure a successful Lemon Law action.