New Laws Will Help California Used-Car Buyers, But You Have to Wait Until October

Car pricing will have to be clearer, and there will be a 3-day return policy in California later this year. The new law, which will go into place on October 1, 2026, gives Californians the right to return used cars for a full refund within 3 days if the purchase was less than $50,000. They dealer may, however, charge a restocking fee. Senate Bill 766, called the California Combating Auto Retail Scams Act (CARS) (Civ. Code Sections 1784.1 et seq.), also mandates dealers to advertise the actual price of the vehicle and the full financial terms. The law prohibits charging for add-ons that are of no benefit to the buyer.