Customers can rescind a contract if the dealer was unaware of what?

Customers have the right to rescind a contract when they discover that a dealer was unaware of the true history of the vehicle. This includes critical information like prior accidents, flood damage, or odometer discrepancies that materially affect the value and safety of the vehicle.

The rationale behind this is that a vehicle’s history is essential to a buyer’s decision-making process, and concealing or failing to disclose such information can be seen as a breach of trust or an act of misrepresentation. If the dealer did not know about significant past issues but they would impact the customer's decision, the customer is permitted to cancel the purchase as they relied on the assumption that the history offered was accurate.

Understanding the true history is paramount because it can lead to significant financial ramifications for the buyer down the road. Issues stemming from a vehicle's past could result in costly repairs or impact safety, which is why this aspect of transparency is legally protected.