Predatory Used Car Dealers Targeted By New Legislation

BUSHWICK, BROOKLYN — A new bill aims to force used car dealers to be more open about the quality and cost of cars they are selling is. Bushwick Councilman Rafal Espinal is trying to make the requirement law, he said.

“It is time we stand up and demand that fair practices be set in place,” Espinal said in a statement. “Those who deliberately scheme and impoverish people will be brought to justice.”

The used car industry offers loans with extreme terms designed to create debt, Espinal said. It's an especially difficult problem in neighborhoods such as Bushwick, Brownsville and Canarsie, said Borough President Eric Adams.

“As we look to combat the impact of crippling consumer debt in our borough and beyond, we must address irresponsible corporate behavior that is fueling the crisis," he said.

The new bill would require used car dealers to tell buyers of the lowest annual interest rate and provide contracts in the language of the sale. The bill also creates a two-day window for buyers to cancel the sale.

A bill of rights for the buyers of used car was also introduced by Councilman Dan Garodnick of Manhattan.

The Department of Consumer Affairs recently charged Major World, a massive used car dealership based in Queens, with targeting low-income and non-English-speaking consumers, it said in a statement.

Major World is accused of falsifying credit applications on cars with inflated values.

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