California Codes

Cal. Vehicle Code § 11713.18 (2026)

Issuance of Licenses and Certificates to Manufacturers, Transporters, and Dealers

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(a)It is a violation of this code for the holder of any dealer’s license issued under this article to advertise for sale or sell a used vehicle as “certified” or use any similar descriptive term in the advertisement or the sale of a used vehicle that implies the vehicle has been certified to meet the terms of a used vehicle certification program if any of the following apply:

(1)The dealer knows or should have known that the odometer on the vehicle does not indicate actual mileage, has been rolled back or otherwise altered to show fewer miles, or replaced with an odometer showing fewer miles than actually driven.

(2)The dealer knows or should have known that the vehicle was reacquired by the vehicle’s manufacturer or a dealer pursuant to state or federal warranty laws.

(3)The title to the vehicle has been inscribed with the notation “Lemon Law Buyback,” “manufacturer repurchase,” “salvage,” “junk,” “nonrepairable,” “flood,” or similar title designation required by this state or another state.

(4)The vehicle has sustained damage in an impact, fire, or flood, that after repair prior to sale substantially impairs the use or safety of the vehicle.

(5)The dealer knows or should have known that the vehicle has sustained frame damage.

(6)Prior to sale, the dealer fails to provide the buyer with a completed inspection report indicating all the components inspected.

(7)The dealer disclaims any warranties of merchantability on the vehicle.

(8)The vehicle is sold “AS IS.”

(9)The term “certified” or any similar descriptive term is used in any manner that is untrue or misleading or that would cause any advertisement to be in violation of subdivision (a) of Section 11713 of this code or Section 17200 or 17500 of the Business and Professions Code.

(b)A violation of this section is actionable under the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (Title 1.5 (commencing with Section 1750) of Part 4 of Division 3 of the Civil Code), the Unfair Competition Law (Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 17200) of Part 2 of Division 7 of the Business and Professions Code), Section 17500 of the Business and Professions Code, or any other applicable state or federal law. The rights and remedies provided by this section are cumulative and shall not be construed as restricting any right or remedy that is otherwise available.

(c)This section does not abrogate or limit any disclosure obligation imposed by any other law.

(d)This section does not apply to the advertisement or sale of a used motorcycle or a used off-highway motor vehicle subject to identification under Section 38010.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 9 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 2013–2025 · leading case: Travis Gonzales v. Carmax Auto Superstores, LLC, 840 F.3d 644 (9th Cir. 2016).
Travis Gonzales v. Carmax Auto Superstores, LLC, 840 F.3d 644 (9th Cir. 2016). · cites it 4× “Cal. Veh. Code § 11713.18 (a)(6). The statute further provides that a violation of any of these provisions is actionable under the CLRA, the UCL, false advertising statutes, or any other applicable state or federal law.”
Travis Gonzales v. Carmax Auto Superstores, 845 F.3d 916 (9th Cir. 2017). “As explained in our original opinion, Car-Max violated Section 11713.18(a)(6) of the California Vehicle Code, and violations of that provision are "actionable under the Consumer Legal Remedies Act.”
Chulick-Perez v. Carmax Auto Superstores California, LLC, 71 F. Supp. 3d 1145 (E.D. Cal. 2014). · cites it 6× “Statutory Framework The starting point for Plaintiffs claim is Cal. Veh.Code § 11713.18, which provides, in relevant part: (a) It is a violation of this code for the • holder of any dealer’s license issued under this article to advertise for sale or sell a used vehicle as…”
Travis Gonzales v. Carmax Auto Superstores, No. 14-56305 (9th Cir. Jan. 6, 2017). · cites it 2× “” Cal. Veh. Code § 11713.18 (b); see also Gonzales v.”
Mazyck v. Toyota Motors Sales, No. D082633 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2025). · cites it 2× “Second, Mazyck contends her vehicle could not lawfully be sold as “certified,” even if it met Toyota’s L/Certified standards, because it was misleading under Vehicle Code section 11713.18(a)(9).1 We disagree.”
Brooks v. CarMax Auto Superstores, No. D067491 (Cal. Ct. App. Apr. 1, 2016). “When CarMax rejected her demands, she filed this action alleging it violated Vehicle Code section 11713.18 (section 11713.”
Brooks v. CarMax Auto Superstores, No. D067491 (Cal. Ct. App. Apr. 21, 2016). “When CarMax rejected her demands, she filed this action alleging it violated Vehicle Code section 11713.18 (section 11713.”
Jaime v. CarMax Auto Superstores Cal., LLC, No. D075307 (Cal. Ct. App. Oct. 16, 2020). “(Veh. Code, § 11713.18.) Jaime also contended that CarMax misrepresented the accident history of the Jeep.”
Brown v. K Motors, No. D058704 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 27, 2013). “Buyer's Bill of Rights (Veh. Code, § 11713.18)2 (first cause of action); violation of the Consumers Legal Remedies Act (CLRA) (Civ.”
Cal. Vehicle Code § 11713.18(a)(6): 2 cases
Travis Gonzales v. Carmax Auto Superstores, LLC, 840 F.3d 644 (9th Cir. 2016). “Cal. Veh. Code § 11713.18 (a)(6). The statute further provides that a violation of any of these provisions is actionable under the CLRA, the UCL, false advertising statutes, or any other applicable state or federal law.”
Chulick-Perez v. Carmax Auto Superstores California, LLC, 71 F. Supp. 3d 1145 (E.D. Cal. 2014). “Statutory Framework The starting point for Plaintiffs claim is Cal. Veh.Code § 11713.18, which provides, in relevant part: (a) It is a violation of this code for the • holder of any dealer’s license issued under this article to advertise for sale or sell a used vehicle as…”
Cal. Vehicle Code § 11713.18(a)(9): 1 case
Mazyck v. Toyota Motors Sales, No. D082633 (Cal. Ct. App. Feb. 20, 2025). “Second, Mazyck contends her vehicle could not lawfully be sold as “certified,” even if it met Toyota’s L/Certified standards, because it was misleading under Vehicle Code section 11713.18(a)(9).1 We disagree.”
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