"As is" sounds like the dealer is simply being upfront. What it actually does is shift virtually all repair risk onto you the moment you drive off the lot — and it isn't even legal everywhere.
The window sticker that's actually a federal requirement
Under the FTC's Used Car Rule (formally the Used Motor Vehicle Trade Regulation Rule, in effect since 1985), dealers must display a window sticker called a Buyers Guide on every used vehicle offered for sale, disclosing whether it's sold "As Is" or with a warranty. The rule applies to any dealer selling six or more vehicles in a 12-month period, across essentially the entire US, DC, and US territories — with one specific exception.
"As Is" isn't legal everywhere
Whether a dealer can sell "As Is" at all is governed by state law, not the federal rule itself. States that limit or prohibit "As Is" sales require dealers to use an alternative "Implied Warranties Only" version of the Buyers Guide instead. Maine and Wisconsin go further and don't follow the federal Buyers Guide rule at all — they have their own separate state disclosure laws. Check your specific state's rule rather than assuming "As Is" is automatically valid wherever you're buying.
What "As Is" actually removes
An "As Is – No Dealer Warranty" designation means no warranty, express or implied, comes with the sale — you take on responsibility for any repair needed after purchase, even one discovered the day after you drive away. The Buyers Guide itself carries required disclosures beyond just the As-Is status: a list of the 14 major vehicle systems and defects that can occur, a suggestion to ask about a pre-purchase inspection, and a specific warning that spoken promises not put in writing don't count.
Why written information overrides a salesperson's promises
The Buyers Guide is explicit on this point: whatever the dealer or salesperson tells you verbally, the Buyers Guide's written terms take precedence in a dispute. If a salesperson tells you "don't worry, we'll cover any issues," but the Buyers Guide says "As Is – No Dealer Warranty," the written document is what actually governs — treat any verbal assurance with real skepticism unless it's put in writing.
What to check before signing an "As Is" purchase
- Confirm which Buyers Guide version is displayed — "As Is – No Dealer Warranty" or "Implied Warranties Only" — and check this matches what you were told verbally.
- Check whether your state actually permits "As Is" sales at all, since some states require warranty coverage regardless of what the dealer prefers.
- Get an independent pre-purchase inspection specifically because you'll have no recourse for a defect found afterward under a genuine "As Is" sale.
- Request a vehicle history report and check for open recalls before committing — the Buyers Guide itself points you toward these steps.
- Get any promise you actually want to rely on — a "we'll fix X before you take it" commitment — added in writing to the contract, not left as a spoken assurance.
What this means practically
- "As Is" removes essentially all warranty protection — any defect found after purchase is generally your responsibility to fix, not the dealer's.
- Whether "As Is" sales are even legal depends on your state — Maine and Wisconsin don't follow the federal rule at all, and other states require an "Implied Warranties Only" alternative.
- The written Buyers Guide overrides verbal promises in a dispute — get anything that matters to you in writing.
- An independent pre-purchase inspection matters even more for an "As Is" sale, since it's your only real check before you lose warranty recourse entirely.
Sources
- FTC — Dealer's Guide to the Used Car Rule: ftc.gov
- Center for Auto Safety — FTC Used Car Rule, required Buyers Guide disclosures: autosafety.org
Related Kibbo Tools
- Used Car Buying Inspection Checklist — inspect thoroughly before an As-Is purchase removes your recourse.
- Contract Red Flags Checklist — spot verbal promises that won't hold up against written "As Is" terms.