Car buyer, beware

Lynbrook’s Legacy Infiniti, located at 855 Sunrise Highway, is one of two car dealerships that have been accused by Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of misrepresenting used cars for sale. The dealerships, Cuomo said, without telling customers, sold cars that had been used principally as rental vehicles.

Cuomo’s office is distributing more than $100,000 in restitution to Legacy Infinit customers as well as JM Hyundai in New Rochelle that were misrepresented by the dealerships.

Additionally, Cuomo’s office reached an agreement with a now-closed Centereach dealership that failed to refund thousands of dollars in deposits for vehicles that were never ultimately sold.

In the first case, an agreement with Cuomo’s office calls for JM Hyundai Legacy Infiniti to refund 10 percent of the purchase price to 75 customers who unknowingly purchased cars that had previously been used as rental vehicles, which is a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law. JM Hyundai paid $90,246.40 and Legacy Infiniti paid $19,254.30 in restitution. The checks were sent to customers April 23.

Additionally, the two dealerships paid penalties and costs to the state — JM Hyundai: $22,500 and Legacy Infiniti: $5,000.

“Buying a car is a major purchase and consumers should expect honesty and integrity, not fraud and deception, from these dealerships,” said Cuomo.

The J.M. Hyundai and Legacy Infinity cases were handled by Assistant Attorney General Nicholas Garin under the supervision of Assistant Attorney General-in-Charge of the Poughkeepsie Regional Office Vincent Bradley.