State Lemon Laws

Lemon Law Lawyers, Lawsuits, & Attorneys

Everyone has bought a bad car at least once. Have you really bought a lemon, though? The distinction is important from a legal standpoint because it can help you determine whether you have legal recourse including the possibility of just returning the bad vehicle.

The Lemon Law applies to new vehicles, including cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and other vehicles that develop problems covered by a written factory warranty. In order to qualify as a lemon under most state lemon laws, the car must have a substantial defect that occurred within a certain period of time after you bought the car and not be fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts. A lemon law hearing is your opportunity to prove to a Judge that your vehicle is a lemon. You or your lemon law lawyer must present your own testimony or that of witnesses.

Lemon laws vary from state to state (although there are similarities that they share). Go ahead and browse this sections for details in your state.

Owning a car that breaks down a lot is a really frustrating experience – you should talk to the seller first to see what they are willing to do for you. A lot of times they want to avoid getting lawyers involved as much as you do.

Federal Lemon Laws

The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects consumers who buy products with a written warranty worth more than $25. This federal act helps to prevent manufacturers from using unfair warranty agreements and makes it easier for a consumer to file a warranty suit against a manufacturer by allowing for the awarding of attorney’s fees.

The Uniform Commercial Code applies to the sale of products throughout the United States and provides the consumer with the right to a refund or replacement of a defective product. However, because this code does not define a “lemon,” the outcome of your case may vary depending on the court decision, as well as the safeguards under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and your state’s lemon law.

Lemon Law Articles

Arbitration Process in the Lemon Law

In comparison to court trials, the lemon law arbitration process is not as complicated. This is due to the fact that a judge and a jury are not required to…

Lemon Laws by State

Lemon laws vary by state, and some do not apply to leased or used vehicles. Some states have consumer protection laws that prohibit deceptive practices when selling used cars. This means that if you want to buy a used car, the dealer must answer all of your questions honestly so you know if it was a rental, salvaged, or involved in a serious accident in the past.

Because each state’s lemon law is different, it is best to consult with your local representative to become acquainted with it. If you encounter this problem and the manufacturer claims that you waived your rights when you signed the purchase contract, don’t believe them – because the contract is invalid and the lemon laws still apply.

Lemon Law Alabama

Alabama Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Alabama The Alabama Lemon Law provides consumers with protection against malfunctioning vehicles. If, during the Lemon Law coverage period, a consumer detects a nonconforming condition in their…

Alaska Lemon Laws

Alaska Lemon Laws Details Nobody wakes up declaring, “This is the day I’m going to buy a useless car.” The truth remains that only a very small amount of cars…

Arizona Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Arizona The state of Arizona’s lemon law is combined with the federal lemon law. The federal lemon law is also called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and allows…

Lemon Laws Arkansas

Arkansas Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Arkansas The state of Arkansas states laws in regard to lemon vehicles. These vehicles are those that have defects that alter the market value of the motor…

California Lemon Laws

California Lemon Law Details There is a long standing tradition in Hollywood to give credit to everyone associated with the making of a movie or TV show. From the stars,…

Colorado Lemon Laws

Lemon Laws in Colorado As a nation of consumers, we have come to expect a level of performance standards with regard to all the items we purchase. In other words,…

Connecticut Lemon Laws

Over the years, there have been plenty of words in the English language that have taken on more than one meaning. Such is the case with “lemon.” This word can…

Delaware Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Delaware Delaware has lemon law that is similar to those of other states. The lemon law is also known as he Magnuson-Moss Act and requires manufacturers to…

Lemon Laws Florida

Florida Lemon Laws

Lemon Laws in Florida In a state known for growing lemons, Florida Lemon Laws are actually meant to protect car buyers and not citrus farmers. The farmers have their own…

Georgia Lemon Laws

Georgia Lemon Laws Details Whenever you buy a new car, you are advised to keep up with the suggested maintenance program. Typically this would mean taking your car in every…

Hawaii Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Hawaii You might ask yourself, “What could possibly go wrong with living in a paradise like Hawaii?” Clearly, you haven’t been watching “Hawaii 5-O!” Even life in…

Lemon Laws Idaho

Idaho Lemon Laws

Lemon Laws Idaho Under Idaho’s Lemon Law, all new vehicles come with a warranty stating that the dealer has agreed to repair any non-conformities before the expiration of the warranty…

Illinois Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Illinois The state of Illinois has a long and proud history of sharing with the rest of the country their diversified culture, delectable cuisine, strong manufacturing centers…

Indiana Lemon Laws

Indiana Lemon Laws Details Folks from around Indiana like to refer to themselves as Hoosiers. It is a matter of state pride. They are also proud of the fact that…

Iowa Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Iowa There are some states that go full “gung ho” when it comes to consumer protection as it applies to car buying. Other states provide the minimum…

Kansas Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Kansas Lemon laws are similar from state to state. They follow a similar format but have slight differences. Some states have more emphatic requirements in some areas….

Kentucky Lemon Laws

Lemon Laws in Kentucky There is a lot of bargaining that goes on when you buy a car. Some folks thrive on the interaction with a car salesperson. Typically this…

Louisiana Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Louisiana Lemon law in the state of Louisiana is designed to help consumers relieve themselves of defective yet new motor vehicles. Motor vehicles are not the only…

Maine Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Maine The Maine Lemon Law is designed to protect and empower consumers. If you’re a resident of Maine and your car has experienced a serious defect, you…

Maryland Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Maryland Lemon laws in the state of Maryland are based on the federal lemon law known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This specific act provided compensation to…

Lemon Laws Massachusetts

Massachusetts Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Massachusetts The federal law and Massachusetts state law in relation to lemon products are also called the Magnuson-Moss Warrant Act. The lemon law was created to allow…

Michigan Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Michigan Lemon laws in the state of Michigan are also called the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. This law is designed to allow consumers to receive compensation for defective…

Lemon Laws Minnesota

Minnesota Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Minnesota Minnesota legislators call it 325F.655. Everybody else knows it as the Minnesota Lemon Law enacted to protect car buyers when they get stuck with a dud…

Mississippi Lemon Law

Mississippi Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Mississippi Lemon laws were conceived as a form of consumer protection to address the challenges and frustrations consumers faced when they purchased vehicles that failed to meet…

missouri lemon law

Missouri Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Missouri As a Missouri resident, you may be eligible for protection under the state’s Lemon Law if you’ve purchased a new motor vehicle to use for personal…

Montana Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Montana The state of Montana combines both state laws and federal laws in regards to lemon guidelines. Lemon laws in this state are designed to help consumers…

Nebraska Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Nebraska If you ever happen to find yourself thumbing through the Nebraska State Statues put together by their legislature you might want to take a gander at…

Nevada Lemon Laws

Nevada Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Nevada The U.S. Constitution grants many rights to the states. The theory goes that the federal government can’t fix everything all the time. This is especially true…

New Hampshire Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in New Hampshire Working along side federal laws, New Hampshire state lemon laws are in place to help consumers achieve compensation for motor vehicles and trucks that have…

New Jersey Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in New Jersey The Lemon Law in New Jersey is a consumer protection that safeguards those who purchase vehicles that develop recurring flaws or long periods of inoperability…

New Mexico Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in New Mexico The state of New Mexico combines both its own laws and federal laws together in regard to lemon products. These combined laws state that consumers…

New York Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in New York In the state of New York only certain motor vehicles can qualify for lemon standards. These include motor vehicles that have been leased, transferred, registered,…

North Carolina Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in North Carolina Unlike other state lemon law requirements, the state of North Carolina includes the injury to consumers due to faulty but new motor vehicles to the…

North Dakota Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in North Dakota North Dakota lemon law states that the motor vehicle consumer has the right to request a refund or replacement of a new motor vehicle if…

Ohio Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Ohio Lemon laws are designed to help consumers obtain compensation for consumer goods that have been deemed defective directly from the manufacturer. Ohio lemon law includes trucks,…

Oklahoma Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Oklahoma The laws in regards to lemon laws in the state of Oklahoma are rather short in comparison to other states’ lemon laws. Oklahoma lemon laws cover…

Oregon Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Oregon The lemon law was passed by the 1983 Legislature. This law allows citizens who purchased lemon products, usually motor vehicles, the right to have their purchase…

Lemon Law Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Lemon Law (State Statue Title 73, Chapter 28, §§ 1951-1963)  is a key consumer protection that guarantees the safety and reliability of new vehicles purchased…

Rhode Island Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Rhode Island Under the state of Rhode Island‘s lemon law a manufacturer is required to return a motor vehicle to its proper condition under the implied warranty…

South Carolina Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in South Carolina For many years, car salesmen have gotten a bad rap. Some of that is obviously deserved. It’s hard to explain why buying a new car…

South Dakota Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in South Dakota Lemon laws vary with each state, though they are similar to each other. The laws in the state of South Dakota are based on consumer…

Tennessee Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Tennessee If you’ve recently purchased a vehicle in Tennessee that has turned out to be a lemon, you may have heard of a law called the Tennessee…

Lemon Laws Texas

Texas Lemon Laws

Lemon Laws in Texas In order for a car to qualify as a lemon under TEXAS lemon laws, the car must have a substantial defect that occurred within a certain…

Utah Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Utah One of the most favorite Latin expressions embraced by any type of manufacturer is “caveat emptor.” Loosely translated, this means “buyer beware.” When the maker of…

Vermont Lemon Laws

Lemon laws in the state of Vermont are only valid for certain vehicles. These include only passenger vehicles and exclude motorized highway building equipment, tractors, road-making appliances, motorcycles, snowmobiles, mopeds,…

Virginia Lemon Laws

In the world of automobiles, to be stuck with a lemon is to have a car that has essentially been rendered useless through no fault of your own. Because buying…

Washington Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Washington The state of Washington has organized a system to help motor vehicle owners purchase products fairly. Washington laws allow individuals to request arbitration hearings with the…

West Virginia Lemon Laws

The state of West Virginia requires all motor vehicle manufacturers to meet specific responsibilities and obligations for motor vehicles under warranties. This means that as long as a vehicle is…

Wisconsin Lemon Laws

Defining a Wisconsin Lemon Definitions for a lemon vary from state to state. In order for a lemon to be legal in Wisconsin a new motor vehicle must currently be…

Wyoming Lemon Laws

Lemon Law in Wyoming Lemon laws require that the company who manufactured a product must refund, replace, or repair the product when the product malfunctions. Lemon laws most often are…

What is the Lemon Law?

People who buy cars are protected by the Lemon law. If the vehicle he or she purchased fails to meet quality and performance standards, the manufacturer is required to repair the defects specified in the warranty within a certain period of time or mileage, whichever comes first.

If the same problem occurs after the repair, this is considered a breach of contract with regard to the warranty, and the manufacturer is required to provide you with a partial or full refund. You might even get a new car.

A breach of warranty typically entails four repair attempts on the same problem or anything directly related to it within six months to a year. It could also indicate that the vehicle is no longer operational within a year of purchase or for the duration of the express warranty, whichever comes first.

An express warranty may be the remainder of the manufacturer’s warranty, a separate limited warranty provided by the dealer, or an extended warranty or service contract purchased at the time the vehicle was purchased.

There are steps you must take to determine whether the Lemon law applies to you. To begin, if there is a problem with the vehicle, you must notify the manufacturer. When the car is returned to you and the same thing occurs, keep track of it by keeping repair or service receipts so you can argue your case.

In some states, an arbitration procedure determines whether you will receive a refund or a replacement. This program is very objective and completely free. If you are dissatisfied with the decision, you may bypass it and take the matter to court.

If things go your way, you may be able to get a refund and reimbursement for other charges you have incurred. You have the option of getting a replacement car instead. Just make sure you’re happy with what they’re replacing it with.

However, the Lemon law does not apply to all vehicles. Motorcycles with engine displacements of less than 750 cubic centimeters, trucks with gross weight ratings of more than 19,000 pounds, motor homes, and vehicles used by a business with a fleet of more than ten vehicles are examples of these.

So, consult with your attorney or hire one who is well-versed in lemon law. Some provide free consultations, and if you win the case, you won’t have to pay anything because the manufacturer will cover the attorney’s fees.