Lemon laws compensate car buyers whose cars repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards. These vehicles are known as lemons. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 is the cornerstone of federal lemon law, which only covers products with warranties.
Introduction to Lemon Laws
Each state has its own lemon law. In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, these laws apply to new vehicle purchases, but in some states, they also apply to used car purchases. Consumers may only have a limited time to report their purchase as a lemon.
As a consumer, you may complain to the state or another entity in your state if the issue arises. If the vehicle is irreparable, you can sue the manufacturer. This article provides a quick overview of lemon law rights in each state to help protect yourself after you purchase or lease a new or used car.
General Lemon Laws
There are federal lemon laws that may help consumers who don't live in a state with a used-car lemon law or whose state laws do not apply to their specific situation:
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: In this law, implied warranties cannot be disclaimed when a car offers an express written warranty. Additionally, it provides for the award of attorney fees in specific circumstances.
- The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC): Under the UCC, a used-car sale assumes a warranty that the vehicle is safe to drive. Used-car dealers, however, are generally allowed to disclaim implied warranties if the vehicle is sold "as is." When dealers are prohibited from disclaiming implied warranties, the UCC can be more effective than a lemon law on used cars.
- The Federal Trade Commission's Used Car Rule: Each used car listed for sale must include a Buyer's Guide, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires. In addition to the warranty information, it should include a list of the significant defects on used cars, including a breakdown of repair costs covered by the dealer's warranty and any other information that may be important to the buyer.
States with Lemon Laws
Lemon laws are rooted in manufacturers breaching warranties. Typically, a manufacturer's warranty covers any repairs to consumer goods or vehicles. The warranty is a legal form of guarantee, just like the car bill of sale you get after the purchase. Lemon laws impose these legal obligations on sellers, manufacturers, or both.
Vehicles not covered by warranty may also be subject to lemon laws. In particular, if the seller has not disclosed any important information to the buyer, such as previous damage to the vehicle.
Most state laws define a lemon as follows:
- The car has a substantial defect covered by the warranty that occurred within a specific time frame or mileage
- The problem is irreparable after three reasonable attempts to fix it.
How Lemon Laws Differ Among States
Lemon laws vary from state to state based on four key factors:
- Transaction type: Some state lemon laws apply only to new vehicles, while others cover used and leased vehicles.
- Vehicle type: Most state lemon laws apply to vehicles purchased by individuals or households. Depending on the state, boats, RVs, and motorcycles may also be protected. Ensure you get your motorcycle bill of sale as evidence in case of a lawsuit.
- Duration of protection: In most states, lemon laws only protect for a limited period. It is measured in miles or months, such as 12 months or 12,000 miles.
- Seller's duty to repair: There is a limit on how many attempts a manufacturer or seller can make to fix a defect under state lemon laws. The general rule of thumb is four attempts.
Lemon laws for used cars by state
Depending on the state, some lemon laws exclude used vehicles, while others don't mention them. The various statutory guidelines of each state will determine a consumer's eligibility if a lemon law does not explicitly exclude used vehicles.
There are a variety of limitations to lemon laws for used cars in each state. Examples include:
- In some states, used vehicles must be purchased and registered in the same place.
- Some regulations apply only to dealership sales, others to both, and some to demonstrators and used vehicles.
- Used vehicle lemon laws refer to the original purchase date rather than the date of the used vehicle purchase in most states.
- For lemon law disputes, states have their deadlines determined by the age and mileage of the vehicle.
- Some states only address dealer or manufacturer issues within a specific period.
The states with lemon Laws for used cars include:
If you are planning on buying or selling a used car in one of these states, make sure you follow the particular law in place.
Lemon laws for RVs by state
Lemon laws protect lemon RV motor home buyers in 27 states. Seven states cover the entire vehicle, including living facilities, while ten states exclude or exempt facilities for cooking, sleeping, waste disposal, etc.
Customers in these states can expect coverage for such issues as water leaks, wind noise, and defects in the cabin. A vehicle's chassis or self-propelled portion is only covered in 10 states.
RV Lemon Laws by State
How Lemon Laws Protect You
The laws governing vehicles with issues vary from state to state. Consider your state's lemon law before deciding to sue a manufacturer. If your car appears to be a lemon, speak directly with the manufacturer or dealer and attempt to resolve the issue.
Contact your state's attorney general's office or the consumer protection agency for recourse and actions if nothing gets resolved. In any case, ensure any important transaction you perform has a bill of sale.
Start your Car Bill of Sale now.
Helpful Resources:
Lemon Law America - Statutes by State
Lemon laws compensate car buyers whose cars repeatedly fail to meet quality and performance standards. These vehicles are known as lemons. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act of 1975 is the cornerstone of federal lemon law, which only covers products with warranties.
Introduction to Lemon Laws
Each state has its own lemon law. In all 50 states and the District of Columbia, these laws apply to new vehicle purchases, but in some states, they also apply to used car purchases. Consumers may only have a limited time to report their purchase as a lemon.
As a consumer, you may complain to the state or another entity in your state if the issue arises. If the vehicle is irreparable, you can sue the manufacturer. This article provides a quick overview of lemon law rights in each state to help protect yourself after you purchase or lease a new or used car.
General Lemon Laws
There are federal lemon laws that may help consumers who don't live in a state with a used-car lemon law or whose state laws do not apply to their specific situation:
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act: In this law, implied warranties cannot be disclaimed when a car offers an express written warranty. Additionally, it provides for the award of attorney fees in specific circumstances.
- The Uniform Commercial Code (UCC): Under the UCC, a used-car sale assumes a warranty that the vehicle is safe to drive. Used-car dealers, however, are generally allowed to disclaim implied warranties if the vehicle is sold "as is." When dealers are prohibited from disclaiming implied warranties, the UCC can be more effective than a lemon law on used cars.
- The Federal Trade Commission's Used Car Rule: Each used car listed for sale must include a Buyer's Guide, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) requires. In addition to the warranty information, it should include a list of the significant defects on used cars, including a breakdown of repair costs covered by the dealer's warranty and any other information that may be important to the buyer.
States with Lemon Laws
Lemon laws are rooted in manufacturers breaching warranties. Typically, a manufacturer's warranty covers any repairs to consumer goods or vehicles. The warranty is a legal form of guarantee, just like the car bill of sale you get after the purchase. Lemon laws impose these legal obligations on sellers, manufacturers, or both.
Vehicles not covered by warranty may also be subject to lemon laws. In particular, if the seller has not disclosed any important information to the buyer, such as previous damage to the vehicle.
Most state laws define a lemon as follows:
- The car has a substantial defect covered by the warranty that occurred within a specific time frame or mileage
- The problem is irreparable after three reasonable attempts to fix it.
How Lemon Laws Differ Among States
Lemon laws vary from state to state based on four key factors:
- Transaction type: Some state lemon laws apply only to new vehicles, while others cover used and leased vehicles.
- Vehicle type: Most state lemon laws apply to vehicles purchased by individuals or households. Depending on the state, boats, RVs, and motorcycles may also be protected. Ensure you get your motorcycle bill of sale as evidence in case of a lawsuit.
- Duration of protection: In most states, lemon laws only protect for a limited period. It is measured in miles or months, such as 12 months or 12,000 miles.
- Seller's duty to repair: There is a limit on how many attempts a manufacturer or seller can make to fix a defect under state lemon laws. The general rule of thumb is four attempts.
Lemon laws for used cars by state
Depending on the state, some lemon laws exclude used vehicles, while others don't mention them. The various statutory guidelines of each state will determine a consumer's eligibility if a lemon law does not explicitly exclude used vehicles.
There are a variety of limitations to lemon laws for used cars in each state. Examples include:
- In some states, used vehicles must be purchased and registered in the same place.
- Some regulations apply only to dealership sales, others to both, and some to demonstrators and used vehicles.
- Used vehicle lemon laws refer to the original purchase date rather than the date of the used vehicle purchase in most states.
- For lemon law disputes, states have their deadlines determined by the age and mileage of the vehicle.
- Some states only address dealer or manufacturer issues within a specific period.
The states with lemon Laws for used cars include:
If you are planning on buying or selling a used car in one of these states, make sure you follow the particular law in place.
Lemon laws for RVs by state
Lemon laws protect lemon RV motor home buyers in 27 states. Seven states cover the entire vehicle, including living facilities, while ten states exclude or exempt facilities for cooking, sleeping, waste disposal, etc.
Customers in these states can expect coverage for such issues as water leaks, wind noise, and defects in the cabin. A vehicle's chassis or self-propelled portion is only covered in 10 states.
RV Lemon Laws by State
How Lemon Laws Protect You
The laws governing vehicles with issues vary from state to state. Consider your state's lemon law before deciding to sue a manufacturer. If your car appears to be a lemon, speak directly with the manufacturer or dealer and attempt to resolve the issue.
Contact your state's attorney general's office or the consumer protection agency for recourse and actions if nothing gets resolved. In any case, ensure any important transaction you perform has a bill of sale.
Start your Car Bill of Sale now.
Helpful Resources:
Lemon Law America - Statutes by State
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