Automobile Lemon Laws

US Lemon Law Map

The goal of this site to make a one stop shopping repository of information on each state’s Auto Lemon Laws. As information for a particular state is added, you’ll be able to access the Lemon Law information by clicking on the “Categories” option on the right-hand side of the screen or the menu options above. While this site summarizes the statutes of each state in an easy to read fashion, please visit the individual state’s website for the true nuts, bolts and newly added information on the Lemon Law.

A Little About Lemon Laws:

Lemon Laws were enacted to protect the consumer from purchasing new and/or used vehicles with little to no recourse. Before we discuss the Lemon Law, let’s back up to the lemon law’s predecessor, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

Enacted in 1975, the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is a federal law that protects consumer by requiring manufacturers and sellers of consumer products to give detailed warranty information for the products manufactured and sold. The purpose of the law is to protect consumers and ensure that they understand the warranty terms and conditions on products purchased. It’s a way of letting the consumer know what to expect from the manufacturer/seller in the event of product malfunction.

Few Magnuson-Moss Warranty Facts to be Aware Of

The law is an improvement over the “buyer beware” climate prior to the enactment of the law, but consumers must realize that although the act offers some protection, there are a few situations that are not under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.

The Magnus-Moss Warranty Act Does Not:

  1. It does not force the seller/manufacturer to offer the warranty in writing. However, if the business does decide to put the warranty in writing, it must comply with terms of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
  2. The Magnus Moss Warranty Act does not apply to oral contracts. So, if a seller or manufacturer “advises” you of something, make sure to get it in writing.
  3. The Act applies to goods only. It does not apply to services. The caveat is that if the good/service is part of the workmanship for making a repair, then the Act applies.
  4. The act applies to consumer products only. It does not apply to products sold for use in commercial businesses.

For more information on the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act visit the Federal Trade Commission website .

State Lemon Laws

Now that we have a little history under our belt, let’s discuss State Car Lemon Laws. Car Lemon Laws are an extension of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty that has been adapted by each state. It applies to motorized vehicles including new, used, leased and in some states motorized wheelchairs.

In essence, the Lemon Law protects the consumer by requiring the auto manufacturer/seller(authorized dealer) to take back ownership of a defective vehicle and offer full refund to consumers if the auto manufacturer has made numerous attempts and fail to repair a reoccurring problem. Each state’s Lemon Law requirement for the number of repair attempts and number of cumulative days the vehicle was out of commission due to the malfunction vary.