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Lemon Law by State — Requirements for Every US State

Every US state has a lemon law, but the requirements vary significantly: some states cover used vehicles, some only cover the first 12 months, and the number of repair attempts required ranges from 2 to 4. Find your state below.

What Is Lemon Law?

Lemon laws are state statutes that require a manufacturer to replace or buy back a vehicle when it has a substantial defect that cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. All 50 US states and the District of Columbia have some form of lemon law protection, though the scope and strength varies considerably.

In addition to state lemon laws, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act provides additional protections for consumers with written warranties. Under Magnuson-Moss, a manufacturer that cannot repair a defect within a reasonable number of attempts may be required to provide a refund or replacement regardless of state law.

Few

States covering used cars

CA, NY, WA among the notable ones

3–4

Typical repair attempt threshold

CA requires only 2 for safety defects

12–24 mo

Typical coverage window

Or mileage limit, whichever comes first

Lemon Law Requirements by State

Covers used cars with warranty

New vehicles only; DMV filing required

15 days out of service threshold

Strong used car protections

Short window — act quickly

Covers motorcycles and motor homes

Only 8 days out of service required

Average protections

No flood title brand — be cautious

Strong consumer protections

Among the weaker state laws

Flood title washing risk

18-month window

20 cumulative days threshold

Some implied warranty protections

Showing 15 of 50 states with detailed guides. Additional state pages are being added. For states not listed, consult your state attorney general's consumer protection office.

Tips for Pursuing a Lemon Law Claim

-Document every repair visit: date in, date out, odometer reading, technician notes, and parts replaced
-Keep all written communications with the dealer and manufacturer
-Request written repair orders for every visit — verbal claims are harder to prove
-Track cumulative days out of service — this is often a separate, easier-to-meet threshold
-Consult a lemon law attorney before filing — many work on contingency with fees paid by the manufacturer if you win
-File within the statutory window — claims filed after the time limit are typically barred
-Run a VIN history report to document recall history and prior complaints that support your case

Related Guides

Lemon Law — Does Your Car Qualify?

General lemon law guide and how to assess whether your vehicle may qualify.

Salvage Title Guide

What salvage and rebuilt titles mean, and the risks of buying these vehicles.

How to detect odometer rollback before you buy a used car.

Flood Damaged Cars

How to spot flood damage and why hurricane cars are risky purchases.

Check Your Vehicle Before Filing a Lemon Law Claim

A free VIN report documents recalls, NHTSA complaints, and service history — useful evidence for any lemon law case.

Free VIN Report