Find Legal Topics > Cars Laws > Lemon Law by State

Lemon Law by State

Lemon Law by State

What is the Lemon Law?

Lemon laws are both federal and state laws in the United States that give a remedy for purchasers of motor vehicles in order to compensate them for vehicles that repeatedly are unable to meet quality and performance standards. These motors vehicles are referred to as lemons. The federal lemon law, more formally known as the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act protects United States citizens of all states. The lemon laws for each state vary and may not necessarily apply to leased and used cars. The rights provided to consumers by a lemon law can exceed the warranties explicitly expressed in the purchase contracts of the vehicles. Lemon law is the common name for these laws, but each individual state has different names for the acts and laws involved.

The lemon law on a federal level covers everything mechanical, not just motor vehicles. The federal lemon law also states that the warrantor of the product or vehicle may be obligated to pay the fees involved for the prevailing party's attorney in a successful lemon suit, as do most lemon laws on a state level.

At the very core of most state lemon laws is the breach of warranty by the manufacturer. A manufacturer's warranty is the legal document that makes the manufacturer liable for any repairs to the consumer's good or vehicle. The warranty is a legal form of guarantee. An express warranty is usually a written warranty. Unlike an express warranty, an implied warranty is not written. A lemon law imposes these legal obligations on the seller, the manufacturer, or both as a matter of public policy. These policies found in the lemon laws can vary on a state by state basis. 

Lemon laws may also apply to situations when the vehicle is not under actually warranty, particularly if the seller of the vehicle failed to disclose any critical information such as previous damage of the vehicle to the buyer. Knowingly buying a car in the "as is" condition does not eliminate the buyer's rights under the applicable lemon laws of the state.  Lemon laws are not limited to just automobiles and passenger cars. Lemon laws can also apply to boats, RVs, motorcycle, and even wheelchairs.

Alabama Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any motor vehicle intended mainly for operation and use on the public state highways that is self-propelled. The laws exclude motor homes or vehicles with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 10,000 pounds.• Repair Interval: 30 calendar days out of service or 3 attempts to repair.• Coverage Period: 12,000 miles or 1 year.

Alaska Lemon Law

• Coverage: All land vehicle that have at least four wheels, that is self-propelled due to a motor, and is usually used for family, household or personal purposes, and has to be registered by law. It does not cover tractors, farm vehicles, or vehicles designed mainly for off-road use.
• Repair Interval: 30 calendar days out of service or 3 attempts to repair.
• Coverage Period: The warranty period or 1 year.

Arizona Lemon Law

• Coverage: All self-propelled vehicles that are only designated for the transportation of property or people over public highways. The chassis section of a motor home is covered under the lemon law.
• Repair Interval: 30 calendar days out of service 4 attempts to repair.
• Coverage Period: 2 years, warranty period, or 24,000 miles.

Arkansas Lemon Law

• Coverage: All self-propelled vehicles purchased, leased, or licensed and mainly designed for transporting people or property over the highways and public streets, excluding include motorcycles, mopeds, living facilities of a motor home, and vehicles over a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds. This 10,000 pound limit is not applicable to motor homes.
• Repair Interval: 1 attempt to repair for a defect that may cause serious injury or death, or 3 attempts to repair the same defect or 5 attempts to repair for different problems, or 30 calendar days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 2 years or 24,000 miles.

California Lemon Law

• Coverage: A new vehicle that is bought for use or used mainly for personal, household, or family purposes. Coverage includes the chassis section of motor homes.
• Repair Interval: 2 attempts to repair for a defect that can potentially cause death or serious injury or 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 18 months or 18,000 miles

Colorado Lemon Law

• Coverage: A private self-propelled passenger vehicle, including vans and pickup trucks, designed mainly for travel on public highways and used to carry a maximum of 10 people. Coverage excludes motorcycles and motor homes.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Connecticut Lemon Law

• Coverage: Passenger and commercial motor vehicles.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 2 years or 18,000 miles.

Delaware Lemon Law

• Coverage: Passenger motor vehicles. Does not include motor homes, other than the chassis portion, or motorcycles.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Florida Lemon Law

• Coverage: A new motor vehicle that is leased or purchased primarily for family, personal, or household purposes. Coverage does not include vehicles that run only on tracks, trucks over 10,000 pounds gross weight, off-road vehicles, the living facilities of recreational vehicles, mopeds, or motorcycles.
• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 24 months.

Georgia Lemon Law

• Coverage: All self-propelled vehicles, designed primarily for the transportation of people or property over public highways that was purchased, leased, or registered. Coverage applies only to the chassis of a motor home. Coverage does not include trucks or motorcycles with 10,000 pounds or more gross vehicle weight.
• Repair Interval: 1 repair attempt in the braking or steering system or 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service for other problems.
• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Hawaii Lemon Law

• Coverage: All self-propelled vehicles designed primarily for the transportation of people or property over public highways and streets which are used primarily for family, household, or personal purposes. Coverage does not include motorcycles, mopeds, motor scooters, or other vehicles over 10,000 pounds gross vehicle weight.
• Repair Interval: 1 repair attempt for a defect that might cause death or serious injury or 3 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: Warranty period, 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Idaho Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new motor vehicle used for personal, family or household purposes or personal business use. Coverage does not include a farm tractor, trailer motorcycle, or any vehicle with a gross laden weight exceeding 12,000 pounds.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: Warranty period, 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Illinois Lemon Law

• Coverage: New cars. Light trucks and vans less than 8,000 pounds. Coverage also includes recreational vehicles excluding trailers. Coverage also excludes motorcycles.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Indiana Lemon Law

• Coverage: A self-propelled vehicle that has a gross vehicle weight of up to 10,000 pounds and is primarily intended for operation and use on public highways. Coverage does not include conversion vans, farm machinery, motor homes, motorcycles, snowmobiles, mopeds, or vehicles designed mainly for off-road use.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 18 months or 18,000 miles.

Iowa Lemon Law

• Coverage: A self-propelled vehicle leased or purchased and primarily made for the transportation of people or property over public highways and streets. Coverage does not include motorcycles, mopeds, motor homes, or vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight over 10,000 pounds. 
• Repair Interval: 1 repair attempt for a defect that might cause death or serious injury or 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service for other problems.
• Coverage Period: 2 years or 24,000 miles.

Kansas Lemon Law

• Coverage: A new motor vehicle that is leased or sold, and is registered with a gross weight of a maximum of 12,000 pounds. Coverage for the Kansas Lemon law does not include the customized parts of any motor vehicles that have been modified or added on to by a second stage manufacturer, first stage converter or a second stage converter.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair for the same defect, or 10 attempts to repair for seperate problems or 30 calendar days out of service.
• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Kentucky Lemon Law

• Coverage: All vehicles except conversion motor homes, farm machinery, mopeds, vans, motorcycles, and any vehicles with more than 2 axles.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 days out of service.
• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Louisiana Lemon Law

• Coverage: All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight less than 10,000 pounds except motorcycles, motor homes, and vehicles used for commercial purposes only.
• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service
• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Maine Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any vehicle leased or purchased. Coverage excludes commercial vehicles over 8,000 pounds.
• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 15 business days out of service
• Coverage Period: 2 years or 18,000 miles.

Maryland Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any truck or passenger car with a rated capacity of up to 1 ton.• Repair Interval: 1 repair attempt in the braking or steering system or 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service for other mechanical problems.• Coverage Period: 15 months or 15,000 miles. 12 months or 12,000 miles for leased vehicles.

Massachusetts Lemon Law

• Coverage: All vehicles, except off-road vehicles, motor homes, motorcycles, and vehicles used for commercial purposes.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 15 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: 1 year or 15,000 miles.

Michigan Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new car, truck, or van purchased by a resident of Michigan for family or personal use.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Minnesota Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new motor vehicle used for family, household, or personal purposes at least 40% of the time.• Repair Interval: 1 repair attempt in the braking or steering system or 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service for other problems.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 2 years.

Mississippi Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any motor vehicles used mainly for family, household, or personal purposes. Coverage of Mississippi lemon laws excludes off-road vehicles, motorcycle, and mopeds. Coverage does include the chassis of a motor home.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 15 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Missouri Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new motor vehicle, used primarily for family, personal, or household purposes. Coverage does not include commercial motor vehicles, mopeds, motorcycles, off-road motor vehicles, or recreational vehicles. • Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Montana Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any motor vehicle, including the nonresidential part of a motor home, self-propelled and designed mainly to transport people or property upon public highways and roads. Coverage under the Montana lemon law does not include trucks with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more or motorcycles.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service• Coverage Period: 2 years or 18,000 miles.

Nebraska Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new motor vehicle typically used for houseful, family, personal, or business purposes, excluding motor homes.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 40 days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Nevada Lemon Law

• Coverage: A new motor vehicle normally used for personal, family or household purposes, with the exception of an off-road vehicle or a motor home.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

New Hampshire Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any four-wheel motor vehicle that has a gross weight which does not exceed 9,000 pounds. This also includes off-highway recreational vehicles, motorcycles, and mopeds.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service• Coverage Period: Warranty period plus an additional 1 year.

New Jersey Lemon Law

• Coverage: All passenger automobiles and motorcycles. Coverage also includes the non-living sections of a motor home.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.• Coverage Period: 2 years or 18,000 miles.

New Mexico Lemon Law• Coverage: All passenger motor vehicles including automobiles, pickup trucks, motorcycles or vans normally used for family, household, or personal purposes that have a gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 10,000 pounds.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

New York Lemon Law


• Coverage: All non-commercial motor vehicles leased or purchased, with the exception of motorcycles, certain motor homes, and all off-road vehicles.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.• Coverage Period: 2 years or 18,000 miles.

North Carolina Lemon Law

• Coverage: All new motor vehicles other than any house trailers, provided that the motor vehicle does not have a gross vehicle weight that exceeds 10,000 pounds. This coverage includes motorcycles, pickup trucks, and most vans.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or more than 20 days out of service during any 12 month period.• Coverage Period: 2 years or 24,000 miles.

North Dakota Lemon Law

• Coverage: Passenger vehicles and trucks that have a gross vehicle weight of up to 10,000 pounds, usually used for personal, household, or family purposes.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Ohio Lemon Law

• Coverage: Passenger cars, light trucks (trucks cannot exceed one ton load capacity and they cannot be used for business), or motorcycles. Coverage also includes the chassis section of motor homes.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service. 8 attempts to repair for different problems. 1 attempt to repair condition likely to cause death or serious bodily injury• Coverage Period: 1 year or 18,000 miles.

Oklahoma Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor driven vehicles that are required to be registered, excluding motor vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight above 10,000 pounds and the living facilities of any motor home.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 45 days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Oregon Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new motor vehicles normally used for family, household, or personal purposes.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Pennsylvania Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any motor vehicles used mainly for family, personal, or household purposes except motorcycles, motor homes, and off-road vehicles.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service• Coverage Period: Warranty period, 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Rhode Island Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, or vans with a gross vehicle weight that does not exceed 10,000 pounds.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service• Coverage Period: 1 year or 15,000 miles.

South Carolina Lemon Law

• Coverage: Passenger motor vehicles including cars, small trucks, and vans.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

South Dakota Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor vehicles intended mainly for operation and use on public roads and highways and are self-propelled. Coverage does not include any motor homes or motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds or more.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair plus 1 final attempt.• Coverage Period: 1 year or 12,000 miles.

Tennessee Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor vehicles not including motor homes, motorized bicycles, recreational vehicles, off-road vehicles, and motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight over 10,000 pounds.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Texas Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any new vehicles, including cars, vans, motorcycles, trucks, motor homes, all-terrain vehicles, and towable recreational vehicles.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 days out of service. 2 attempts to repair for a serious safety hazard.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Utah Lemon Law

• Coverage: Any cars or trucks with a gross vehicle weight less than 12,000 pounds, or a motor home.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Vermont Lemon Law

• Coverage: All passenger vehicles and trucks with a gross vehicle weight less than 10,000 pounds. Coverage does not include motorcycles, mopeds, snowmobiles, or the living section of recreational vehicles.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service.• Coverage Period: Warranty period.

Virginia Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor vehicle used in large part for family, household, or personal purposes.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service. 1 repair attempt for a serious safety defect.• Coverage Period: 18 months.

Washington Lemon Law

• Coverage: All new self-propelled vehicles, including new motorcycles, mainly designed for the transportation of people or property over public highways and roads. Coverage does not include living sections of motor homes or trucks with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 19,000.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service. 2 attempts for a serious safety defect.• Coverage Period: 2 years or 24,000 miles.

West Virginia Lemon Law

• Coverage: All Passenger vehicles, vans, pickup trucks, and the chassis of a motor home used  mainly for family, household, or personal purposes.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 calendar days out of service. 1 attempt for a condition likely to cause death or serious bodily injury.• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Wisconsin Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor vehicles except mopeds and semi-trailers or trailers designed to be used in combination with a truck tractor or truck.• Repair Interval: 4 attempts to repair or 30 days out of service• Coverage Period: Warranty period or 1 year.

Wyoming Lemon Law

• Coverage: All motor vehicles with a gross vehicle weight less than 10,000 pounds.• Repair Interval: 3 attempts to repair or 30 business days out of service• Coverage Period: 1 year.

Related Topics