Lemon Laws by State: Rules, Deadlines & Agencies

The short answer

Every state has a lemon law, but the details change at the state line: how many repairs count, how long the protection window lasts, whether you must notify the manufacturer, where you file and how long you have. Pick your state below for its verified rules and a checker set to that state.

We publish a state only after every rule is traced to its official statute or agency. Each guide shows the date we last verified it.

State lemon laws compared

The three largest lemon law states by search demand, side by side. Each rule links to its source on the state’s own page.

Lemon law rules compared in every verified state (each state’s verified date is on its page)
Rule	Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas	California	Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware	District of Columbia	Florida	Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho	Illinois	Indiana	Iowa	Kansas	Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland	Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi	Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada	New Hampshire	New Jersey	New Mexico	New York	North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma	Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina	South Dakota	Texas	Utah	Vermont	Virginia	Washington	West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming
Statute	Ala. Code §§ 8-20A-1 to 8-20A-6	Alaska Stat. §§ 45.45.300–45.45.360	Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1265	Act 297 of 1993	Cal. Civ. Code § 1790 et seq.; Tanner Act, § 1793.22	C.R.S. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110 (as amended by SB 24-192)	Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-179 to 42-190	6 Del. C. §§ 5001–5009	D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-509	Fla. Stat. ch. 681	O.C.G.A. § 10-1-780 et seq.	Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I	Idaho Code §§ 48-901 to 48-913	815 ILCS 380	Ind. Code § 24-5-13	Iowa Code ch. 322G	K.S.A. 50-645, 50-646	KRS 367.840 to 367.846; 367.860 to 367.870	La. R.S. 51:1941–1948	10 M.R.S. §§ 1161–1169	Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1501 et seq.	Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½	Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410	Minn. Stat. § 325F.665	Miss. Code §§ 63-17-151 to 63-17-165	Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 407.560–407.579	Mont. Code Ann. §§ 61-4-501 to 61-4-533	Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709	NRS 597.600 to 597.688	N.H. RSA 357-D:1 to 357-D:12	N.J.S.A. 56:12-29 et seq.	NMSA 1978 §§ 57-16A-1 to 57-16A-9	N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a	N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-351 to 20-351.10	N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22	Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71–1345.78	15 Okla. Stat. §§ 901, 901.1	ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418	73 P.S. § 1951 et seq. (Act 28 of 1984)	R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-5.2-1 to 31-5.2-14	S.C. Code §§ 56-28-10 to 56-28-110	S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-6D-1 to 32-6D-11	Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2301, subch. M	Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8	9 V.S.A. §§ 4170–4181	Va. Code §§ 59.1-207.9 to 59.1-207.16:1	Rev. Code Wash. ch. 19.118	W. Va. Code §§ 46A-6A-1 to 46A-6A-9	Wis. Stat. § 218.0171	Wyo. Stat. § 40-17-101
Repair test	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	3 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect	3 repairs, same defect (after notice)	4 repairs, same defect	4 repairs, same defect (after notice)
Safety test	None	None	None	1 repairs	2 repairs	2 repairs	2 repairs	None	1 repairs	None	1 repairs	1 repairs	1 repairs	None	None	1 repairs	None	None	None	1 repairs	1 repairs	None	None	1 repairs	None	None	None	None	None	None	1 repairs	None	None	None	None	1 repairs	None	1 repairs	None	None	None	None	2 repairs	None	None	1 repairs	2 repairs	1 repairs	None	None
Days out of service	30+	30+ business days	30+	30+	More than 30	24+ business days	30+	More than 30	30+	30+	30+	30+ business days	30+ business days	30+ business days	30+ business days	30+	30+	30+	45+	15+ business days	30+	15+ business days	30+	30+ business days	15+ business days	30+ business days	30+ business days	40+	30+	30+ business days	20+	30+ business days	30+	20+ business days	30+ business days	30+	30+ business days	30+	30+	30+	30+	30+	30+	30+ business days	30+	30+	30+	30+	30+	30+ business days
Window	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles	18 months / 18,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 18,000 miles	24 months, no mileage limit	24 months / 24,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	12 months / 12,000 miles	18 months / 18,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months / 12,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	36 months / 18,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 18,000 miles	12 months / 15,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 18,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	600 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 18,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months / 18,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months / 12,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	12 months / 15,000 miles	12 months / 12,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles	24 months / 24,000 miles, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	600 months, or warranty end if sooner	18 months, no mileage limit	24 months / 24,000 miles	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, or warranty end if sooner	12 months, no mileage limit
Written notice	Certified-mail notice; final attempt	Certified-mail demand to maker and dealer	Required before the presumption	Final-repair letter (3-repair and safety tests)	If disclosed in the warranty	Certified mail; 10 business days to cure	Only if the warranty requires it	Direct written notice	Report to maker or dealer	Before the presumption	Final repair notice required	Written report to the maker	Written notice at least once	Required before the presumption	If the warranty requires it	Final-attempt notice (3 repairs or 1 safety)	Manufacturer must have actual notice	Written report to the maker	Report to maker or dealer	Written request; 7-day final repair	Certified mail; 30 days to repair	Not required before arbitration	Return receipt after 3rd repair	Written notice at least once	Written notice; 10 working days	Required; 10-day final repair	Written notice to the maker	Certified-mail notice	Written report to the maker	Notice form; elect board or maker program	Certified final-chance letter	Direct written notice	Report within 18,000 mi / 2 yrs	Written notice; up to 15 days to fix	Direct notice to the maker	Report within 1 yr / 18,000 mi	Direct written notice	Direct written notice	Contact the zone representative	Report in the term; 7-day final cure	Written notice for final repair	Certified-mail notice; final attempt	Before a buyback order	Report to maker or dealer	Notice form; elect board or maker program	Written notice; 15-day final chance	Written request; 40 days to act	Written notice; 1 chance to cure	DOT election form	Direct written notice
Where to file	Maker procedure, then court	Approved procedure, then court	Rule 703 program, then court	Dispute program (IDSP), then court	Free certified arbitration or court	Maker arbitration or court	State arbitration (DCP)	Certified maker program or court	D.C. Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration	State arbitration board	Free state arbitration	State certified arbitration (DCCA)	Maker’s Idaho arbitration, then court	Manufacturer program, then court	Certified program, then court	Certified program or court	Maker procedure, then court	Maker dispute system, then court	Maker program, then court	State-certified arbitration	Court (maker program optional)	State-certified arbitration	Qualifying dispute program, then court	Maker’s Minnesota arbitration, then court	Maker procedure, then court	Rule 703 program, then court	Certified program or state arbitration	Certified maker procedure or court	Maker procedure, then court	State arbitration board	Lemon Law Unit hearing (OAL)	Maker procedure, then court	Manufacturer program or state arbitration	Maker procedure or court	Maker program, then court	Qualified dispute program, then court	Maker procedure, then court	Maker procedure, then court	Manufacturer arbitration or court	Maker procedure or AG board, then court	Maker procedure or state board, then court	In-state maker procedure, then court	TxDMV complaint and hearing	Division review, maker procedure, court	State arbitration board	Court (dispute program optional)	Free state arbitration	Third-party process, then court	Certified program if available, then court	Maker procedure, then court
Cost to file	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs	Court costs; fees if you win	See the AG guide	Free arbitration; fees if you win	Court costs	$50	Court costs; fees possible	Set by Board rules	See the Florida guide	Free	$50, returned if you win	Up to the conciliation court fee	Court costs	Court costs; fees if you win	Free program	Court costs	Free dispute system	Court costs; fees if you win	See the AG program	Court costs; fees if you win	See Mass.gov	Court costs; fees at the court’s discretion	Up to the conciliation court fee	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs; fees if you win	$100 (state program)	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs	$50	$50, refunded if you win	Court costs; fees if you win	$250 state program (refunded if you win)	Court costs; fees possible	Court costs	Court costs; fees shifted if you win	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs	$20	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs; fees if you win	$35, added back if you win	Court costs	Free	Court costs; fees if you win	Free	Court costs; fees possible	Court costs; fees if you win	Court costs; fees if you win
Deadline	3 years from delivery	Demand within 60 days after window	6 months after window	Not stated in the AG guide	Depends on the manufacturer	30 months from delivery	Not set in the chapter	Not set in the chapter	4 years from delivery	60 days after 24 mo	12 months after rights period	1 yr after rights period	3 years from delivery	18 months from delivery	2 years from first report	1 yr after rights period	Not set in the act	2 years from delivery	3 yrs from purchase or 1 yr after warranty	3 yrs or warranty, whichever first	3 years from delivery	Arbitration within 18 months of delivery	None set in the act	3 years from delivery	Earlier of warranty + 1 yr or 18 mo	Earlier of warranty + 6 mo or 18 mo	Not set in the part	Earlier of warranty + 1 yr or 2 yrs	18 months from delivery	1 yr after warranty or final repair	Letter within 2 yrs / 24,000 mi	18 months from delivery	4 years from delivery	Not set in the Act	6 mo after earlier of warranty or 18 mo	5 years from delivery	Not set in the statute	1 yr after 2 yrs / 24,000 mi	Not stated in official guides	Earlier of 3 yrs or 2 yrs after 15,000 mi	3 years from delivery	3 years from delivery	6 mo after window	Not set in the chapter	1 year after warranty ends	18-month rights period (can extend)	30 months from delivery	1 year after warranty ends	36 months from delivery	Not set in the section
Used cars	If entitled to enforce the warranty	Transferee of a new vehicle	If transferred during the warranty	Rest of the Quality Assurance Period	Not for the buyback remedy (Rodriguez, 2024)	Not covered	Transferee in 2 yrs / 24,000 mi	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	Rest of the 24-month rights period	Ask the CPD	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	New vehicles only	Within 18 months / 18,000 mi	During the rights period	Original buyer only	Not covered	If transferred during the warranty	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	Separate used vehicle warranty law	If under warranty when bought	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	If transferred during the warranty	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	Within 2 yrs / 24,000 mi; used car law	Transferee during warranty	Separate used car law	Within 24 mo / 24,000 mi	Transferee during warranty	If transferred during the warranty	Transferee during warranty	Transferee during warranty	New vehicles only	Transferee during warranty	Within 12 mo / 12,000 mi	New or untitled vehicles only	While original warranty applies, in 24 mo / 24,000 mi	New vehicles only	Transferee during warranty	Within 18 months, during warranty	Ask the Lemon Law Administration	Transferee during warranty	If transferred during the warranty	Transferee during warranty

All 50 states and DC

Verified states are linked. The rest are on our verification schedule and will appear here as each one is checked against its statute.

Five ways state lemon laws differ

What to check in any state’s lemon law
Rule	Why it matters	Example
Protection window	Repairs only count toward the presumption inside it	18 months / 18,000 miles in California; 24 months with no mileage limit in Florida
Number of repairs	Sets when the law presumes the manufacturer had enough chances	3 in Florida; 4 in Texas and California
Written notice	Missing it can block a buyback	Florida requires registered or express mail before the presumption applies
Where you file	Decides the process and the cost	Texas DMV ($35); Florida Attorney General (free); California certified arbitration (free) or court
Deadline	A late claim is usually lost	Texas: 6 months after the window closes; Florida: 60 days after 24 months

Not sure where your car stands? Check your car against your state’s lemon law in about two minutes.

Lemon laws by state: common questions

Does every state have a lemon law?

Yes. All 50 states and the District of Columbia have a law that requires a manufacturer to repurchase or replace a new vehicle it cannot fix under warranty. The repair tests, time windows, notice rules and claim process differ from state to state.

Which state’s lemon law applies to my car?

Most owners use the law of the state where they bought or leased the vehicle, which is usually also where it is registered. If you bought in one state and live in another, read both states’ rules or ask each state’s lemon law agency before you file.

Is there a federal lemon law?

The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act lets buyers enforce written warranties in court and recover attorney fees. It does not set repair-attempt tests or a buyback formula, so state lemon laws remain the main route for new-vehicle buybacks.