Indiana Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Indiana Lemon Law (Motor Vehicle Protection Act) is Ind. Code § 24-5-13.
| Rule | What Indiana law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Ind. Code § 24-5-13 | IC 24-5-13 |
| Vehicles covered | Cars and light trucks bought or leased for personal use from an Indiana dealer | |
| Not covered | Vehicles not bought or leased for personal use; Vehicles not bought from an Indiana dealer; Vehicles other than cars and light trucks | |
| Protection window | 18 months from the date the vehicle first left the dealership or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first | Indiana AG guide |
| Four Repairs Test | The vehicle had at least 4 repair attempts and the problem still exists | Indiana AG guide |
| 30 Business Days Test | The vehicle was out of service for repairs at least 30 business days and the problem still exists (business days) | Indiana AG guide |
| Written notice | Your owner’s manual or warranty may require written notice of the problem, with copies of all repair orders, sent to the manufacturer at the address it lists. If notice is not required and the manufacturer has no informal dispute procedure, you can sue without notifying it. | Indiana AG guide |
| Dispute program first? | If the manufacturer adopted an informal dispute procedure certified by the Attorney General, you must use it before you can sue under the Lemon Law. | |
| Deadline | File a lawsuit within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer | Indiana AG guide |
| Usage deduction | Indiana’s Attorney General guide does not describe a deduction for use. Ask the manufacturer to show how it calculates any refund. |
Four repairs or 30 business days in Indiana
The Attorney General’s guide treats the manufacturer as having had a reasonable number of attempts when, within 18 months or 18,000 miles, the problem still exists after:
Four Repairs Test
The vehicle had at least 4 repair attempts and the problem still exists.
Indiana AG guide30 Business Days Test
The vehicle was out of service for repairs at least 30 business days and the problem still exists.
Indiana AG guideAll four of Indiana’s threshold questions must be yes: a car or light truck, bought or leased for personal use, inside 18 months and 18,000 miles, from an Indiana dealer.
Notice to the manufacturer in Indiana
Your owner’s manual or warranty may require written notice of the problem, with copies of all repair orders, sent to the manufacturer at the address it lists. If notice is not required and the manufacturer has no informal dispute procedure, you can sue without notifying it.
Dispute program first. If the manufacturer adopted an informal dispute procedure certified by the Attorney General, you must use it before you can sue under the Lemon Law.
Notice is not automatic in Indiana. The guide says written notice may be required by your owner’s manual or warranty; if it is not, and the manufacturer has no informal dispute procedure, you can sue without notifying the manufacturer first.
Indiana’s 2-year deadline from the first report
File a lawsuit within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer (Indiana AG guide).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Problem first reported to the dealer | Apr 10, 2025 | The 2-year clock starts |
| Protection window ends | September 15, 2026 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Sue by | April 10, 2027 | File a lawsuit within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer |
Because the 2 years count from your first report, a defect first reported in month 2 has an earlier deadline than one first reported in month 17.
How to file an Indiana lemon law claim
- Take the vehicle to an authorized dealerReport the problem within 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
- Get a written repair order every timeAsk for one at every repair or examination; it proves the attempt and the days out of service.
- Check the warranty for a notice ruleIf it requires written notice, send it with copies of all repair orders to the address it lists.
- Use a certified dispute procedure if there is oneIf the Attorney General has certified the manufacturer’s procedure, you must use it before suing.
- Sue within 2 years of the first reportIf the manufacturer does not resolve the claim, file within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer. A consumer who wins recovers costs and attorney fees.
Refund or replacement in Indiana
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Replacement | A replacement vehicle, at your option. The manufacturer has 30 days to accept return of the vehicle. |
| Refund | A refund of your money, at your option. A consumer who wins a lawsuit recovers all costs and attorney fees. |
Indiana’s Attorney General guide does not describe a deduction for use. Ask the manufacturer to show how it calculates any refund.
How the first report sets your Indiana deadline
| First reported to the dealer | Sue by |
|---|---|
| May 1, 2025 | May 1, 2027 |
| November 20, 2025 | November 20, 2027 |
| August 1, 2026 | August 1, 2028 |
Every example is inside the 18-month window, and none passes 18,000 miles. The later the first report, the later the deadline, but the report itself must still come within 18 months and 18,000 miles.
What happens to an Indiana buyback
When a manufacturer replaces or repurchases a vehicle under the Lemon Law, it must get a new title branded “Manufacturer Buyback-Disclosure on File”, and the brand stays on the title for the life of the vehicle. The first time a dealer resells it, the buyer must receive:
- written notice at the time of sale that the vehicle was repurchased or replaced under the Lemon Law, and
- a 12-month or 12,000-mile manufacturer’s warranty.
If you are shopping for a used car in Indiana, check the title for that brand before you buy.
What the Indiana Attorney General can and cannot do
| Task | Does the AG do it? |
|---|---|
| Certify manufacturers’ informal dispute procedures | Yes |
| Enforce buyback disclosure and title branding | Yes |
| Take consumer complaints (1-800-382-5516) | Yes |
| Represent you to get a refund or replacement | No |
Because the Attorney General cannot pursue a refund for you, the remedy comes through a certified dispute procedure or your own lawsuit, where a winning consumer recovers costs and attorney fees.
Second owners inside Indiana’s 18 months
The 18 months run from the date the car first left the dealership, so a later buyer inside 18 months and 18,000 miles may be covered. Ask the Attorney General’s office about your purchase. A vehicle past 18 months or 18,000 miles from first delivery is outside Indiana’s Lemon Law.
To test your own dates and repair visits, check an Indiana repair history with our free tool.
Indiana Lemon Law FAQs
What are the Indiana Lemon Law requirements?
A car or light truck bought or leased for personal use from an Indiana dealer, with the problem reported within 18 months of the date it first left the dealership or before 18,000 miles.
How many repair attempts make a lemon in Indiana?
At least 4 repair attempts, or at least 30 business days out of service for repairs, with the problem still existing.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Indiana?
You must file a lawsuit within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer, if the manufacturer does not resolve the claim.
Does the Indiana lemon law cover motorcycles or RVs?
The Attorney General’s guide covers cars and light trucks. Other vehicle types fall outside that description, so check with the Attorney General’s office.
Can the Attorney General get my refund for me?
No. The Lemon Law does not let the Attorney General represent consumers seeking a refund or replacement, though it does take complaints and enforces buyback disclosure rules.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Indiana rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.