Pennsylvania Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Pennsylvania Automobile Lemon Law is 73 P.S. § 1951 et seq. (Act 28 of 1984).
| Rule | What Pennsylvania law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | 73 P.S. § 1951 et seq. (Act 28 of 1984) | 73 P.S. § 1951 |
| Vehicles covered | New vehicles bought or leased and registered in Pennsylvania for personal, family or household use; Demonstrators and dealer vehicles; Vehicles designed to carry up to 15 people | |
| Not covered | Motorcycles; Motor homes; Off-road vehicles; Defects caused by abuse, neglect or alteration of the vehicle | |
| Protection window | 1 year after delivery, 12,000 miles, or the end of the express warranty, whichever comes first | PA Attorney General guide |
| Three Repairs Test | The defect could not be repaired after 3 attempts | PA Attorney General guide |
| 30 Days Out of Service Test | The vehicle was out of service for repair a total of 30 calendar days | PA Attorney General guide |
| Written notice | Start with the manufacturer’s zone representative, at the phone number in your owner’s manual. You are responsible for taking the vehicle to an authorized repair facility unless that is unreasonably difficult. | PennDOT and PA Attorney General guides |
| Dispute program first? | If the manufacturer has a dispute settlement program you can request arbitration through it. Its decision binds the manufacturer but not you; you can still sue. If no program exists, you can go to court from the start. | |
| Deadline | Pennsylvania’s official consumer guides do not state a separate lemon law filing deadline. Act promptly and ask a Pennsylvania attorney which time limit applies to your claim | PA Attorney General guide |
| Usage deduction | Pennsylvania deducts a limited allowance for use from a refund. The official consumer guides do not publish a formula. |
Does your car qualify under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law?
According to the Attorney General’s consumer guide, you may be entitled to a replacement or refund when a defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety appears within 1 year, 12,000 miles or the warranty and:
Three Repairs Test
The defect could not be repaired after 3 attempts.
PA Attorney General guide30 Days Out of Service Test
The vehicle was out of service for repair a total of 30 calendar days.
PA Attorney General guideThe Attorney General describes these as the general thresholds. Whether a specific number of repairs was reasonable can depend on the facts, so keep every itemized repair statement.
Notice to the manufacturer in Pennsylvania
Start with the manufacturer’s zone representative, at the phone number in your owner’s manual. You are responsible for taking the vehicle to an authorized repair facility unless that is unreasonably difficult.
Dispute program first. If the manufacturer has a dispute settlement program you can request arbitration through it. Its decision binds the manufacturer but not you; you can still sue. If no program exists, you can go to court from the start.
Pennsylvania also protects the next buyer: a returned lemon cannot be resold in Pennsylvania unless the buyer gets a written statement that it was returned for an uncured defect and the original express warranty for at least 12 months or 12,000 miles. Vehicles with defective braking or steering likely to cause death or serious injury cannot be resold in the state at all.
What is the Pennsylvania lemon law deadline?
Pennsylvania’s official consumer guides do not state a separate lemon law filing deadline. Act promptly and ask a Pennsylvania attorney which time limit applies to your claim (PA Attorney General guide).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Protection window ends | March 15, 2026 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Filing deadline | Not stated in the official guides | Pennsylvania’s official consumer guides do not state a separate lemon law filing deadline. Act promptly and ask a Pennsylvania attorney which time limit applies to your claim |
How to file a Pennsylvania lemon law claim
- Keep every itemized repair statementEach repair facility must give you a detailed statement of the repairs, parts and labor.
- Contact the manufacturer’s zone representativeUse the number in your owner’s manual if the dealer cannot fix the defect.
- Request the manufacturer’s arbitration if it has a programThe decision binds the manufacturer but not you.
- Go to court if neededIf there is no program, or you reject the decision, you can bring a lawsuit. Ask a Pennsylvania attorney about time limits.
- Call the Attorney General with questionsThe consumer line is 1-800-441-2555.
Refund, replacement and the Pennsylvania deduction for use
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Replacement | A comparable replacement vehicle. |
| Refund | A refund of the purchase price, less a limited allowance for use. |
Pennsylvania deducts a limited allowance for use from a refund. The official consumer guides do not publish a formula.
Is there a 30-day lemon law on used cars in Pennsylvania?
No. This is one of the most searched Pennsylvania questions, and the answer surprises people. Pennsylvania’s Automobile Lemon Law covers new vehicles. The “30 days” in the law refers to days a new vehicle spends out of service for repair, not a return period for used cars.
| Situation | What applies |
|---|---|
| Factory warranty still in force | The manufacturer must make covered repairs |
| Dealer gave a written warranty | That warranty, plus federal Magnuson-Moss rights |
| Car sold “as is” | Very little after the sale; check the Buyers Guide before you buy |
| Dealer misrepresented the car | State consumer protection law; contact the Attorney General |
Manufacturer arbitration in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania does not run a state lemon law arbitration board. Instead, PennDOT and the Attorney General point owners to the manufacturer’s own dispute settlement program, if one exists. Two points matter most:
- It binds the manufacturer, not you. If you accept the decision, the manufacturer must follow it. If you reject it, you can still sue.
- No program, no detour. If the manufacturer has not set up an appropriate program, you can start a lawsuit right away.
Who is covered in Pennsylvania
| Vehicle or buyer | Covered? |
|---|---|
| New car, SUV or truck for personal, family or household use, registered in PA | Yes |
| Leased new vehicle registered in PA | Yes |
| Demonstrator or dealer vehicle sold new | Yes |
| Vehicle carrying more than 15 people | No |
| Motorcycle, motor home or off-road vehicle | No |
| Used vehicle | Not under the Lemon Law |
Does the Pennsylvania Lemon Law cover used cars?
Pennsylvania’s Automobile Lemon Law applies to new vehicles. A used car’s remaining warranty and federal Magnuson-Moss law still apply. Pennsylvania’s Automobile Lemon Law applies to new vehicles only.
Used-car buyers in Pennsylvania rely on the dealer’s warranty, the Buyers Guide, any remaining factory warranty and federal Magnuson-Moss law.
To test your own dates and repair visits, check a Pennsylvania car against the three-repair rule.
Pennsylvania Lemon Law FAQs
What qualifies you for lemon law in PA?
A new vehicle bought or leased and registered in Pennsylvania for personal use, with a defect that substantially impairs use, value or safety, appearing within 1 year, 12,000 miles or the warranty, that cannot be fixed after 3 attempts or keeps the vehicle out of service 30 calendar days.
Is there a 30-day lemon law on used cars in PA?
No. Pennsylvania’s Lemon Law covers new vehicles. The 30 days refers to days out of service for repair. Used-car buyers rely on warranties and federal law.
Does the Pennsylvania lemon law cover motorcycles or RVs?
No. The Attorney General’s guide says motorcycles, motor homes and off-road vehicles are not included.
How long does a lemon law case take in PA?
It depends on the route. A manufacturer arbitration program usually moves faster than a lawsuit; the official guides do not publish a fixed timeline. Ask the program for its schedule when you file.
Can a returned lemon be resold in Pennsylvania?
Only with a written statement that it was returned for an uncured defect and the original express warranty for at least 12 months or 12,000 miles. Vehicles with dangerous braking or steering defects cannot be resold in Pennsylvania.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Pennsylvania rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.