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Lemon Law by State: Comparison Tool

Last verified By the LemonLawMap Editorial Team Sources

The short answer

State lemon laws share one idea but differ in the details: 3 or 4 repairs, windows of 12 to 600 months, different notice rules, deadlines and refund deductions. The table compares all 50 verified states on the same fields, built directly from our rules files.

Comparing states matters more than it seems. The state whose law applies is usually where you bought, leased or registered the vehicle, and moving between states can change which law governs your claim. The table also shows how much the details vary, from the repair count to whether the refund deducts your miles at all.

Part of our lemon law tools. To apply your state’s rules to your own car, use the checker.

Lemon law rules by state (sortable)
StateRepairsSafety repairsDaysWindowMile limitMileage deductionNoticeDeadlineCost to fileVerified
Alabama 3 + notice None 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Certified-mail notice; final attempt 3 years from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Alaska 3 + notice None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Certified-mail demand to maker and dealer Demand within 60 days after window Court costs 2026-10-13
Arizona 4 + notice None 30 days 24 months or warranty 24,000 No fixed formula Required before the presumption 6 months after window Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Arkansas 3 + notice 1 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Final-repair letter (3-repair and safety tests) Not stated in the AG guide See the AG guide 2026-10-13
California 4 2 More than 30 days 18 months or warranty 18,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) If disclosed in the warranty Depends on the manufacturer Free arbitration; fees if you win 2026-10-10
Colorado 3 + notice 2 24 business days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Certified mail; 10 business days to cure 30 months from delivery Court costs 2026-10-13
Connecticut 4 2 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Only if the warranty requires it Not set in the chapter $50 2026-10-13
Delaware 4 + notice None More than 30 days 12 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 100,000) Direct written notice Not set in the chapter Court costs; fees possible 2026-10-13
District of Columbia 4 1 30 days 24 months 18,000 No fixed formula Report to maker or dealer 4 years from delivery Set by Board rules 2026-10-13
Florida 3 + notice None 30 days 24 months None Yes (÷ 120,000) Before the presumption 60 days after 24 mo See the Florida guide 2026-10-10
Georgia 3 + notice 1 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Final repair notice required 12 months after rights period Free 2026-10-13
Hawaii 3 + notice 1 30 business days 24 months or warranty 24,000 No fixed formula Written report to the maker 1 yr after rights period $50, returned if you win 2026-10-13
Idaho 4 + notice 1 30 business days 24 months or warranty 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Written notice at least once 3 years from delivery Up to the conciliation court fee 2026-10-13
Illinois 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months 12,000 No fixed formula Required before the presumption 18 months from delivery Court costs 2026-10-13
Indiana 4 None 30 business days 18 months 18,000 No fixed formula If the warranty requires it 2 years from first report Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Iowa 3 + notice 1 30 days 24 months or warranty 24,000 No fixed formula Final-attempt notice (3 repairs or 1 safety) 1 yr after rights period Free program 2026-10-13
Kansas 4 + notice None 30 days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Manufacturer must have actual notice Not set in the act Court costs 2026-10-13
Kentucky 4 + notice None 30 days 12 months 12,000 No fixed formula Written report to the maker 2 years from delivery Free dispute system 2026-10-13
Louisiana 4 None 45 days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Report to maker or dealer 3 yrs from purchase or 1 yr after warranty Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Maine 3 + notice 1 15 business days 36 months or warranty 18,000 No fixed formula Written request; 7-day final repair 3 yrs or warranty, whichever first See the AG program 2026-10-13
Maryland 4 + notice 1 30 days 24 months 18,000 No fixed formula Certified mail; 30 days to repair 3 years from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Massachusetts 3 None 15 business days 12 months 15,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Not required before arbitration Arbitration within 18 months of delivery See Mass.gov 2026-10-13
Michigan 4 + notice None 30 days 12 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 100,000) Return receipt after 3rd repair None set in the act Court costs; fees at the court’s discretion 2026-10-13
Minnesota 4 + notice 1 30 business days 24 months or warranty None No fixed formula Written notice at least once 3 years from delivery Up to the conciliation court fee 2026-10-13
Mississippi 3 + notice None 15 business days 12 months or warranty None 20¢ a mile Written notice; 10 working days Earlier of warranty + 1 yr or 18 mo Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Missouri 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Required; 10-day final repair Earlier of warranty + 6 mo or 18 mo Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Montana 4 + notice None 30 business days 24 months 18,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Written notice to the maker Not set in the part $100 (state program) 2026-10-13
Nebraska 4 + notice None 40 days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Certified-mail notice Earlier of warranty + 1 yr or 2 yrs Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Nevada 4 + notice None 30 days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Written report to the maker 18 months from delivery Court costs 2026-10-13
New Hampshire 3 None 30 business days 600 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 100,000) Notice form; elect board or maker program 1 yr after warranty or final repair $50 2026-10-13
New Jersey 3 + notice 1 20 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Certified final-chance letter Letter within 2 yrs / 24,000 mi $50, refunded if you win 2026-10-13
New Mexico 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Direct written notice 18 months from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
New York 4 None 30 days 24 months 18,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Report within 18,000 mi / 2 yrs 4 years from delivery $250 state program (refunded if you win) 2026-10-13
North Carolina 4 + notice None 20 business days 24 months 24,000 No fixed formula Written notice; up to 15 days to fix Not set in the Act Court costs; fees possible 2026-10-13
North Dakota 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Direct notice to the maker 6 mo after earlier of warranty or 18 mo Court costs 2026-10-13
Ohio 3 1 30 days 12 months 18,000 No fixed formula Report within 1 yr / 18,000 mi 5 years from delivery Court costs; fees shifted if you win 2026-10-13
Oklahoma 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 120,000) Direct written notice Not set in the statute Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Oregon 3 + notice 1 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Direct written notice 1 yr after 2 yrs / 24,000 mi Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Pennsylvania 3 None 30 days 12 months or warranty 12,000 No fixed formula Contact the zone representative Not stated in official guides Court costs 2026-10-13
Rhode Island 4 None 30 days 12 months 15,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Report in the term; 7-day final cure Earlier of 3 yrs or 2 yrs after 15,000 mi $20 2026-10-13
South Carolina 3 + notice None 30 days 12 months 12,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Written notice for final repair 3 years from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
South Dakota 4 + notice None 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 100,000) Certified-mail notice; final attempt 3 years from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Texas 4 2 30 days 24 months or warranty 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Before a buyback order 6 mo after window $35, added back if you win 2026-10-10
Utah 4 None 30 business days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Report to maker or dealer Not set in the chapter Court costs 2026-10-13
Vermont 3 None 30 days 600 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 100,000) Notice form; elect board or maker program 1 year after warranty ends Free 2026-10-13
Virginia 3 1 30 days 18 months None No fixed formula Written notice; 15-day final chance 18-month rights period (can extend) Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Washington 4 2 30 days 24 months 24,000 Yes (÷ 120,000) Written request; 40 days to act 30 months from delivery Free 2026-10-13
West Virginia 3 + notice 1 30 days 12 months or warranty None No fixed formula Written notice; 1 chance to cure 1 year after warranty ends Court costs; fees possible 2026-10-13
Wisconsin 4 None 30 days 12 months or warranty None Yes (÷ 100,000) DOT election form 36 months from delivery Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13
Wyoming 4 + notice None 30 business days 12 months None No fixed formula Direct written notice Not set in the section Court costs; fees if you win 2026-10-13

Select a column heading to sort. Works today for 50 verified states: 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. More states are added as each one is verified.

The biggest differences between state lemon laws

How to read the comparison

  • Repairs and Safety repairs: the number of attempts for the same defect that creates the legal presumption. “+ notice” means written notice to the manufacturer is also required.
  • Days: total days out of service for repair that creates the presumption.
  • Window and Mile limit: repairs must happen inside these limits to count.
  • Mileage deduction: whether the state publishes a formula, and its divisor. The Buyback Calculator applies each one.
  • Cost to file: what the state process costs, where the rules state it.

Each state name links to its full guide with sources.

Frequently asked questions

Which state has the strongest lemon law?

It depends on what you need. Ohio’s statute refunds the full price with no deduction for use and has a 1-repair safety test. Florida has no mileage limit. Massachusetts has a 15-business-day test, and New York ignores the first 12,000 miles in the deduction.

Do lemon laws differ by state?

Yes. Every state has its own lemon law with different repair tests, protection windows, notice rules, deadlines and claim processes.

Which state’s lemon law applies to my car?

Usually the state where you bought, leased or registered the vehicle. Each state guide lists who is covered; check it if you moved or bought out of state.

Sources

Checked on October 13, 2026. Read how we verify every rule in our editorial policy.

  1. Alabama: Ala. Code §§ 8-20A-1 to 8-20A-6
  2. Alaska: Alaska Stat. §§ 45.45.300–45.45.360
  3. Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1265
  4. Arkansas: Act 297 of 1993
  5. California: Cal. Civ. Code § 1790 et seq.; Tanner Act, § 1793.22
  6. Colorado: C.R.S. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110 (as amended by SB 24-192)
  7. Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-179 to 42-190
  8. Delaware: 6 Del. C. §§ 5001–5009
  9. District of Columbia: D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-509
  10. Florida: Fla. Stat. ch. 681
  11. Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-780 et seq.
  12. Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I
  13. Idaho: Idaho Code §§ 48-901 to 48-913
  14. Illinois: 815 ILCS 380
  15. Indiana: Ind. Code § 24-5-13
  16. Iowa: Iowa Code ch. 322G
  17. Kansas: K.S.A. 50-645, 50-646
  18. Kentucky: KRS 367.840 to 367.846; 367.860 to 367.870
  19. Louisiana: La. R.S. 51:1941–1948
  20. Maine: 10 M.R.S. §§ 1161–1169
  21. Maryland: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1501 et seq.
  22. Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½
  23. Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410
  24. Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 325F.665
  25. Mississippi: Miss. Code §§ 63-17-151 to 63-17-165
  26. Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 407.560–407.579
  27. Montana: Mont. Code Ann. §§ 61-4-501 to 61-4-533
  28. Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709
  29. Nevada: NRS 597.600 to 597.688
  30. New Hampshire: N.H. RSA 357-D:1 to 357-D:12
  31. New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 56:12-29 et seq.
  32. New Mexico: NMSA 1978 §§ 57-16A-1 to 57-16A-9
  33. New York: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a
  34. North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-351 to 20-351.10
  35. North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22
  36. Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71–1345.78
  37. Oklahoma: 15 Okla. Stat. §§ 901, 901.1
  38. Oregon: ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418
  39. Pennsylvania: 73 P.S. § 1951 et seq. (Act 28 of 1984)
  40. Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-5.2-1 to 31-5.2-14
  41. South Carolina: S.C. Code §§ 56-28-10 to 56-28-110
  42. South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-6D-1 to 32-6D-11
  43. Texas: Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2301, subch. M
  44. Utah: Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8
  45. Vermont: 9 V.S.A. §§ 4170–4181
  46. Virginia: Va. Code §§ 59.1-207.9 to 59.1-207.16:1
  47. Washington: Rev. Code Wash. ch. 19.118
  48. West Virginia: W. Va. Code §§ 46A-6A-1 to 46A-6A-9
  49. Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 218.0171
  50. Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 40-17-101

Lemon laws by state

Every state guide in one place.

Read the guide

California Lemon Law

The 18-month presumption and AB 1755.

Read the guide

Texas Lemon Law

The 24-month, 24,000-mile tests.

Read the guide

New York Lemon Law

12,000 free miles and state arbitration.

Read the guide

LemonLawMap provides general information about state lemon laws, not legal advice. We are not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is formed by using this site. Read our full disclaimer.