Lemon law deadlines by state
Example: a vehicle delivered March 15, 2025, driven about 1,000 miles a month, with a 3-year / 36,000-mile warranty and the problem first reported June 1, 2025.
| State | Deadline rule | Example date |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Start an action within 3 years following the date of original delivery (§ 8-20A-6) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Alaska | Send the certified-mail demand no later than 60 days after the warranty or the first year ends, whichever ends first (AS 45.45.310) | Send your demand by: May 14, 2026 |
| Arizona | 6 months after the earlier of the warranty’s end or 2 years / 24,000 miles from delivery (§ 44-1265(B)) | Sue by: September 15, 2027 |
| Arkansas | The Attorney General’s guide does not state a deadline to sue. Act promptly and ask a licensed Arkansas attorney which time limit applies (Arkansas AG guide) | Not stated in the AG guide |
| California | Depends on the manufacturer. Manufacturers that opted in to AB 1755: 1 year after the express warranty ends, and never more than 6 years after delivery (repair time and up to 60 notice days are added). Other manufacturers: courts have generally applied 4 years. (Code Civ. Proc. § 871.21) | Earliest possible lawsuit deadline: March 14, 2029 |
| Colorado | Start a lawsuit within 30 months of original delivery. The time does not run while you are in the manufacturer’s arbitration or the vehicle is unavailable because of repair (C.R.S. 42-10-107) | Sue by: September 15, 2027 |
| Connecticut | Connecticut’s lemon law chapter and the Department of Consumer Protection guide set no separate filing deadline; the repairs must happen within 2 years or 24,000 miles. Apply promptly (C.G.S. ch. 743b; DCP program guide) | Not set in the chapter |
| Delaware | Delaware’s automobile warranties chapter does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask a Delaware attorney (6 Del. C. ch. 50) | Not set in the chapter |
| District of Columbia | Start an action within 4 years of original delivery (D.C. Code § 50-507(b)) | Sue by: March 15, 2029 |
| Florida | 60 days after the 24-month Lemon Law rights period ends, or 30 days after a state-certified manufacturer program’s final action, if later (§ 681.109(4)) | Request arbitration by: May 14, 2027 |
| Georgia | File the State Arbitration Application within 1 year after the lemon law rights period ends (Georgia CPD, Step 2) | Apply for state arbitration by: March 15, 2028 |
| Hawaii | Start an action within 1 year after the lemon law rights period expires (HRS § 481I-3(j)) | Act by: March 15, 2028 |
| Idaho | Start a civil action within 3 years of original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer’s program within 3 years, an appeal of its decision must be filed within 3 months of the final decision (§ 48-910) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Illinois | A lawsuit must be started within 18 months of original delivery (extended by days spent in a dispute program) (815 ILCS 380/6) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| Indiana | File a lawsuit within 2 years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer (Indiana AG guide) | Sue by: June 1, 2027 |
| Iowa | File in district court within 1 year after the lemon law rights period (or its extension) ends, if there is no certified program or it does not decide in time. After a program decision, other limits apply (Iowa Code § 322G.8(1)) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Kansas | K.S.A. 50-645 does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask a Kansas attorney (K.S.A. 50-645, 50-646) | Not set in the act |
| Kentucky | Start an action within 2 years after the date of original delivery (KRS 367.842(8)) | Sue by: March 15, 2027 |
| Louisiana | File suit within 3 years of the purchase date or 1 year after the warranty period ends, whichever is longer (R.S. 51:1944(E)) | Sue by: March 14, 2029 |
| Maine | Request state-certified arbitration within 3 years of original delivery or within the term of the express warranties, whichever comes first (10 M.R.S. § 1169(1)) | Request arbitration by: March 14, 2028 |
| Maryland | Start an action within 3 years of the date of original delivery (Com. Law § 14-1502(k)) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Massachusetts | Request state-certified arbitration within 18 months of original delivery to require the manufacturer to take part (§ 7N½(6)) | Request state arbitration by: September 15, 2026 |
| Michigan | Michigan’s Lemon Law act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits for warranty claims still apply, so act promptly and ask a Michigan attorney about your date (MCL 257.1401–257.1410) | The Lemon Law act sets none; see below |
| Minnesota | Start a civil action within 3 years of original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer’s arbitration program within those 3 years, you have 6 months after its final decision (subd. 10) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Mississippi | Start an action within 1 year after the express warranty expires or 18 months after original delivery, whichever is earlier; or within 90 days after a dispute panel’s final action (§ 63-17-159(6)) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| Missouri | The earlier of 6 months after the express warranty expires or 18 months after original delivery; or 90 days after a dispute panel’s final action (§ 407.573.3) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| Montana | Montana’s lemon law part does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask a Montana attorney (MCA 61-4-501 to 61-4-533) | Not set in the part |
| Nebraska | Start an action within 1 year after the express warranty expires or 2 years after original delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 60-2706) | Sue by: March 15, 2027 |
| Nevada | Start an action within 18 months after the original delivery of the vehicle (NRS 597.650) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| New Hampshire | Start a proceeding within 1 year after the later of the express warranty’s expiration or the manufacturer’s final repair attempt (RSA 357-D:11(I)) | Start by: March 14, 2029 |
| New Jersey | The manufacturer must receive your certified final-chance letter before 2 years from delivery or 24,000 miles. The official guides set no other filing date, so apply promptly after the final repair fails (NJ guidebook) | Letter must arrive within 2 yrs / 24,000 mi |
| New Mexico | Start an action within 18 months of original delivery, or within 90 days after a dispute panel’s final action if that is later (§ 57-16A-8) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| New York | A lawsuit must be started within 4 years of original delivery (§ 198-a(j)) | File by: March 15, 2029 |
| North Carolina | North Carolina’s New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask a North Carolina attorney (G.S. 20-351 to 20-351.10) | Not set in the Act |
| North Dakota | Start an action within 6 months after the earlier of the warranty’s expiration or 18 months after original delivery (N.D.C.C. § 51-07-21) | Sue by: March 15, 2027 |
| Ohio | A lawsuit must be started within 5 years of original delivery; time in a qualified dispute program pauses the clock (§ 1345.75(C)) | Sue by: March 15, 2030 |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma’s lemon law does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask an Oklahoma attorney (15 O.S. § 901) | Not set in the statute |
| Oregon | Start an action within 1 year after the 2-year or 24,000-mile period ends, whichever ends earlier (ORS 646A.416) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Pennsylvania | 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) | Not stated in the official guides |
| Rhode Island | Start an action within 3 years of original delivery or 2 years after the vehicle reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier; time in a dispute procedure is not counted (§ 31-5.2-12, 31-5.2-7) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| South Carolina | Start an action within 3 years following the date of original delivery (§ 56-28-70) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| South Dakota | Start an action within 3 years following the date of original delivery (SDCL 32-6D-11) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Texas | 6 months after the earliest of: warranty expiration, 24 months, or 24,000 miles from delivery (§ 2301.606(d)) | File by: September 15, 2027 |
| Utah | Utah’s New Motor Vehicle Warranties Act does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and contact the Division of Consumer Protection (Utah Code ch. 13-20) | Not set in the chapter |
| Vermont | Start a proceeding within 1 year after the express warranty term expires (9 V.S.A. § 4179(a)) | Start by: March 14, 2029 |
| Virginia | Within the 18-month lemon law rights period, extended if the manufacturer was notified but did not repair; if you used the dispute procedure within the period, 12 months after its final action if that is later (§ 59.1-207.16) | Sue by: September 15, 2026 |
| Washington | Request state arbitration within 30 months of original retail delivery (RCW 19.118.090(3)) | Request arbitration by: September 15, 2027 |
| West Virginia | Start an action within 1 year of the expiration of the express warranty term (§ 46A-6A-4(d)) | Sue by: March 14, 2029 |
| Wisconsin | A lawsuit must be started within 36 months after first delivery to a consumer (§ 218.0171(7)(a)) | Sue by: March 15, 2028 |
| Wyoming | Wyoming’s lemon law section does not set its own filing deadline. Other time limits still apply, so act promptly and ask a Wyoming attorney (Wyo. Stat. § 40-17-101) | Not set in the section |
The five ways states count the deadline
| Deadline counts from | States |
|---|---|
| The end of the protection window | Alaska, Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Oregon and Texas |
| The delivery date | Alabama, Colorado, District of Columbia, Idaho, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington and Wisconsin |
| Whichever comes first: the warranty end or delivery | California, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska and North Dakota |
| The first report of the problem | Indiana |
| No date in the lemon law itself | Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Michigan, Montana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wyoming |
“No date in the lemon law itself” does not mean there is no time limit. Other limits for warranty claims still run, and New Jersey requires the manufacturer to receive your final-chance letter within 2 years or 24,000 miles. Act promptly in every state.
How the finder calculates your date
- It finds the date your protection window closes: the earliest of the time limit, the mileage limit and, where the state uses it, the warranty end.
- When a limit is in miles, it dates it from your odometer readings. If you have not reached the limit yet, it projects the date from your average daily driving and marks it estimated.
- It adds your state’s filing period in calendar months, so a deadline counted from August 31 lands on the last day of February.
If a date is marked estimated, check the exact day you passed the mileage limit on a repair order or service record. To see whether your repairs also meet a test, run the full lemon law qualification check.
Frequently asked questions
What is the statute of limitations for lemon law?
Each state sets its own. Among the verified states it ranges from 60 days after the 24-month rights period (Florida, for arbitration) to 5 years from delivery (Ohio, for a lawsuit). Some states count from delivery, some from the end of the protection window, and Indiana from the first report.
Does the lemon law deadline start when I bought the car?
Usually not. Most deadlines start at delivery to the first owner or at the end of the protection window. For a used car, the original delivery date is usually earlier than your purchase date.
What happens if I miss the lemon law deadline?
A late claim is normally rejected under the state lemon law. You may still have rights under the manufacturer’s warranty and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, so speak to an attorney or your state agency.
Does a dispute program pause the lemon law deadline?
In several states, yes. Ohio and Illinois, for example, extend the deadline by the time spent in a qualified dispute program. Check your state’s guide for its rule.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. Read how we verify every rule in our editorial policy.
- Alabama: Ala. Code §§ 8-20A-1 to 8-20A-6
- Alaska: Alaska Stat. §§ 45.45.300–45.45.360
- Arizona: Ariz. Rev. Stat. §§ 44-1261 to 44-1265
- Arkansas: Act 297 of 1993
- California: Cal. Civ. Code § 1790 et seq.; Tanner Act, § 1793.22
- Colorado: C.R.S. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-110 (as amended by SB 24-192)
- Connecticut: Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-179 to 42-190
- Delaware: 6 Del. C. §§ 5001–5009
- District of Columbia: D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-509
- Florida: Fla. Stat. ch. 681
- Georgia: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-780 et seq.
- Hawaii: Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481I
- Idaho: Idaho Code §§ 48-901 to 48-913
- Illinois: 815 ILCS 380
- Indiana: Ind. Code § 24-5-13
- Iowa: Iowa Code ch. 322G
- Kansas: K.S.A. 50-645, 50-646
- Kentucky: KRS 367.840 to 367.846; 367.860 to 367.870
- Louisiana: La. R.S. 51:1941–1948
- Maine: 10 M.R.S. §§ 1161–1169
- Maryland: Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-1501 et seq.
- Massachusetts: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½
- Michigan: Mich. Comp. Laws §§ 257.1401–257.1410
- Minnesota: Minn. Stat. § 325F.665
- Mississippi: Miss. Code §§ 63-17-151 to 63-17-165
- Missouri: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 407.560–407.579
- Montana: Mont. Code Ann. §§ 61-4-501 to 61-4-533
- Nebraska: Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709
- Nevada: NRS 597.600 to 597.688
- New Hampshire: N.H. RSA 357-D:1 to 357-D:12
- New Jersey: N.J.S.A. 56:12-29 et seq.
- New Mexico: NMSA 1978 §§ 57-16A-1 to 57-16A-9
- New York: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a
- North Carolina: N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 20-351 to 20-351.10
- North Dakota: N.D. Cent. Code §§ 51-07-16 to 51-07-22
- Ohio: Ohio Rev. Code §§ 1345.71–1345.78
- Oklahoma: 15 Okla. Stat. §§ 901, 901.1
- Oregon: ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418
- Pennsylvania: 73 P.S. § 1951 et seq. (Act 28 of 1984)
- Rhode Island: R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-5.2-1 to 31-5.2-14
- South Carolina: S.C. Code §§ 56-28-10 to 56-28-110
- South Dakota: S.D. Codified Laws §§ 32-6D-1 to 32-6D-11
- Texas: Tex. Occ. Code ch. 2301, subch. M
- Utah: Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8
- Vermont: 9 V.S.A. §§ 4170–4181
- Virginia: Va. Code §§ 59.1-207.9 to 59.1-207.16:1
- Washington: Rev. Code Wash. ch. 19.118
- West Virginia: W. Va. Code §§ 46A-6A-1 to 46A-6A-9
- Wisconsin: Wis. Stat. § 218.0171
- Wyoming: Wyo. Stat. § 40-17-101