Lemon Law: What You Need to Know
California’s Lemon Law protects consumers during one of the biggest purchases they make – buying a new or used car. If you purchased used, the vehicle must still be covered under the manufacturer’s warranty.
If you purchase a defective vehicle, and your vehicle cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace or repurchase the vehicle.
Have you been taken advantage of by a car dealer? Call (818) 960-1945 or contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation with proven Lemon Law attorneys. Servicing Valencia, Sylmar, Los Angeles, and all of California!
What Is the Tanner Consumer Protection Act?
Also known as the Tanner Consumer Protection Act, the California Lemon Law (Civ. Code, § 1793.22) provides additional protections to consumers under manufacturer’s warranties for the first 18 months after a consumer purchases a car or the first 18,000 miles on the odometer, whichever comes first.
If you buy a new car or a certified used vehicle that is still under the manufacturer’s warranty, and you:
- Have to take it to the shop for 2 or more serious safety repairs
- For multiple (3-5) repairs for the same problem
- Or your car is in the shop for more than 30 calendar days, the manufacturer must remedy the situation with the method you prefer
How Do You Know If You Have a Lemon?
As such, the first step to determining whether you have a lemon is finding out whether the vehicle qualifies for it ( we should have a link to our website).
In California, your car is a lemon if:
- It is under warranty and cannot be repaired after a “reasonable” number of attempts.
- It has a “nonconformity” that is likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, and the manufacturer has attempted to repair the nonconformity 3 or more times.
- Any safety-related nonconformity, that has been subject to repairs 4 or more times (and you have taken the car to an authorized dealership of the need for repair).
- The vehicle is out of service because of nonconformity or repair for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days since the vehicle was delivered.
If you believe any of the qualifications above apply to your vehicle, or you’re not sure whether your newly purchased car is a lemon, you should speak to a lemon lawyer near you.
If you do, in fact, have a lemon, you may be eligible to receive:
- A new car
- A refund
- Or cash damages to help you get out of your defective vehicle and onto the road
Vehicles protected under the California Lemon Law include:
- New
- Used
- Privately purchased
- And even leased
If you buy a car, and the car doesn’t work or is defective, you should speak to an attorney.
Why You Need an Experienced Lemon Law Attorney
Although Lemon Laws are designed to protect you, resolving a lemon law claim is not always easy. In addition to navigating complex legal statutes, you need to fill out paperwork and have a good understanding of the manufacturer’s warranty.
If you win a lemon law claim, the manufacturer may also have to pay your legal fees, so with most lawyers, you won’t need to pay fees upfront.
California Lemon Lawyers, APC also offers free consultations and case evaluations, so you can find out, once and for all, whether your car is a lemon – and what you can do about it.
Our services include: Breach of Warranty, Common Vehicle Defects, Used-Car Lemons, Auto Recalls, and Lemon Law Eligibility.
We have been helping Californians get rid of their lemons and hold manufacturers accountable since 2007, and we have won over $10 million for our clients. Our attorneys have more than a decade of experience and offer the highest level of customer service.
Someone is always available to address your concerns and answer your questions, so please do not hesitate to call us at (818) 960-1945, contact us online, or take advantage of our 24/7 chat.