| visit our new CA Lemon Law FAQ's page
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a vehicle qualify under the California lemon law?
Generally, a vehicle qualifies under the California Lemon Law when the vehicle has a defect which the dealerships have been unable to repair. For the law to apply, the dealerships must be given a reasonable number of opportunities to repair the vehicle within the warranty period.
How many times do I need to take my car back to the dealer before I have a California lemon law claim?
The California lemon law states that the dealerships must be given a reasonable number of opportunities to repair a vehicle. The law does not require any specific number of service visits. Often, four visits for the same problem will qualify, but fewer visits may be enough depending on the defect. For example, a defect as severe as brake system failure may only require two visits. Moreover, if an automobile spends a cumulative total of over 30 days in the shop for warranty repairs, it may satisfy the requirement no matter how many separate visits were made. Because the California lemon law does not set a specific number of visits, each matter should be assessed on a case by case basis.
What am I entitled to if my vehicle qualifies under the California lemon law?
If your vehicle qualifies under the California Lemon Law, you will be entitled to a refund of your down payment, a refund of all monthly finance payments, and to have your vehicle loan paid off in full. You will also be entitled to reimbursement of incidental damages such as rental car expenses, repair costs, and towing expenses. If offered by the manufacturer, you may elect to have your vehicle replaced with a similar vehicle instead of having your money refunded. With either a repurchase or a replacement, the manufacturer will be entitled to a relatively small credit for the mileage driven on the vehicle before the vehicle was first taken in for repair of the defect. |
