What Vehicles Are Covered by the California Lemon Law?

Purchasing a vehicle should be a fun occasion. You might even bring the whole family along and make a day out of it. However, few things can be as infuriating as learning you’ve been tricked into buying a lemon. It may take you a few rounds of mechanic visits before you realize your car needs to be replaced. You may wonder, “What vehicles are covered by the California Lemon Law?” There are more than you might think.

What Is the California Lemon Law?

The California Lemon Law, which is also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, was passed to protect customers from buying broken or defective vehicles and being stuck with them. Under the California Lemon Law, manufacturers are held responsible for defective vehicles. They are required to either refund the customer or replace that vehicle if they cannot fix it after a certain number of attempts.

The Lemon Law applies to most vehicles that are still under the manufacturer’s warranty, regardless of whether they are brand new or pre-owned. A vehicle is considered a “lemon” if there are enough manufacturing defects that impact the vehicle’s safety, usage, or value. If these defects remain, even after many attempts to have them fixed, the vehicle is considered beyond saving. At that point, your only way to get reimbursed will be to seek legal help.

What Vehicles Are Covered by the California Lemon Law?

The California Lemon Law covers a considerable variety of vehicles, including new and used cars. The one caveat is the vehicle must still be under the manufacturer’s warranty. The Lemon Law applies to:

• Cars
• Pickup trucks
• SUVs
• Motor homes
• Dealer-owned demonstrative vehicles
• Vehicles leased for business or household use

To qualify under the California Lemon Law, the vehicle must meet the following criteria:

• It was purchased or leased from a California retailer or dealership.
• It has a significant defect that impacts the vehicle’s safety and use.
• The defect occurred within the first 18 months of owning it or the first 18,000 miles after purchase.
• The defect persists after multiple repair attempts.

The California Lemon Law does not apply to vehicles that are not registered under the California Vehicle Code or those that have been intentionally abused, such as off-road vehicles.

Statute of Limitations

If you decide to pursue legal action against the manufacturer under the California Lemon Law, it is vital to your case that you pay close attention to California’s statute of limitations on Lemon Law claims. Generally, the state will give you four years from the date you first experienced problems with the vehicle. You will have that time to find a lawyer, who can then prepare and file your claim.

If you cannot file your claim before four years have passed, your case will be automatically tossed out. The time limit for these cases is firm and absolute. Regardless of the circumstances, you only have four years. Building a strong case can take more time than you might think. You may want to get started as soon as you think you may qualify under the Lemon Law.

If you have doubts that you are, discuss your case with a dedicated Lemon Law lawyer and see what they have to tell you. Your lawyer can review your evidence and use their knowledge of the Lemon Law to determine your eligibility. If you have a claim, they can file it, negotiate with the manufacturers, and represent you in court to secure justice under the Lemon Law.

FAQs

Q: What Qualifies as a Lemon Car in California?

A: For a car to be considered a lemon in California, it must have a significant defect that directly affects the car’s use, safety, or value. Furthermore, the defect must be covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. If the problem persists after a certain number of reasonable attempts to have it fixed, there is a strong chance you could get refunded for your purchase or have the vehicle wholly replaced under California’s Lemon Law.

Q: How Hard Is It to Win a Lemon Law Case?

A: How hard it may be for you to win your Lemon Law case depends on the specifics of your situation. Every case is going to be different since each case has its own details and circumstances that make that case unique. The more evidence you have that supports your case, the higher the likelihood that you will succeed. Additionally, hiring a good lawyer greatly increases your chance of success. How easy your case might be depends on how well-prepared your attorney is to argue it.

Q: What Factors Are Used to Determine If a Vehicle Is a Lemon?

A: Many different factors are considered to determine whether a vehicle is a lemon. A vehicle may automatically be considered a lemon if it has a persistent defect that cannot be fixed, despite multiple attempts to do so. Other factors may be:

• The defect’s severity
• The number of repair attempts
• Whether the defect impacts the vehicle’s safety
• How long it has taken for mechanics to attempt to fix it

Q: What Do You Get Back in a Lemon Law Case in California?

A: If you successfully argue your Lemon Law case in California, you could obtain multiple different kinds of compensation from the manufacturer. You may receive:

• A cash settlement
• Reimbursement for your court costs
• A replacement vehicle from the manufacturer
• A repurchase of your lemon vehicle from the manufacturer, with reimbursement

It depends entirely on what you are looking to get and the strength of your argument.

Contact a Lemon Law Lawyer Today

Learning that your recently purchased vehicle is a lemon can be nothing short of infuriating. You may be dreading the subsequent legal battle you may have to deal with. The legal team at Lemon Law Pro practices statewide and we won’t charge you a dime for our services. We can provide you with the legal assistance you need for your case, with the promise that it will be totally free. Contact us to speak with a member of our team and set up a consultation.