is my car a lemon? 💀 Is my car a lemon?
answer 5 things and find out if your whip hits your state’s lemon law thresholds. runs in your browser, nothing gets sent anywhere, no email wall. 🍋 Answer five questions to see whether your vehicle meets your state’s lemon law thresholds. It runs entirely in your browser — nothing is sent anywhere and no email is required.
Texas only: days on which the dealer gave you a comparable loaner do not count toward the 30. Enter only the days you were without a comparable vehicle.
This tool applies published state thresholds to what you entered. It is an information tool, not legal advice, and it cannot tell you whether you have a claim — only a licensed attorney reviewing your repair orders can do that.
what the numbers actually mean What the thresholds mean
nearly every state runs some version of the same 3 tests. what changes is the window and the fine print. Most states apply a version of the same three tests. What differs between them is the eligibility window and the detail.
same problem, again and againRepeat repair attempts
usually 4 tries at the same defect. it has to be the same problem — four unrelated faults isn’t the same thing. Commonly four attempts at the same defect. The attempts must relate to the same nonconformity; four unrelated faults do not satisfy this test.
if it could hurt you, 2 is enoughSafety defects need fewer
brakes, steering, airbags, anything that could catch fire — usually only 2 tries needed. this is the one people don’t know. Where a defect is likely to cause death or serious injury, two attempts are typically enough. This is the least widely known of the three tests.
30 days in the shopDays out of service
30 days total, stacked across visits — doesn’t need to be in a row. in Texas, days with a comparable loaner don’t count. Thirty cumulative days across visits, not necessarily consecutive. Texas excludes days on which a comparable loaner was provided.
missing the window isn’t game over 🧱Falling outside the window is not the end
the windows and counts create a presumption — they make it easy to prove. the actual legal test in most states is whether the number of attempts was reasonable. so being at 3 tries, or past the mileage, doesn’t automatically mean no. don’t be delulu about it either way — get it looked at. The windows and repair counts generally create a rebuttable presumption rather than a hard requirement. The underlying standard in most states is whether the manufacturer was given a reasonable number of repair attempts, so claims falling outside the stated figures can still succeed — they simply have to be proven rather than presumed.
whatever the answer was, do these 3 things Three things to do either way
get every repair orderCollect every repair order
every visit, in writing, with your description of the problem on it. a visit with no paperwork basically didn’t happen. Obtain written documentation for every visit, with your own description of the complaint recorded. An undocumented visit is very hard to rely on later.
tell the manufacturer, not just the dealerNotify the manufacturer in writing
the dealer isn’t the manufacturer. write to the manufacturer and keep proof you sent it — some states require this step. The dealership and the manufacturer are different parties. Write to the manufacturer and keep proof of delivery; some states require this notice before a claim can proceed.
watch your deadlineMind the deadline
deadlines are the quiet killer. California tightened its in 2025. Texas runs 6 months from the earliest of three dates. don’t sit on it. Deadlines end more claims than the merits do. California’s filing window tightened in 2025, and Texas runs six months from the earliest of three dates.
questions 🧠Frequently asked questions
is this thing accurate?How accurate is this checker?
it applies the published thresholds for the state you pick to the numbers you type. that’s genuinely useful for a gut check — but it can’t read your repair orders, and those decide real cases. treat it as a starting point. It applies the published thresholds for the state you select to the figures you enter. That is a reliable way to see whether you are near the statutory tests, but it cannot review your repair orders, which is what determines an actual claim.
why isn’t my state in the list?Why is my state not listed?
because we only list states whose statute we’ve actually verified. every state’s lemon law is different, and guessing yours would be worse than useless. more states are being added as we confirm them. We list a state individually only once its statute has been verified against a primary source. Lemon laws differ substantially between states, and presenting one state’s rule as another’s would be misleading. Further states are added as they are confirmed.
do repairs for different problems count together?Do repairs for different problems add up?
for the 4-attempts test, no — it has to be the same defect. but for the 30-days test, yes: days out of service stack across different problems. For the repeat-attempt test, the attempts must concern the same defect. For the days-out-of-service test, time generally accumulates across repairs for one or more nonconformities.
what does it cost to actually do something?What does pursuing a claim cost?
depends on the state. California makes the manufacturer pay your attorney fees if you win, which is why those cases are usually taken with nothing up front. Texas runs an administrative complaint through TxDMV for a $35 filing fee, refunded if you win. ask about fees before you sign anything. It varies by state. California requires a losing manufacturer to pay the consumer’s reasonable attorney fees, so qualified cases are typically handled with no up-front cost. Texas runs an administrative complaint through the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles with a $35 filing fee that is reimbursed if the vehicle is found to be a lemon. Confirm fee arrangements before engaging anyone.
state guides: State guides: California · Texas · california buyback calculatorCalifornia buyback calculator
want a human to look at it? 🍋Want a professional to review it?
free case review. a real lemon-law attorney reads your repair orders and tells you straight. A free case review, where a lemon law attorney reviews your repair history and tells you where you stand.
Advertising disclosure. Lemon Law Explained is an independent information website. We are not a law firm and we do not provide legal services. We may be compensated when you request a case review or are connected with a participating attorney; that compensation never affects what this page says about the law.
This checker is general information, not legal advice, and using it does not create an attorney–client relationship. It does not predict or guarantee any outcome. Lemon law rules differ by state, change over time, and turn on your specific repair records. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state. Last reviewed August 2026.