lemon law, state by state 🗺️ Lemon law by state
there is no national lemon law. the number of repair attempts, how days out of service get counted, and whether you sue or file a complaint — all of it changes at the state line. following advice from the wrong state has you doing the right things in the wrong order. 💀 There is no single national lemon law. The number of repair attempts, the way days out of service are counted, and whether you go to court or file an administrative complaint all change at the state line. Following advice written for another state means doing the right things in the wrong order.
states we’ve done properly States covered so far
every figure on these pages comes from the statute or the agency that runs it — not from other blogs. each page lists its sources at the bottom. Every figure on these pages is taken from the statute or the agency that administers it, rather than from other blogs. Each page lists its sources at the end.
arizona lemon law
Arizona measures when you reported the fault, not when it appeared, and the window is the shorter of your warranty…
the rules →Read the rules →california lemon law
California's Song-Beverly lemon law explained: the 4 / 2 / 30 repair thresholds, what's covered, buyback vs replacement, and what…
the rules →Read the rules →florida lemon law
Florida lemon law: the 24-month rights period, the mandatory written-notice step after three repair attempts, the 15 and 30 day…
the rules →Read the rules →georgia lemon law
Georgia gives the manufacturer one attempt at a serious safety defect, three at anything else, and the Attorney General runs…
the rules →Read the rules →illinois lemon law
Illinois gives you 12 months or 12,000 miles, counts 30 business days not calendar days, and makes arbitration a precondition…
the rules →Read the rules →massachusetts lemon law
Massachusetts has two vehicle laws: a new car lemon law with a 15 business day test, and a used vehicle…
the rules →Read the rules →michigan lemon law
Michigan runs two clocks: four attempts over two years, 30 days within one. And the notice letter falls due after…
the rules →Read the rules →new jersey lemon law
New Jersey has the lowest out-of-service threshold covered here at 20 days, one attempt for a severe safety defect, and…
the rules →Read the rules →new york lemon law
New York runs free state arbitration that binds the manufacturer but not you, plus a separate used car law with…
the rules →Read the rules →north carolina lemon law
North Carolina takes whichever is greater of one year and your warranty term, counts 20 business days in any 12…
the rules →Read the rules →ohio lemon law
Ohio gives four ways to qualify: eight repairs for any faults, or one attempt for a safety defect. One of…
the rules →Read the rules →pennsylvania lemon law
Pennsylvania has no state arbitration board but writes fee-shifting into the Lemon Law. The window closes at 12,000 miles for…
the rules →Read the rules →texas lemon law
Texas lemon law: the four-times, safety-hazard and 30-day tests inside 24 months or 24,000 miles, the loaner-vehicle exclusion, and the…
the rules →Read the rules →virginia lemon law
Virginia deducts for use only up to the day you first gave notice, so delay costs nothing. A serious safety…
the rules →Read the rules →washington lemon law
Washington runs free Attorney General arbitration, gives you 30 months to file, and itemises exactly what the refund has to…
the rules →Read the rules →side by side — where the states actually differ 📊 How the states compare
the numbers look similar until you read them closely. Illinois counts business days. Ohio lets eight unrelated repairs qualify you. Michigan runs two clocks that expire at different times. those details decide claims. The figures look similar until you read them closely. Illinois counts business days. Ohio allows eight unrelated repairs to qualify you. Michigan runs two clocks that expire at different times. Those details decide claims.
| State | Window | Repair attempts | Days out of service | How a claim runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Warranty term, or 2 years / 24,000 miles — whichever is shorter | 4 at the same defect | 30 calendar days | You must report the fault inside the window, not merely have it. |
| California | 18 months or 18,000 miles | 4 — or 2 for a serious safety defect | 30 calendar days | Court. The manufacturer pays your legal fees if you win. |
| Florida | 24 months from first delivery | 3, then written notice, then a final attempt | 30 calendar days — 60 for an RV | Arbitration, administered by the Attorney General. |
| Georgia | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 3 — or just 1 for a serious safety defect | 30 days | Arbitration run by the state Attorney General. |
| Illinois | 12 months or 12,000 miles | 4 at the same defect | 30 business days | The manufacturer’s arbitration first, then court. |
| Massachusetts | 1 year or 15,000 miles | 3 at the same defect | 15 business days — the lowest here | State arbitration. A separate law also covers used cars. |
| Michigan | 2 years from the first repair; 1 year for the days test | 4 — with written notice due after the 3rd | 30 days — but notice is due at 25 | Court, after a final repair attempt. |
| New-jersey | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 3 — or 1 for a severe safety defect | 20 cumulative days — the lowest here | Consumer Affairs, with treble damages behind it. |
| New-york | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 4 at the same defect | 30 calendar days | Free state arbitration — binds them, not you. |
| North-carolina | 1 year or the warranty — whichever is greater | 4 at the same defect | 20 business days in any 12-month period | Court. Treble damages for unreasonable refusal. |
| Ohio | 1 year or 18,000 miles | 3 — or 8 at any faults, or 1 if it is dangerous | 30 calendar days | Arbitration where the programme is AG-approved, then court. |
| Pennsylvania | 1 year, 12,000 miles or the warranty — whichever is shortest | 3 at the same defect | 30 days | No state board. Court, with fee-shifting written in. |
| Texas | 24 months or 24,000 miles | 4 — or 2 for a serious safety hazard | 30 days — loaner days do not count | Administrative complaint to the TxDMV, $35 fee. |
| Virginia | 18 months from delivery | 3 — or just 1 for a serious safety defect | 30 calendar days | Court. The use deduction is frozen at your first notice. |
| Washington | 24 months or 24,000 miles — but 30 months to file | 4 at the same defect | 30 days | Free Attorney General arbitration. The refund is itemised. |
figures verified against each state’s statute and administering agency. sources are listed on each state page. Figures verified against each state’s statute and its administering agency. Sources are listed on each state page.
not sure where you stand? 🍋 Not sure whether your car qualifies?
run the free checker — it applies your state’s actual thresholds to your repair history. about a minute, no email. The free checker applies your state’s published thresholds to your repair history. It takes about a minute and needs no email address.