washington lemon law: they list what they owe you Washington lemon law
Washington is the only state here that itemises what a refund includes — down to the undercoating and the service contract. and the arbitration is free, run by the Attorney General. 🌲 Washington is the only state covered here that itemises what a refund includes, down to the undercoating and the service contract. The arbitration is free and run by the Attorney General.
when does a car qualify in Washington? 💀 When does a vehicle qualify in Washington?
the defect has to arise within 24 months or 24,000 miles of delivery, whichever comes first. either repair test below then applies. The defect must arise within 24 months or 24,000 miles of delivery, whichever comes first. Either repair test below then applies.
the same nonconformity, four or more times. The same nonconformity subject to repair four or more times.
cumulative, across visits. Cumulative, across visits.
longer than the 24-month eligibility window — see below. Longer than the 24-month eligibility window — see below.
the filing deadline is longer than the window 🚨 The filing deadline outlasts the eligibility window
here is the part people miss: the deadline to request arbitration is 30 months from original delivery — six months longer than the window in which the defect had to appear. Here is the part people miss: the deadline to request arbitration is 30 months from original delivery — six months longer than the window in which the defect had to arise.
so a fault that shows up at month 23 does not leave you with days to act. you have until month 30 to file. that gap is genuinely useful and almost no page mentions it. the Attorney General must also accept the dispute, and the manufacturer has to act within 40 calendar days of your written request. ⏳ A fault appearing in month 23 therefore does not leave you with days to act — you have until month 30 to file. That gap is genuinely useful and is rarely mentioned. The Attorney General must also accept the dispute, and the manufacturer must act within 40 calendar days of a written request.
free arbitration, run by the state The arbitration is free and the state runs it
Washington gives you an arbitration hearing through the Attorney General’s office, free of charge. not a manufacturer programme, not a private panel you pay for. Washington provides an arbitration hearing through the Attorney General’s office, free of charge. It is not a manufacturer programme and not a private panel you pay for.
that puts it alongside Georgia and New York, and against Illinois, where you must use the manufacturer’s own programme before the thresholds even apply. That places it alongside Georgia and New York, and against Illinois, where the manufacturer’s own programme is a precondition.
and once you win, what you get back is unusually well defined — which is the next section, and the reason to keep every piece of your original sales paperwork. 🧾 And once you succeed, what you recover is unusually well defined — which is the subject of the next section, and the reason to keep every piece of the original sales paperwork.
what “refund” actually includes here 🧾 What the refund actually covers
most states say “the purchase price plus collateral charges” and leave you to argue about what that means. Washington lists them, and the list is long. Most states say “the purchase price plus collateral charges” and leave the rest to argument. Washington itemises them, and the list is long.
| Category | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Taxes and fees | Sales tax, use tax, unused licence, registration and title fees |
| Finance costs | Finance charges, prepayment penalties, credit insurance costs |
| Dealer add-ons | Dealer preparation, transportation charges, service contracts, undercoating, rustproofing |
| Incidentals | Towing charges and the cost of alternative transportation |
| Arbitration | Arbitration fees |
this matters because those items are exactly what gets quietly dropped from a settlement offer. undercoating, rustproofing and a service contract can be four figures on their own. keep the original sales paperwork — every line of it is on that list. 📄 This matters because those are precisely the items quietly dropped from a settlement offer. Undercoating, rustproofing and a service contract can come to four figures between them. Keep the original sales paperwork: every line of it appears on that list.
how a Washington claim actually runs 🏛️ How a Washington claim runs
-
paper every visit, with datesDocument every visit, with dates
four attempts or 30 days — both need drop-off and collection dates. Four attempts or 30 days — both routes need drop-off and collection dates. -
keep the original sales paperworkKeep the original sales paperwork
the refund list includes dealer prep, service contracts, undercoating and rustproofing. The refund list includes dealer preparation, service contracts, undercoating and rustproofing. -
request arbitration — free, via the AGRequest arbitration through the Attorney General
within 30 months of delivery. they must act within 40 calendar days. Within 30 months of delivery. The manufacturer must act within 40 calendar days. -
repurchase or replacementRepurchase or replacement
the consumer chooses which remedy to pursue. The consumer chooses which remedy to pursue.
| the statuteStatute | Motor Vehicle Lemon Law — RCW 19.118 (the remedy sits at RCW 19.118.041) Motor Vehicle Lemon Law — RCW 19.118 (the remedy sits at RCW 19.118.041) |
|---|---|
| the windowEligibility window | the defect must arise within 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. The defect must arise within 24 months or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. |
| ⏳ filing deadlineFiling deadline | request arbitration within 30 months of delivery — six months longer than the window itself. Request arbitration within 30 months of delivery, six months longer than the eligibility window. |
| arbitrationArbitration | free, run by the Attorney General, who must accept the dispute. Free, administered by the Attorney General, who must accept the dispute. |
| what you get backThe refund | unusually well itemised — taxes, finance charges, dealer add-ons, towing and alternative transport. no divisor formula, so no calculator. how buybacks work → Unusually well itemised: taxes, finance charges, dealer add-ons, towing and alternative transport. There is no divisor formula, so no calculator. See how buybacks work. |
washington questions 🧠Washington lemon law FAQ
how many repairs before it’s a lemon in Washington?How many repair attempts before a car is a lemon in Washington?
four at the same fault, or 30 cumulative days out of service, where the defect arose within 24 months or 24,000 miles of delivery. Four at the same nonconformity, or 30 cumulative days out of service, where the defect arose within 24 months or 24,000 miles of delivery.
how long do i have to file?What is the Washington filing deadline?
30 months from original delivery — six months longer than the 24-month window in which the defect had to appear. a fault at month 23 still leaves you time. Thirty months from original delivery, six months longer than the 24-month window in which the defect had to arise. A fault appearing in month 23 still leaves time to file.
does arbitration cost anything?Does Washington lemon law arbitration cost anything?
no. the hearing runs through the Attorney General’s office free of charge, and arbitration fees are themselves on the recoverable list. No. The hearing runs through the Attorney General’s office free of charge, and arbitration fees are themselves on the recoverable list.
what exactly do they refund?What does a Washington refund include?
more than most states spell out: sales and use tax, unused licence and registration fees, finance charges, prepayment penalties, credit insurance, transport and dealer prep, service contracts, undercoating, rustproofing, plus towing and alternative transport. More than most states spell out: sales and use tax, unused licence and registration fees, finance charges, prepayment penalties, credit insurance, transportation and dealer preparation, service contracts, undercoating and rustproofing, plus towing and alternative transport.
other states: Other states: California · Texas · Florida · Illinois · Ohio · Michigan · Georgia · Massachusetts · Arizona · Virginia · New York · Pennsylvania · New Jersey · North Carolina
keep reading: Related: is my car cooked?Lemon checker · the process & timelineThe process and timeline · what a buyback paysWhat a buyback pays
washington case? 🌲 Think you may have a Washington claim?
free vibe-check, 2 minutes. and dig out your original sales paperwork first — in Washington the add-ons on that invoice are recoverable, and they are exactly what gets left out of an offer. Get a free case review in about two minutes. Dig out the original sales paperwork first — in Washington the add-ons on that invoice are recoverable, and they are exactly what an offer leaves out.
Sources
- RCW 19.118 — Motor Vehicle Lemon Law — the statute as published by the Washington Legislature
- RCW 19.118.041 — the remedy: the itemised collateral charges and the manufacturer’s 40-day duty
- Washington Attorney General — Lemon Law — the free arbitration programme and how to request it
- BBB National Programs — Washington lemon law (PDF) — independent summary of thresholds and deadlines
- Center for Auto Safety — Washington — non-commercial comparison of the state laws
- Cornell Legal Information Institute — lemon law — background on how these statutes work
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 page describes Washington law in general terms and is not legal advice. It does not create an attorney–client relationship and predicts no outcome. Thresholds and deadlines turn on dates and mileage specific to your vehicle. Confirm your own position with a licensed attorney in your state. Last reviewed August 2026.