The Lemon Law Guide: Check Laws in Your State

Lemon Laws by State

• Alaska
• Arkansas
• California
• Colorado
• Connecticut
• Delaware
• Florida
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Minnesota
• Mississippi
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• Nevada
• New Hampshire
• New Jersey
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Utah
• Virginia
• Washington
• West Virginia
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming



You hear it all the time, and it's true: laws vary from state to state. There's no one-size-fits-all. Chances are car dealers and automakers spend a lot more time hob-nobbing with your state legislators than you do, so there are very likely some "gotcha" provisions that got slipped into the lawbooks late one night.

In many states, there's not a single statute called the "Lemon Law." You have to piece it together from here and there, and the pieces are pretty hard to find if you don't know where they are. What this means is that you really need an expert, most likely an attorney who specializes in lemon law cases. Every state has a few. Unlike a Small Claims Court case, a lemon law case involving a $30,000 and up car isn't something you should try to handle yourself.

Update: We've also interviewed the state attorney general offices, DMV's, and lemon law attorneys who are knowledgeable about the intricacies of particular state lemon laws.

So check the law in your state, see if your case seems to fit, then consult an experienced, aggressive attorney. (See "Finding the Right Lawyer") Don't be afraid to ask for an free initial consultation and be sure you understand what the lawyer will charge you. It may sound like a lot but you have to compare it to the cost of making those 48 (or 60, or 72) payments on the rust bucket in question.

More Resources

LEMON LAWS
Sample demand letter
Secret warranties
The States
Recall Section
Auto News