How to protect yourself when buying a car: the role of a lemon law attorney
5 september 2025 в 23:37
The purchase of a long-awaited dream car can be a cause for anticipation and excitement. Perhaps it is the car you have been wishing for since you were sixteen. Maybe it is the car that your favorite Hollywood celebrity drives, or used to drive. In any case, the day of purchase is an exciting time.
However, in the weeks following the purchase of your dream car, it may unexpectedly turn out to be defective. A car is a significant investment, and drivers deserve protection from unintentionally buying a faulty vehicle. That is why lemon laws exist, and why you may need a lemon law attorney in Los Angeles.
Owning a «lemon» can be disappointing; its defects can prevent you from enjoying it, safely driving it, or reselling it. Fortunately for drivers, in 1975 California passed the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act to hold manufacturers accountable for the quality of their products and protect buyers.
State lemon laws, like this one, give you the opportunity to receive compensation (such as repairs, a buyback, or replacement) if you purchased a car that, for unclear reasons, does not work as advertised. There are conditions to be aware of. The defect in the car must impair its use or safety, or diminish its market value. The defect must also manifest after a certain mileage after purchase. Lemon laws are usually applied after several unsuccessful attempts to repair the car.
Lemon laws vary from state to state, and California has some of the strongest consumer protections. While a car is under warranty, California law applies to both new and used cars for up to 18 months or 18,000 miles after purchase. Options for replacement and full refunds are possible.
However, in some states, such as New York, different levels of compensation are provided for new and different categories of used cars. Some states, like Alabama and Colorado, exclude RVs from this. Kelley Blue Book offers this resource where you can quickly check lemon laws for each state. However, some experts warn that many state lemon laws have not been properly updated to account for electric vehicles. Make sure to check local laws.
Buying a lemon may be more common than you think. According to Cal Matters, in California, there were 15,000 lemon law cases filed in 2022, and in 2023, there were 22,000. In Los Angeles County, 10% of all civil lawsuits currently involve lemon law cases. While it may not necessarily happen to you, it could. If you believe your new car may be a lemon, here are the steps you need to take.
First, make sure to keep documentation of all car repairs and all your communications with the dealer or manufacturer. You will need them to establish a timeline and show that there were unsuccessful attempts to repair your car.
Second, if your car remains unrepaired as a lemon, and you decide to take action, notify the dealer or manufacturer in writing. When preparing this letter, it may be a good time to seek arbitration or legal assistance.
An experienced lemon law attorney can help you file a lemon law claim against the manufacturer. The attorney can review your repair order history and discuss with you whether you have a claim. (Sometimes even celebrities take proactive steps, such as keeping a lemon law attorney on retainer, to ensure smooth transactions when purchasing classic and vintage cars.)
«A car is one of the largest purchases most consumers make in their lifetime, often plunging them into deep debt», - write the authors of the Lemon Index (CARS Foundation, 2022). The report states that in the fourth quarter of 2021, the average auto loan in the US was $ 39,721. Therefore, «many consumers are unable to invest even more money in unexpected repairs after purchasing a new or recently used car».
Lemon laws provide peace of mind to drivers who might otherwise have few options after purchasing a car that turns out to be a lemon
However, in the weeks following the purchase of your dream car, it may unexpectedly turn out to be defective. A car is a significant investment, and drivers deserve protection from unintentionally buying a faulty vehicle. That is why lemon laws exist, and why you may need a lemon law attorney in Los Angeles.
Owning a «lemon» can be disappointing; its defects can prevent you from enjoying it, safely driving it, or reselling it. Fortunately for drivers, in 1975 California passed the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act to hold manufacturers accountable for the quality of their products and protect buyers.
State lemon laws, like this one, give you the opportunity to receive compensation (such as repairs, a buyback, or replacement) if you purchased a car that, for unclear reasons, does not work as advertised. There are conditions to be aware of. The defect in the car must impair its use or safety, or diminish its market value. The defect must also manifest after a certain mileage after purchase. Lemon laws are usually applied after several unsuccessful attempts to repair the car.
Lemon laws vary from state to state, and California has some of the strongest consumer protections. While a car is under warranty, California law applies to both new and used cars for up to 18 months or 18,000 miles after purchase. Options for replacement and full refunds are possible.
However, in some states, such as New York, different levels of compensation are provided for new and different categories of used cars. Some states, like Alabama and Colorado, exclude RVs from this. Kelley Blue Book offers this resource where you can quickly check lemon laws for each state. However, some experts warn that many state lemon laws have not been properly updated to account for electric vehicles. Make sure to check local laws.
Buying a lemon may be more common than you think. According to Cal Matters, in California, there were 15,000 lemon law cases filed in 2022, and in 2023, there were 22,000. In Los Angeles County, 10% of all civil lawsuits currently involve lemon law cases. While it may not necessarily happen to you, it could. If you believe your new car may be a lemon, here are the steps you need to take.
First, make sure to keep documentation of all car repairs and all your communications with the dealer or manufacturer. You will need them to establish a timeline and show that there were unsuccessful attempts to repair your car.
Second, if your car remains unrepaired as a lemon, and you decide to take action, notify the dealer or manufacturer in writing. When preparing this letter, it may be a good time to seek arbitration or legal assistance.
An experienced lemon law attorney can help you file a lemon law claim against the manufacturer. The attorney can review your repair order history and discuss with you whether you have a claim. (Sometimes even celebrities take proactive steps, such as keeping a lemon law attorney on retainer, to ensure smooth transactions when purchasing classic and vintage cars.)
«A car is one of the largest purchases most consumers make in their lifetime, often plunging them into deep debt», - write the authors of the Lemon Index (CARS Foundation, 2022). The report states that in the fourth quarter of 2021, the average auto loan in the US was $ 39,721. Therefore, «many consumers are unable to invest even more money in unexpected repairs after purchasing a new or recently used car».
Lemon laws provide peace of mind to drivers who might otherwise have few options after purchasing a car that turns out to be a lemon
© Smirnova Olga
