California Lemon Law When Your Car is a Lemon

Common Questions for Los Angeles Lemon Law

Realizing that your vehicle is a lemon is stressful. Not only might it prevent you from using it, but it might also be unsafe when driving. Owning a lemon is not your fault. You can be refunded for your purchase or have the vehicle replaced by the dealership that sold it to you. Below, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about the Los Angeles lemon law by our Lemon Law 123 attorneys.

What is the Lemon Law in California?

Under the lemon law in California, a vehicle manufacturer is required to refund the purchase price of the vehicle or replace the vehicle if an issue cannot be repaired back to the original warranty status after a reasonable number of attempts to make the repair. All types of vehicles are covered under the lemon law, including cars, SUVs, motorcycles, vans, and pickup trucks.

Who is Protected by the Lemon Law in Los Angeles?

The Los Angeles lemon law protects any consumer who purchases or leases a new or used vehicle that is still under the original warranty from the manufacturer.

How Many Repair Attempts Are Reasonable?

There is no number placed on this under the law, however, most will consider two repair attempts as reasonable when labeling a vehicle as a lemon.

How Long am I Protected by the Lemon Law?

Vehicle owners are protected for the life of the vehicle’s manufacturer warranty under the lemon law. You have up to six months from the expiration of the original manufacturer’s warranty to file for arbitration if you believe you have a lemon and the dealer and/or manufacturer refuses to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price.

When is it Time to Go to Arbitration?

A third party will hear the arbitration case related to your lemon. You can take your case to arbitration when the manufacturer fails to refund you the purchase price or will not offer you a replacement vehicle for the one you have.

What Does it Cost to Go to Arbitration?

The arbitration will not cost you a dime when it involves the lemon law of California.

How Long Will Arbitration Take?

For the most part, arbitration can take up to 40 days to complete. However, most lemon law cases are resolved much sooner than 40 days.

Should I Hire a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney?

You are not required to have a Los Angeles lemon law attorney represent you at arbitration, but doing so will help your chances of winning the case and receiving compensation. Please note that attorney’s fees are not decided by the arbitrator unless the vehicle manufacturer has allowed attorney’s fees to be included in the arbitrator’s decision.

How Will a Lemon Law Attorney Help Me?

If you decide to hire a lemon law attorney, you will not have to worry about anything during the legal process if you decide to bypass arbitration. An attorney will collect evidence, investigate your claim, and provide you with an honest assessment of the situation. If you want to negotiate a settlement, a lawyer can do that for you. If your case has to go to trial, a lemon law attorney can argue for your rights in front of a judge.

Can I Choose a Replacement Vehicle?

If you win your case, you can choose to be refunded or given a replacement vehicle. The replacement vehicle must be almost identical to the vehicle you had which was a lemon. If you want upgraded features, you must pay for them out of your own pocket.

Call a Los Angeles Lemon Law Attorney Today

If you or a loved one purchased a lemon from a Los Angeles car dealer, you deserve to be compensated for your financial losses. Costly repairs, inability to use the vehicle, and unsafe conditions should not be acceptable when the lemon law is there to protect your purchase.

Valerie has been focusing on lemon law for her entire career since graduating from UCLA School of Law. After spending a lot of time working on defending car manufacturers she founded LemonLaw123.com to help people who feel unsafe in their vehicle or frustrated with the process of repeatedly taking their vehicle to the dealer for the same concerns.

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