Lemon Laws

Lemon laws are state laws that are for consumers with cars that fail to meet standards of quality and performance. These inadequate cars are called lemons.

The rights provided to consumers by lemon laws may exceed the warranties expressed in purchase contracts. Essentially, state lemon law statutes are similar to the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act which makes breach of warranty a violation of federal law. All States have enacted their own Warranty Acts and several States have enacted specific Statutes that pertain to Automobile Warranties.

In July 2007, California passed a law giving military personnel stationed in the state protection against lemon cars purchased in another state. Previously, members of the military that purchased a lemon vehicle outside of California had no recourse because they couldn’t leave and prosecute the violation in the state they purchased the car.