California has one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country when it comes to defective vehicles. Known as the California Lemon Law, this statute ensures that buyers of cars, trucks, and other consumer goods are protected when a product fails to meet quality or performance standards.
Officially titled the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (California Civil Code §§ 1793.22–1793.26), the law requires manufacturers to stand behind their warranties. According to the California Department of Consumer Affairs, if your lemon law claim involves a vehicle with a serious defect that the manufacturer or dealer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts, they are legally obligated to replace the vehicle or refund your purchase.
That’s where a Lemon Law attorney comes in. We specialize in representing consumers with defective vehicles. Our attorneys understand the complex requirements of the law and fight to ensure that car owners get the refunds, replacement vehicles, or financial compensation they deserve.
If your car has been in the shop too many times for the same issue, you may have rights under California’s powerful Lemon Law. At The Lemon Pros, our experienced trial attorneys have helped THOUSANDS of consumers across California just like you secure refunds, replacement vehicles, and cash settlements when their vehicles turned out to be lemons.
With over $75 million recovered and a track record of courtroom success, our firm is recognized as a leader in California Lemon Law litigation.
Briefly fill out our quick online form or skip the wait, and call to speak with an experienced attorney specializing in lemon law cases (855) 659-1784
It may also require the manufacturer to repurchase the vehicle from you (with deductions for the mileage that you put on the car).
The manufacturer can also be required to pay for consequential damages (such as the cost of a rental car while your lemon was being repaired), as well as your attorney’s fees. Be sure to document all costs you incur because of your vehicle’s defect.
These costs could include lost wages if you had to take time off work to deal with your lemon, or Uber and Lyft fees while your car was in the shop, or even a hotel fee if you were stuck out of town because your car broke down on you. If it can be proven that these expenses were related to the manufacturer’s neglect, you can be reimbursed for these losses in your Lemon Law claim. California’s Lemon Law also allows additional penalties against manufacturers that “willfully” violate the Tanner Consumer Protection Act. These punitive damages are meant to punish manufacturers that try to get away with selling lemons and discourage other auto manufacturers from trying to take similar shortcuts that hurt consumers. The law allows awards of up to two times the cost of the actual damages you proved. If, for example, your repurchase and financial losses were $25,000, it could be possible to get an additional $50,000 if it could be proven that the manufacturer willfully ignored the law and tried to get away with selling you a lemon. Punitive damages are not always available, but they can result in significant compensation for the inconvenience and stress you endure in dealing with a new vehicle that turns out to be a lemon. Be sure to consult with an experienced lemon lawyer who is on your side so that you can get an honest legal opinion about whether these punitive damages might be available in your case.
In general, people with civil claims (like a lemon law case) recover more money when they have an attorney than when they handle their claims on their own. There are many reasons for this. First of all, an attorney knows how to prove your claim effectively. It can be challenging to know what evidence to present or how to overcome the other lawyer’s objections if you have never handled this particular type of claim before.
The experienced California Lemon Law attorneys at The Lemon Pros know how to present a persuasive case to a judge or jury. Second, an attorney knows all the different types of compensation to which you are legally entitled. You may not know that you are entitled to punitive damages. As we have seen, those can be significant, and you could miss out on thousands of dollars in compensation if you do not know how to prove that you qualify for these punitive damages.
A lawyer will also help you consider all the many expenses that could be related to your lemon. You might not think of all your lost wages, rental car fees, Uber receipts, and other losses. A lawyer will help you gather evidence of all the financial losses you have suffered so that you do not miss out on any compensation you are owed.
Perhaps most importantly, a lemon lawyer will fight on your side. Auto manufacturers hire armies of lawyers to defend legitimate claims against them. If you do not have your own lawyer, you will have to deal with the power of a large company’s entire legal department on your own. It can be nearly impossible to defend your own legal rights in this situation.
The manufacturer’s lawyers are not on your side. They might say that you have a weak case, or that you aren’t entitled to very much compensation, or that you don’t have a case at all. These people are not on your side. In fact, they are actively working against you to pay as little as possible.
You should never take this type of legal advice from someone who is on the other side. Only your own lawyer can give you the best advice about your legal rights. Your lawyer will also be able to stand up to the power of a large corporation with an extensive legal department. Doing this is the best way to ensure that your legal rights are protected.
Over the past few decades, it has become common for auto manufacturers to include mandatory arbitration clauses in their purchase agreements and written warranties. Doing this means that the customer is contractually obligated to go through arbitration before he or she may file a claim in court. Some manufacturers try to use this process to discourage consumers from filing their valid legal claims.
You have the right to file a lemon law claim regardless of arbitration clauses in your purchase agreement.
The auto manufacturer cannot force you to arbitrate a lemon law claim that is separate from your contractual rights in your purchase agreement or warranty.
The Tanner Consumer Protection Act focuses on when repairs were performed, not warranty expiration dates.
You may still be entitled to relief if repairs occurred within the eighteen-month, 18,000-mile window.
Extended warranties and service plans are generally not covered by the lemon law because they cover repairs made after the lemon law window has closed.
Always consult with an experienced attorney from our law firm to be sure you understand how these timelines apply to your particular lemon law case. You should never assume your vehicle will not be covered without discussing your case with a lawyer. If you do, you could walk away from thousands of dollars in damages to which you are legally entitled.
As of January 1, 2025, California’s Lemon Law under AB 1755 introduces new deadlines, discovery rules, mandatory mediation, depositions, and $50/day penalties for delay.
Beginning July 1, 2025 (delayed from April), consumers seeking civil penalties must send a 30‑day written notice—including name, VIN, defect summary, and a request for replacement or repurchase. Following notice, manufacturers have 30 days to respond and 60 days to comply.
The statute of limitations is now one year from warranty expiration (not from defect discovery) but also six years from original delivery (subject to limited tolling).
These changes do streamline some proceedings—but the new pre‑suit and procedural requirements can be easy to miss. As a result, retaining experienced lemon‑law counsel is highly advisable.
Phone: (855) 659-1784
FAX: (800) 123-4567
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Michael Saeedian is an accomplished Beverly Hills attorney. Having earned a 10.0 Superb Rating from Avvo and being recognized among The National Trial Lawyers' Top 40 Under 40, Michael Saeedian is a lawyer that auto manufacturers fear. No matter how tough or complex your situation may be, Attorney Michael Saeedian will take the time to understand your unique needs and goals and develop a tailored legal strategy aimed at securing the maximum possible compensation in your case.
Phone: (855) 659-1784
Email: [email protected]
Arash Khorsandi, Esq, is the co-founder of The Lemon Pros. After graduating from the USC Marshall School of Business and law school, he became a fierce attorney at the young age of just 24. Over the years, Arash has built an all-star team of record-breaking lawyers, former insurance company adjusters, and the best paralegal staff in the country in order to ensure that his clients’ cases result in the best possible outcome.
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