California Lemon Law — Frequently Asked Questions

The questions below are the ones California buyers ask most often before deciding whether to pursue a Song-Beverly claim. Each links to a deeper article. Skim the question list to find what’s relevant to your situation.

Topics in this section

• When is a car a lemon in California?
• Do I need a lawyer for a lemon law claim?
• How much does a lemon law case cost?
• Are used vehicles covered?
• The manufacturer denied my claim — now what?
• Does it matter which repair shop I use?
• How long do I have to file a claim?

These are the questions worth answering once, in depth, so buyers can decide whether they have a viable Song-Beverly claim before deciding whether to consult a California lemon-law attorney.

Related

Topic

California Lemon Law Cases by Manufacturer

How California's Song-Beverly Act applies to specific manufacturers — characteristic defect patterns, TSB histories, and settlement dynamics for the 13 brands most often litigated.

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The California Lemon Law Process

Step-by-step: how a California lemon-law claim moves from "my car keeps breaking" through evidence-gathering, manufacturer notice, arbitration, and litigation to a buyback or replacement.

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Qualifying Defects Under California Lemon Law

What kinds of vehicle defects actually qualify for a Song-Beverly Act buyback — the substantial-impairment test, common qualifying categories, and what doesn't count.

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California Lemon Law Remedies

What you can actually recover under California's Song-Beverly Act — buyback math, replacement vehicles, cash-and-keep settlements, mileage offsets, civil penalties, and attorney-fee shifting.

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The Law: Statutes and Framework

The statutes that govern California lemon-law claims — Song-Beverly, Magnuson-Moss, the lemon-law presumption, statute of limitations, and the role of implied warranties.

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Vehicle Types Covered by California Lemon Law

How California's Song-Beverly Act applies to used cars, certified pre-owned vehicles, leases, EVs, motorcycles, RVs, and commercial trucks — coverage varies by category.

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