How Long Do I Have to File a D.C. Lemon Law Claim?

Washington, D.C. gives a relatively generous deadline — but there are two timing rules to track.

The four-year deadline to sue

Under D.C. Code § 50-507, any lemon-law action must be commenced within four years of the date of original delivery. That’s a comfortable runway compared with states that measure in months — but it’s firm.

The coverage window

Separately, the defect must arise (and be reported) within the first 18,000 miles or two years from original delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 50-501). So:

• Coverage — the defect shows up within 18,000 miles / two years.
• Filing — you must bring any action within four years of delivery (§ 50-507).

Arbitration first

D.C. requires you to submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration before a lemon-law court action — build the arbitration timeline into the four-year window.

The parallel clocks

• CPPA — D.C.’s consumer-protection statute generally runs on a three-year limitations period.
• Magnuson-Moss — borrows the local written-contract period.
• UCC breach of warranty — generally four years (D.C. Code § 28:2-725).

See statute of limitations.

Bottom line

You have four years from original delivery to bring a D.C. lemon-law action (§ 50-507), with an 18,000-mile/two-year coverage window and mandatory arbitration along the way. Get a free case review.

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