The D.C. Lemon Law Statute (§ 50-501)

Washington, D.C.’s lemon law — the Automobile Consumer Protection Act, D.C. Code § 50-501 to § 50-510 — requires the manufacturer to replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price when it can’t fix a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts.

What the statute requires

To qualify, all of the following must be true:

1. Covered vehicle — a motor vehicle designed for transporting persons, sold or registered in D.C. (§ 50-501). Leases are covered. Motorcycles, motor homes/RVs, and public-transit buses are excluded; used vehicles fall under separate disclosure rules (§ 50-505).
2. Substantial impairment — the defect must substantially impair the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle. See qualifying defects.
3. Within the window — the defect is reported during the first 18,000 miles or two years from original delivery, whichever is earlier (§ 50-501, § 50-502).
4. Reasonable repair attempts — see the presumption: one attempt for a safety defect, four for a general defect, or 30 days out of service.
5. Arbitration first — you must submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration (§ 50-502, § 50-503). See the arbitration board.

The remedy — consumer’s choice

If the manufacturer can’t conform the vehicle after a reasonable number of attempts, § 50-502 directs it to replace the vehicle or repurchase it — at the option of the consumer. You control which remedy you get.

The refund — and the 12,000-mile free band

The refund returns the full purchase price plus sales tax, license fees, registration fees, and similar governmental charges, less a use allowance:

a reasonable allowance not to exceed 10 cents per mile for use in excess of the first 12,000 miles of operation (§ 50-502).

So your first 12,000 miles are free of any deduction, and only miles beyond that are charged (capped at 10¢/mile). See the refund guide.

Mandatory arbitration and the deadline

D.C. claims go to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration (§ 50-503), and any civil action must be commenced within four years of original delivery (§ 50-507). See statute of limitations.

Bottom line

D.C.’s lemon law gives you a consumer-elected refund or replacement with a consumer-friendly one-safety-attempt presumption and a 12,000-mile free-mileage band — report within 18,000 miles or two years and file with the Arbitration Board. Get a free case review.

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