D.C. Lemon Law Statute of Limitations (§ 50-507)

Washington, D.C.’s lemon law gives a clear, relatively generous deadline — but it has two timing rules to track.

The four-year deadline to sue

Under D.C. Code § 50-507, any action under the lemon law must be commenced within four years of the date of original delivery of the vehicle. 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, § 50-502). So:

• Coverage — the defect shows up within 18,000 miles / two years.
• Filing — you must sue (or complete arbitration and any follow-on suit) within four years of delivery (§ 50-507).

Arbitration first

Remember D.C. requires you to submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration (§ 50-502, § 50-503) before a lemon-law court action — factor 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 for the deceptive-practice claim.
• Magnuson-Moss — borrows the local written-contract period.
• UCC breach of warranty — generally four years from tender of delivery (D.C. Code § 28:2-725).

Practical timeline

1. Report the defect within 18,000 miles / two years.
2. Hit the presumption — one safety attempt, four general, or 30 days.
3. File with the Arbitration Board.
4. Commence any court action within four years of original delivery (§ 50-507).

Bottom line

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

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