Motorcycles and the D.C. Lemon Law
Why motorcycles are excluded from Washington, D.C.'s lemon law (§ 50-501) — and how Magnuson-Moss and the CPPA cover a defective motorcycle instead.
Motorcycles are excluded from Washington, D.C.’s lemon law. Section 50-501 expressly excludes motorcycles (along with motor homes, motorized recreational vehicles, and public-transit buses) from coverage — but you’re not without recourse.
Why motorcycles don’t qualify
D.C.’s covered-vehicle definition is a motor vehicle designed for transporting persons, and the statute specifically excludes motorcycles (§ 50-501). That contrasts with states that include motorcycles (New Hampshire, Rhode Island) or merely don’t exclude them (South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming).
The reliable route: Magnuson-Moss
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers a motorcycle as a consumer product under its written warranty, with:
- Fee-shifting under § 2310(d)(2) — a lawyer at no out-of-pocket cost.
- Federal court access (D.D.C.).
For D.C. motorcycle owners, Magnuson-Moss is the path to a warranty remedy.
And the CPPA
If the dealer misrepresented or concealed something at sale, D.C.’s CPPA adds treble-or-$1,500/violation, punitive damages, and fees (§ 28-3905) — independent of the lemon law’s exclusion, and one of the strongest consumer remedies in the country.
Common motorcycle defects
- Engine — stalling, oil consumption, hard starting.
- Electrical — charging-system and no-start faults.
- Braking — ABS faults, premature wear.
- Drivetrain — transmission/clutch and final-drive problems.
Document each as you would any defect: repair orders, conditions, and a clear repair history.
Bottom line
D.C. excludes motorcycles from the lemon law, but Magnuson-Moss (with fee-shifting) and the powerful CPPA cover a defective or misrepresented motorcycle. Get a free case review.
Related
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Read → ArticleUsed Vehicles and the D.C. Lemon Law
How used vehicles are treated in Washington, D.C. — excluded from the main lemon-law remedy (disclosure rules only under § 50-505) — and why the CPPA and Magnuson-Moss are the routes.
Read →Think you've got a lemon?
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