How Much Does a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim Cost?
What a Hawaii lemon-law claim costs — $50 (refundable) for SCAP arbitration, and nothing out of pocket in court because the UDAP § 480-13 shifts mandatory fees to a losing manufacturer.
A Hawaii lemon-law claim is low-cost to pursue: the state-run SCAP arbitration costs the consumer just $50 (refunded if you win), and in court the UDAP § 480-13 shifts mandatory attorney fees to a losing manufacturer.
SCAP — cheap by design
- Consumer pays $50, refunded if you prevail.
- Manufacturer pays $200 filing fee.
- Decision within 45 days.
- Attorney fees in arbitration are discretionary — but the low cost means you may not need a lawyer for a clean case.
Court — manufacturer pays your fees
In court, HRS § 480-13 makes attorney fees and costs mandatory for a prevailing consumer, alongside automatic treble (or a $1,000 floor). So attorneys take meritorious cases on contingency: no fee upfront, costs advanced, fees recovered from the manufacturer. See attorney fees.
What you recover
- Refund (full price minus the 1%-per-1,000-mile offset) or replacement (manufacturer elects, § 481I-3(b)).
- UDAP $1,000 or treble (whichever greater), plus the $5,000 elder enhancement.
- Towing, rental, and incidental costs.
How Hawaii compares
Hawaii’s automatic-treble, mandatory-fee UDAP puts it among the strong recovery states — comparable to North Carolina and New Jersey — and its $50 SCAP fee is among the most accessible arbitration costs anywhere.
Bottom line
SCAP costs $50 (refundable); court costs you nothing out of pocket because the UDAP shifts mandatory fees to the manufacturer. Get a free case review.
Related
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim?
Whether you need an attorney for a Hawaii lemon-law claim — SCAP is designed for self-representation, but court (with UDAP treble and mandatory fees) often warrants counsel.
Read → ArticleHow Long Do I Have to File a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim?
Hawaii's deadlines — the 1-year-after-rights-period lemon-law SOL (§ 481I-3(j)), the 45-day SCAP timeline, and the UDAP and Magnuson-Moss clocks.
Read → ArticleWhat If the Manufacturer Denied My Hawaii Lemon Law Claim?
What to do when a manufacturer denies a Hawaii lemon-law claim — common defenses, the written-report issue, SCAP arbitration, and court with UDAP treble.
Read → ArticleAre Used Vehicles Covered Under the Hawaii Lemon Law?
How used vehicles are covered in Hawaii — the original-warranty route, plus the UDAP (automatic treble + $1,000 floor) and Magnuson-Moss for misrepresentation and concealed salt-air corrosion.
Read → ArticleWhen Is a Car a Lemon in Hawaii?
Hawaii's thresholds — 3 same-defect repairs, just 1 for a serious safety defect, or 30 business days out of service, within the Rights Period, plus a written report.
Read → ArticleWhich Repair Shop Should I Use for a Hawaii Lemon Law Claim?
Why you must use an authorized dealer for repairs to count toward Hawaii's lemon-law presumption — and how limited island dealer networks and parts delays affect the day count.
Read →Think you've got a lemon?
Compare your situation to your state's requirements — and connect with a vetted lemon-law attorney for a free case review.