The Massachusetts Lemon Law (M.G.L. c. 90, § 7N½)

The Massachusetts New Car Lemon Law is codified at M.G.L. c. 90, § 7N½. Massachusetts’s framework pairs the tightest combined Rights Period of any state (1 year / 15,000 miles) with the shortest OOS threshold in the country (15 business days) and the state-administered OCABR arbitration program — manufacturer required to participate if the consumer elects. Combined with Chapter 93A’s mandatory § 9(4) attorney fees and double/treble damages, Massachusetts is one of the strongest consumer-protection jurisdictions in the country despite the tight Rights Period.

The core promise

§ 7N½ requires a manufacturer to refund or replace a new motor vehicle when:

• The manufacturer (or its authorized agent) cannot repair a defect that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle within a reasonable number of attempts; AND
• The defect was reported during the warranty period; AND
• The dispute arises within 1 year of original delivery OR within the first 15,000 miles, whichever first.

Who’s covered

The Act covers:

• New motor vehicles purchased or leased in Massachusetts.
• Vehicles primarily for personal, family, or household use.
• Demonstrators sold under new-vehicle warranties.
• Motorcycles (no displacement floor).
• Subsequent transferees during the manufacturer’s warranty.

Vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR, motor homes, and off-road vehicles are excluded.

The 1-year / 15,000-mile window — tightest combined of any state

Massachusetts’s eligibility window under § 7N½ is 1 year from original delivery OR 15,000 miles, whichever first. This is the tightest combined Rights Period of any state:

• Massachusetts: 1 year / 15,000 miles (tightest combined)
• Michigan: 1 year (no mileage cap — same time window but unlimited miles)
• Ohio: 12 months / 18,000 miles
• Illinois, Pennsylvania: 12 months / 12,000 miles
• Virginia: 18 months (no mileage cap)
• Washington: 24 months / 24,000 miles

Beyond the 1-year / 15,000-mile window, Chapter 93A (4-year limit with double/treble damages) and Magnuson-Moss (4-year limit) remain available — plus the Used Car Lemon Law (§ 7N¼) for resale scenarios.

What “substantially impairs” means

§ 7N½ defines a “nonconformity” as a defect that “substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety” of the vehicle. Three-prong test (use OR market value OR safety) — matching most peer states.

See our qualifying defects guide.

What “reasonable number of attempts” means

Massachusetts’s framework under § 7N½:

• Three or more attempts for the same nonconformity, OR
• 15 or more cumulative business days out of service.

The 15-business-day OOS threshold is the shortest in the country — meaningfully shorter than the 30-calendar-day standard in most states. Only North Carolina’s 20 business days is close.

See our repair-attempt presumption article.

The written notice and final repair opportunity

Before invoking Lemon Law remedies, the consumer must serve written notice to the manufacturer with a final repair opportunity under § 7N½(2). The manufacturer then has a reasonable time (typically 7 business days) for the final repair.

OCABR state arbitration

Under § 7N½(7), the Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) administers the state-approved Lemon Law arbitration program through approved providers. Key features:

• $50 filing fee.
• Manufacturer required to participate if consumer elects.
• 45-day decision timeline typical.
• Binding on manufacturer if consumer accepts.
• Not binding on consumer — court action available if rejected.

See OCABR arbitration article.

What you can recover

• Refund — purchase price plus sales tax plus collateral charges, minus reasonable use deduction.
• Replacement — comparable new vehicle.
• No standalone Lemon Law attorney fees — fee recovery flows through parallel Chapter 93A § 9(4) claim.
• Reimbursement of incidental damages.

No standalone attorney-fee provision in § 7N½

Unlike California § 1794(d), Virginia § 59.1-207.14, New Jersey § 56:12-32, North Carolina § 20-351.8(3), Ohio § 1345.75, Pennsylvania § 1958, or New York § 198-a(l), the Massachusetts Lemon Law itself does not include a standalone attorney-fee provision. Fee recovery in Massachusetts cases flows through Chapter 93A § 9(4) mandatory fees — which is itself among the strongest UDAP fee provisions in the country.

Court action

Massachusetts Lemon Law cases are pursued in Massachusetts Superior Court. Magnuson-Moss provides concurrent federal-court jurisdiction (District of Massachusetts — Boston, Worcester, Springfield) for cases over $50K.

How Massachusetts compares to other states

State	Enforcement	Rights Period	Same-defect attempts	OOS threshold	Statutory attorney fees in lemon law	State consumer-protection act
Massachusetts	OCABR arb (mandatory mfr) OR court	1 yr / 15K mi (tightest combined)	3	15 business days (shortest)	None standalone — c. 93A § 9(4)	c. 93A (2× or 3× willful + mandatory fees)
NJ	DCA arb OR court	24 mo/24K mi	3	20 calendar days	Mandatory + expert	CFA (auto treble)
NC	Court (after BBB if mandatory)	24 mo/24K mi	4	20 business days	Mandatory	UDTPA (auto treble)
Georgia	State arb OR court	24 mo/24K mi	3	30 days	Discretionary	FBPA (treble)
Ohio	Court	12 mo/18K mi	3	30 days	Mandatory	CSPA (treble)
California	Court	4-yr SOL	2 (varies)	30 days	Mandatory	None equivalent
Texas	TxDMV	24 mo/24K mi	4	30 days	No	DTPA (treble)
Florida	Mfr arb → NMVA	24 months	3	30 days	No	FDUTPA
New York	Court OR AG arb	2 yr/18K mi	4	30 days	Mandatory	§ 349 (3×)
Illinois	Court	12 mo/12K mi	4	30 days	No	ICFA (treble)
Pennsylvania	Court OR AG arb	12 mo/12K mi	3	varies	Mandatory	UTPCPL (treble)
Michigan	Court (after IDS if mandatory)	1 yr (no cap)	4	30 days	Discretionary	MCPA (narrowed)
Virginia	Court (after BBB if mandatory)	18 mo (no cap)	3	30 days	Mandatory + expert	VCPA (treble willful)
Washington	AG arb OR court	24 mo/24K mi	4	30 days	Discretionary	WCPA (treble cap $25K)

Bottom line

Massachusetts’s Lemon Law combines the tightest combined Rights Period and the shortest OOS threshold in the country with the strongest UDAP overlay (Chapter 93A § 9 mandatory fees + double/treble damages). The OCABR state arbitration provides fast access to refund/replacement; Chapter 93A court action provides the damages amplification. Despite no standalone Lemon Law fee provision, the c. 93A § 9(4) mandatory fees produce strong consumer outcomes.

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