How Much Does a Michigan Lemon Law Case Cost?

The short answer: BBB Auto Line is free. Michigan Circuit Court filing fees are ~$150-$200. Federal-court filing fees ~$405 — which is where most Michigan cases land because of Magnuson-Moss’s load-bearing role. With attorney representation, fees are paid by the manufacturer.

Michigan costs by path

Path	Filing fee
BBB Auto Line	Free
Michigan Circuit Court	~$150-$200
Federal court (E.D./W.D. Mich.)	$405
Attorney representation	$0 out of pocket
Attorney fees if you prevail	Paid by manufacturer via Magnuson-Moss § 2310(d)(2) (primary) and § 257.1407(2) (discretionary)

Attorney-representation costs

• No fee upfront.
• Costs advanced by attorney.
• Fees recovered through Magnuson-Moss § 2310(d)(2) (mandatory) or § 257.1407(2) (discretionary).

Why fee-shifting works

Michigan’s fee landscape is unusual — federal Magnuson-Moss is the primary fee engine because of MCPA’s narrowing. Awards typically range $25,000-$60,000 for settled cases.

When hiring an attorney makes sense

Without an attorney	With an attorney
Goodwill offer: $2,000	Refund: $30,000-$45,000
You pay $0 (BBB)	Manufacturer pays refund + sales tax
Net to you: $2,000	Plus Magnuson-Moss fees: $25,000-$60,000 paid by manufacturer
	Net to you: $55,000-$105,000+

Initial consultations are free

Browse our Michigan lemon-law attorney directory.

Bottom line

Michigan’s combination of free BBB Auto Line plus federal Magnuson-Moss mandatory fee-shifting makes lemon-law representation economically accessible. The 1-year reporting window and certified-mail notice are the only procedural costs.

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