Leased Vehicles Under the New Hampshire Lemon Law
How New Hampshire's lemon law covers leased vehicles — parallel lessee rights, refund mechanics, the 5% lessor administrative fee, and the consumer's election.
Leased vehicles are covered under the New Hampshire Lemon Law. A lessee has the same path to a refund or replacement at the consumer’s election, with refund mechanics tailored to a lease (RSA 357-D:3, IX).
How leases qualify
- The vehicle is a covered motor vehicle (≤11,000 lbs, or a covered motorcycle/OHRV/snowmobile).
- Within the protected period (warranty term plus one year) for the presumption.
- 3 attempts or 30 business days out of service, with same-dealer repair orders.
Refund mechanics for a lease
A lease refund under RSA 357-D:3, IX generally returns:
- Aggregate deposits and rental (lease) payments made to date.
- Collateral charges — license, finance, credit, registration fees. (No sales tax in New Hampshire.)
- Incidental and consequential damages — towing, rental/alternative transportation.
- Minus the use offset on the 100,000-mile basis (counting miles before the first repair).
The manufacturer also pays the lessor a capped administrative fee (5%) and unwinds the remaining lease obligation.
The consumer’s election applies to lessees
A lessee can elect refund or replacement within 30 days of the Board decision — New Hampshire’s consumer-favorable election.
CPA and Magnuson-Moss for lessees
Lessees have the same CPA (treble + mandatory fees) and Magnuson-Moss overlays.
Bottom line
New Hampshire gives lessees the full lemon-law remedy, returning lease payments and collateral charges (less the small 100,000-mile offset) and unwinding the lease with a capped 5% lessor fee — at the consumer’s election. Get a free case review.
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Read → ArticleMotorcycles, OHRVs, and Snowmobiles Under the New Hampshire Lemon Law
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Read → ArticleUsed Vehicles Under the New Hampshire Lemon Law
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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.