Rhode Island Lemon Law FAQ
Common questions about Rhode Island lemon-law claims — qualifying, the Arbitration Board, hiring a lawyer, cost, used vehicles, denied claims, repair shops, and deadlines.
Common questions about Rhode Island’s Lemon Law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2), the AG’s Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act, and the path to a refund or replacement.
Topics in this section
- When is a car a lemon in Rhode Island?
- Do I need a lawyer?
- How much does it cost?
- Are used vehicles covered?
- What if the manufacturer denied my claim?
- Which repair shop should I use?
- How long do I have to file?
The Rhode Island essentials
- Statute: Rhode Island Lemon Law, R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2-1 to -14.
- Thresholds: 4 same-defect repairs or 30 calendar days out of service, plus a 7-day final cure (no one-attempt safety rule).
- Term of protection: one year or 15,000 miles from delivery, whichever first.
- Coverage: automobile, truck, motorcycle, or van under 10,000 lbs (motorized campers excluded).
- Arbitration: the AG’s Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board — a $20 fee, a decision within 90 days.
- Remedy: refund (full price minus a small 100,000-mile use offset) or replacement — consumer elects.
- Appeal teeth: only the manufacturer can appeal (bonded); $25/day continuing damages; a doubled award for a frivolous appeal; mandatory fees (§ 31-5.2-11).
Related
Rhode Island Lemon Law Cases by Manufacturer
How the Rhode Island Lemon Law and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act apply to specific manufacturers across the Providence, Warwick, Cranston, and Newport markets.
Read → TopicThe Process: Filing a Rhode Island Lemon Law Claim
Step by step through a Rhode Island lemon-law claim — documented repair attempts, the 7-day final cure, the AG's Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, and court action.
Read → TopicQualifying Defects Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law
Which defects qualify under Rhode Island's lemon law — transmission, engine, brakes, electrical, steering, infotainment, EV — under the 4-attempt / 30-calendar-day presumption, with coastal salt-air and road-salt factors.
Read → TopicRemedies Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law
What you can recover in a Rhode Island lemon-law claim — consumer-elected refund or replacement, the 100,000-mile offset, $25/day damages, a doubled award, DTPA damages, and mandatory fees.
Read → TopicThe Law: Rhode Island Lemon Law and the Deceptive Trade Practices Act
The statutes behind a Rhode Island lemon-law claim — the Lemon Law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2), the AG's Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, the Deceptive Trade Practices Act (§ 6-13.1), and Magnuson-Moss.
Read → TopicVehicle Types Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law
How Rhode Island's lemon law applies across vehicle types — used, leased, EV, motorcycles, RVs, and commercial — under the 10,000-lb threshold and the motorized-camper exclusion.
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.