Vehicle Types Under the Rhode Island Lemon Law

The Rhode Island Lemon Law (§ 31-5.2-1(8)) covers an automobile, truck, motorcycle, or van with a registered gross vehicle weight under 10,000 lbs, purchased or leased in Rhode Island. Motorcycles are expressly covered; motorized campers are excluded.

Topics in this section

• Used vehicles — Coverage during the term of protection, plus DTPA and Magnuson-Moss.
• Leased vehicles — Covered, with lessee election.
• Electric vehicles — EV coverage and cold/charging factors.
• Motorcycles — Expressly covered under § 31-5.2-1(8).
• RVs — The motorized-camper exclusion and the chassis question.
• Commercial vehicles — The 10,000-lb threshold and fleet considerations.

What’s covered and what isn’t

Vehicle type	Rhode Island Lemon Law coverage
New car / pickup / van (<10,000 lbs)	Covered
Leased vehicle	Covered
Used vehicle	Covered during the term of protection; else DTPA / Magnuson-Moss
Electric vehicle	Covered
Motorcycle	Covered (§ 31-5.2-1(8))
Motorized camper	Excluded
Vehicle 10,000 lbs GVWR or more	Excluded

Distinctive coverage notes

• Motorcycles are expressly named as covered vehicles — a notable contrast with states that exclude them (joins Hawaii and New Mexico).
• Motorized campers are expressly excluded — RVs largely fall to Magnuson-Moss and the DTPA.
• The cutoff is weight (10,000 lbs) for the four listed vehicle classes.

When the lemon law doesn’t reach

For vehicles 10,000 lbs or more, motorized campers, and used vehicles outside the term of protection, Magnuson-Moss (4-year SOL, federal fees) and the DTPA (subject to its exemption) remain available.

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