Used Vehicles Under Tennessee Lemon Law

Tennessee’s Lemon Law (§ 55-24-101) does NOT cover used vehicles. Unlike Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts which have separate used-car Lemon Laws, Tennessee has no specific used-car statute. Used vehicles must rely on Magnuson-Moss, TCPA, and Tennessee UCC warranty law.

Why used vehicles are excluded

§ 55-24-101 defines a covered vehicle as a “new motor vehicle” — explicitly excluding used vehicles. There’s no separate used-vehicle equivalent.

Alternative protections for used-vehicle buyers

For used-car defect cases, Tennessee consumers rely on:

• Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act — applies where factory or dealer warranty is in place. 4-year UCC SOL.
• TCPA (§ 47-18-101 et seq.) — applies to deceptive used-car practices. 1-year SOL from discovery.
• UCC § 47-2-313 / § 47-2-314 — express and implied warranties under Tennessee UCC. 4-year SOL.
• Common-law fraud — for willful concealment.

TCPA in used-vehicle cases

TCPA is the strongest tool for used-vehicle deceptive practices:

• Misrepresentation of vehicle condition / history.
• Failure to disclose salvage history, prior accidents, odometer rollback, known defects.
• Deceptive warranty representations by dealer.
• F&I deceptive add-ons — extended warranty, gap, theft etching.

Discretionary treble + mandatory fees under § 47-18-109(e)(1).

Magnuson-Moss for used vehicles

If the used vehicle has a remaining factory warranty OR a dealer-provided written warranty, Magnuson-Moss applies:

• Breach of written warranty — manufacturer or dealer.
• Breach of implied warranty of merchantability — UCC § 47-2-314 (where not disclaimed).
• Mandatory attorney fees under § 2310(d)(2).
• 4-year UCC SOL.

”As-Is” sales

Tennessee permits “as-is” used-vehicle sales — typically with a disclaimer in the buyer’s guide. This:

• Limits Magnuson-Moss implied warranty claims.
• Does NOT limit TCPA claims for misrepresentation or non-disclosure.
• Does NOT limit fraud claims.

Practical advice for used-car buyers

• Get pre-sale inspection by independent mechanic.
• Check Carfax / AutoCheck for prior damage.
• Confirm warranty in writing — factory or dealer.
• Save the buyer’s guide required by FTC.
• Document any defects immediately.
• File TCPA claim within 1 year of discovery.

Comparison to peer states

State	Used Car Lemon Law	Warranty Period
Tennessee	None	Magnuson-Moss only
Connecticut	§§ 42-221 to 42-226	30 or 60 days
New York	§ 198-b	30-90 days
New Jersey	§ 56:8-67	30-90 days
Massachusetts	§ 7N¼	30-90 days
Most other states	None	Magnuson-Moss only

Tennessee, like the majority of states, has no separate used-car Lemon Law — making CT/NY/NJ/MA the outliers.

Bottom line

Tennessee’s Lemon Law doesn’t cover used vehicles. Used-car claims rely on Magnuson-Moss + TCPA + UCC. The 1-year TCPA SOL is the critical deadline. Document defects immediately and file TCPA claims within 1 year of discovery.

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