The Refund (Repurchase) Remedy in Vermont

The refund (repurchase) is the remedy many Vermont consumers choose. If the Arbitration Board finds the vehicle is a lemon, the manufacturer must accept its return and refund the purchase price, less a reasonable use allowance.

What’s included

• Full purchase price of the vehicle.
• Collateral charges — sales tax, title, registration, and similar fees paid at purchase.
• Pair with the Consumer Protection Act for incidental and exemplary recovery where deception is shown.

The use offset — 100,000-mile basis

Vermont calculates the use deduction with a consumer-favorable formula:

offset = full purchase price × (miles driven before the first repair attempt ÷ 100,000)

Two consumer-friendly rules combine:

1. Only pre-first-repair miles count. Miles you put on after the first repair for the defect — including all the time the problem persisted — don’t increase the offset.
2. A 100,000-mile denominator. The deduction is spread over 100,000 miles, keeping it modest.

Worked example

A $36,000 vehicle, driven 9,000 miles before the first repair:

• 9,000 ÷ 100,000 = 9%.
• Offset = $36,000 × 9% = $3,240.
• Refund ≈ $36,000 + collateral charges − $3,240.

Leased vehicles

For leases (expressly covered), the refund returns the lessee’s payments and amounts paid, less the same offset, and terminates the lease — coordinating the lessor’s and lessee’s interests.

How you get it

The refund is ordered by the Arbitration Board (or reached by settlement). If the manufacturer defies a Board order, the Consumer Protection Act adds exemplary damages and mandatory fees (§ 4177).

Bottom line

A Vermont refund returns your full price plus collateral charges, minus a use offset based only on miles before the first repair over a 100,000-mile basis — a consumer-favorable formula. Get a free case review.

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