exist to protect drivers from faulty or defective vehicles. They cover new, used, pre-owned, and certified cars bought and leased in California, both under warranty and under extended warranty.

Always consult a lawyer before pursuing a claim under California’s lemon laws. These laws are complex and can be costly to engage—lawsuits can drag on for years.

No matter the car you’re driving—new or used, lemon or not—you’ll need

car insurance

. With

Jerry

, insuring your car has never been so easy.

In 45 seconds, sign up to Jerry and then let this AI-powered car insurance broker and comparison shopping app do the rest. Scroll through competitive quotes from more than 40 of the country’s top insurers, pick your policy, and Jerry will finalize everything—no forms, no phone calls, and no hassles for you.

For everything you need to know about California’s lemon laws, keep reading!

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

What is a lemon law?

Lemon laws

are designed to protect consumers from losing money due to a defective or faulty vehicle that can’t be repaired after multiple attempts.

Under California’s lemon law, the manufacturer or your dealer is entitled to several attempts to fix your car’s nagging problem—two attempts to fix a nagging safety issue and four or more tries to fix an ongoing issue that isn’t safety related.

If after multiple attempts the problem isn’t resolved, you may be in a position to pursue compensation or a replacement vehicle from the manufacturer via the state’s lemon law.

Is there a lemon law in California?

Indeed there is. California’s lemon law, also known as the

Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act of 1970

, is among the most rigorous consumer protection laws in the country.

Is my defect covered under the lemon law?

Not all defects are created equal. In California, are car’s safety, value, and use must be seriously impacted to be considered a lemon. Here’s a list of common defects that have been the basis of successful claims under California’s lemon law:

Constant or repetitive engine light warnings

Steering issues

Braking problems

Defective windshield wipers or mirror

Faulty fuel gauges and speedometer

Headlight problems

Brake light issues

Faulty door locks

Stalling issues

Failure to start

Broken air conditioning

Weakened acceleration

Battery repeatedly dying

Lurching transmission

Shoddy paintwork

Not everything is covered, though. The lemon law in California won’t apply to issues that are merely annoying but don’t affect the car’s operation or safety.

This includes, but is not limited to, issues like wind noise inside the cabin, an air conditioner that works but doesn’t cool the car down as quickly as you’d like, and brakes that squeak but work fine.

Key Takeaway To qualify under California’s lemon law, a car’s defect must be considered serious enough to reasonable outside observation as to impact its safety, use, or value.

MORE:

How to check if your car is a lemon

Are used cars covered under the lemon law?

So long as your used car has a warranty or extended warranty and was

bought or leased

in California, it is covered under the state’s lemon law.

What about new cars?

New cars bought and sold in California with a written warranty are covered under the state’s lemon law.

RECOMMENDED

Compare auto insurance policies

No spam or unwanted phone calls · No long forms

ZIP Code

Find insurance savings

How to pursue your lemon law rights in California

If you’re going to pursue a lemon law case in California, you’ll need to be organized. Make sure you have any invoices and work orders from repairs ready to go, consult a lawyer specializing in lemon law cases, and be prepared to settle the issue out-of-court.

Collect your paperwork

Always keep a record of any repairs (or attempted repairs) made by the dealership or manufacturer. This includes invoices, receipts, and any other paperwork—it will all be helpful if you take legal action and need to prove your case.

Without records, the manufacturer can claim they never made the repairs or weren’t given enough chances to fix the problem.

Consult an attorney

When pursuing a lemon law case, it’s a good idea to consult an attorney with experience in this area. California’s lemon laws are complex and it’s vital to have a steady hand guiding you through the process.

If you’re pursuing a case against a manufacturer, they will have a lawyer (probably more than one!) at their side—so you should have one as well.

One obvious reason to retain a lawyer is so they can handle the intricacies of the legal process for you. Small errors can slow down the process or weaken your case. Having an experienced lawyer to follow and interpret the rules correctly gives your case the best chance to succeed.

Consider your alternatives

Most manufacturers have an informal dispute settlement procedure, or arbitration, in place to help settle any lemon-related issues. This process is usually free and much faster than pursuing a lawsuit, which may take years to resolve. Your lawyer will guide you through the arbitration process.

Key Takeaway Be wary of a lawyer pushing to file a lawsuit immediately, as most lemon issues can be solved out of court with the manufacturer.

Lemon law tips

Here are some tips to keep in mind when thinking about pursuing a lemon law case in California:

Lemon laws don’t apply if you modify your car, or if any defective or nagging problem is the result of your own negligence, abuse, or misuse of the vehicle

Make sure that all repairs or attempted repairs are made by professionals authorized by the dealer, and ideally done in manufacturer or dealership facilities

Be consistent with your terminology—if your car is constantly stalling, be clear that this is the issue, mention it each time you bring the car in for service, and make sure the problem is noted on the work order

If your case is successful—whether through the courts or arbitration—and the manufacturer buys back your lemon, you’ll be compensated less any deductions as specified under California’s lemon law

If, after consulting with your lawyer, you realize that the state’s lemon laws can’t help you, you may be protected under the Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

MORE:

California minimum car insurance laws

Finding cheap car insurance

Hopefully you’ll never drive a car that’s deemed a lemon due to nagging issues. But whatever car you’re driving, be sure to protect yourself and other drivers on the road with a robust

car insurance

policy.

With

Jerry

, it's easy to find great protection at affordable prices. Sign up takes under a minute and then this car insurance broker and comparison shopping app will generate competitive quotes from 45 top insurers.

Once you make your pick, Jerry will sign you up for your new policy and cancel your old one—just like that. No forms, no phone calls, and no hassles.

Best of all, Jerry is free to use!