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What is Lemon Law & How It Works

At Abeel & Associates, we are committed to making the claim process as simple as possible for our clients and maintaining our 5-star level of service. We can help answer questions like, “What is a Lemon car law?” how Lemon Law works, and how to take advantage of the 30-day Lemon Law for used cars.

If you live in Arizona, California, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas or West Virginia, and whether your case involves:

  • Lemon law claims,
  • Breach of your vehicle’s warranty, or
  • Dealer fraud,

To answer, how does Lemon Law work regarding my case?” there are 7 short steps to getting the compensation you deserve:

There are 7 short steps to getting the compensation you deserve:

The first step in answering, “How does Lemon Law work?” is to provide us with some written details about yourself, your complaint about a defect, the motor vehicle, and repair attempts. To determine whether you have a potential claim, we’ll need your contact information; the make, model and year of your vehicle; the general nature of your vehicle’s defects, and its servicing/repair history. It's easy to share this information via our online form. It will help us provide you better advice about the dispute, answer your questions, and take effective legal action in your Lemon Law used cars case.

Regarding Lemon Law for vehicles and bringing claims on your behalf, we’ll need various documents from you, such your sales or leasing contract and copies of your repair invoices. If you’re wondering, “Do Lemon Laws apply to used cars” the good news is that they do. You just need to provide the necessary documentation about the breakdowns and defects. Photos of defective parts or videos that show your vehicle malfunctioning in real time are also useful evidence for your claim. IF YOU HAVE THESE DOCUMENTS AND PHOTOS/VIDEOS READILY AVAILABLE WHEN YOU FILL OUT THE CASE REVIEW FORM, PLEASE UPLOAD THEM TO OUR WEBSITE AT THE SAME TIME YOU SUBMIT THE FORM.

A key point to remember when figuring out “How does Lemon Law work?” is that you cannot legally recover compensation for your defective vehicle unless you continue to be the vehicle’s owner or lessee. DO NOT SELL OR TRADE IN YOUR VEHICLE BEFORE YOUR CASE IS FULLY RESOLVED OR SETTLED.

If we resolve your case, you can get a cash settlement or your vehicle repurchased, including your down payment, trade-in value, monthly payments and taxes. So long as your car is safe to drive, continue to use your vehicle while we work on your case.

It is also important to keep your vehicle insured even if you have parked your vehicle, most states require you to keep a basic level of coverage. You may be able to reduce your insurance coverage if you are parking the vehicle during the case, but contact your insurance company to discuss that matter and your options with your insurer.

If your vehicle continues to have the same problems for which you made your claim—or it starts to exhibit additional defects—YOU MUST TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR THE CURRENT OR FUTURE ISSUES. Retain all invoices and other documents that the dealer gives you at each service appointment.

If your dealer does not provide you with documentation for one or more service visits, keep notes of the vehicle’s problems you discussed with the dealer, the dates the vehicle was serviced, and anything the dealer told you about your vehicle and its defects/repairs. Many people who ask, “Does Lemon Law apply to used cars,” miss this crucial step of documenting the total number of times that the car was taken to a repair shop and what repairs were done. This is a crucial mistake.

Your claim has a better chance of a good outcome if we have evidence that your vehicle is continuing to malfunction. Additional photos and videos of your vehicle’s defective components and operational issues will make your case for compensation stronger.

The law requires you to be the owner or lessee of your vehicle at the time your case is resolved. Consequently, you must continue to make all loan or lease payments for your vehicle until we settle your case—even if the vehicle’s defects are preventing you from driving it. As you begin to unpack the question, “How do lemon laws work?” understanding this point is critical.

If you’re just beginning to ask, “How does Lemon Law work?” you’re probably wondering how much our legal services might cost you. And the good news is that if we agree to work on your case, you will not be required to pay us a retainer or any other fees. Consumer protection laws, like state Lemon Laws and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, require the vehicle manufacturer to pay your attorneys’ fees and other claim-related expenses (such as the fees we pay to experts to inspect your vehicle and write a report). Our team of legal professionals will help you understand questions like “What is Lemon Car law?” and “How does a Lemon Law work?” beforehand and ensure that you are represented to the full extent of your rights.

If we can’t get your case settled within 30-90 days, we are prepared to sue in court to get you the best result. Our office will pay to have an outside expert inspect your vehicle and write a report about its defects and how they are impacting the vehicle’s value and your ability to drive it. We’ll use this report to negotiate a settlement or as evidence in court.

YOU WILL NEVER BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ATTORNEYS’ FEES IF WE DON’T OBTAIN A SETTLEMENT OR OTHER COMPENSATION FOR YOU.

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If your car was manufactured between 2019 and 2024 we may be able to help. Contact us for more information.