Does your car qualify under California lemon law?
The eligibility checker asks the same questions a lemon law attorney asks in a first call: what the problem is, how many times the dealer has tried to fix it, how long the vehicle has been in the shop, and whether it is still under the manufacturer's warranty. Your answers are scored against the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act so you know whether your situation is worth a closer look.
The check takes about a minute and runs in your browser. It is not legal advice, and a borderline result is a reason to talk to an attorney, not a reason to give up.
What California lemon law requires
The Song-Beverly Act covers vehicles sold or leased in California with a manufacturer's new vehicle warranty. It applies when a defect covered by that warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and the manufacturer or its dealers can't fix it after a reasonable number of attempts.
The presumption: the 18-month / 18,000-mile rule
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first), any of the following happened:
- The same defect was repaired four or more times.
- A defect likely to cause death or serious injury was repaired two or more times, and you notified the manufacturer directly.
- The vehicle was out of service for repairs for more than 30 days in total.
The presumption is a shortcut, not a requirement. Many vehicles qualify outside those limits, for example a defect that first appeared at 25,000 miles while the warranty was still in effect.
Three common situations
Transmission repaired four times in a year
Four repair orders for the same shifting problem within 18 months meets the repair-attempt presumption. This is a strong fact pattern.
Brakes repaired twice
Two attempts on a safety-related defect can meet the presumption if the manufacturer was notified directly. Keep a copy of that notice.
EV in the shop for 34 days
More than 30 cumulative days out of service within 18 months meets the presumption even if the problems were different each visit.
Frequently asked questions
- Do used cars qualify?
- Sometimes. Coverage for used vehicles is narrower than for new ones and depends on how the car was sold and what warranty came with it. An attorney can tell you whether yours is covered.
- Does the problem have to be the same every time?
- For the four-attempt rule, yes. For the 30-day rule, the days can add up across different warranty repairs.
- What if the dealer said they couldn't find the problem?
- A visit where the dealer could not duplicate the issue can still count as a repair opportunity. Keep every repair order, even the ones that say no problem found.
- Is there a deadline?
- Yes. Claims are generally subject to a four-year statute of limitations, and recent changes to California law add pre-suit notice steps for some claims. Don't wait to get advice.
- What does it cost to have an attorney review my case?
- Nothing. The review is free, and in a successful lemon law case the manufacturer pays the attorney fees.
Want an attorney to look at your numbers? Request a free case review or read the complete guide to California lemon law.