California’s lemon law

What it covers

California’s lemon law is part of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It applies when a new vehicle, or a used vehicle sold with its own manufacturer’s or dealer’s warranty, has a defect covered by the warranty that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer or its dealers can’t fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. The remedy is a replacement or restitution (a refund minus an offset for use). The California Supreme Court held in 2024 that a used vehicle does not qualify for the new-vehicle remedy merely because part of the original factory warranty remains.

The presumption

Within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first, the law presumes a reasonable number of attempts when:

• The same serious safety defect was repaired 2 or more times, and the manufacturer was notified in writing; or
• The same defect was repaired 4 or more times, and the manufacturer was notified in writing; or
• The vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total.

The presumption helps, but claims can succeed outside it too.

Arbitration and newer procedures

Some manufacturers offer arbitration programs certified by the Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program. Laws enacted in 2024 and 2025 created additional procedures for manufacturers that choose to opt in, including written notice to the manufacturer at least 30 days before a lawsuit and set deadlines for the manufacturer to respond. The DCA publishes the list of participating manufacturers.