Lemon Law... Car dealership contract fraud

Often in the course of our law firm reviewing the purchase or lease documents provided by our potential clients for their possible “lemon law” case, we uncover various forms of dealer contract fraud. The alleged fraud (not yet proven) can be found in both purchase AND lease contracts provided for customer signature to “finalize” the sale or lease of the new or used motor vehicle.What kinds of “lemon law” claims contain fraud? It often depends on the elements contained in the purchase or lease contract. Some examples of contract fraud can be:
Improper or non-disclosure of “negative equity” on a trade-in.
Dealer not providing a Spanish language contract for customers that only read and write in Spanish.
Contracts that cannot be financed by the lender, and improper “new” contracts are drawn up for signature that supercede the first contract.
Sales in which customers are “required” to buy certain accessories in order to “qualify” for “special” financing, or “qualify” for a particular interest rate.
The dealer does not list the trade-in on the contract at all, resulting in the customer losing the monetary value of the trade-in.
Dealership selling a car “guaranteeing” it has not been in a major accident by virtue of a “clean” title history report given to the customer as “assurance” at time of sale.
There are often other types of dealership contract fraud. We invite you to call our offices if you feel you are the victim of dealership contract/sale/lease fraud.

Lemon Law... The “no cooling off period” rule

In California, when a customer purchases or leases a new motor vehicle, there is no “cooling off period” rule. What this means is just because you may think that (after signing and taking delivery) that it’s not the right vehicle for you, your payments are too high, or other various reasons that the sale/lease can be cancelled – it cannot. The moment you complete the sale/lease documents and take physical delivery of the car (drive off the lot), there is no “cooling off” period in which to return the vehicle and rescind the sale. At this point it is yours.The only exceptions to the “no cooling off period” are dealer fraud, or if the dealer has delivered the vehicle on a “subject to lenders credit approval” conditional sale, and it later turns out that the dealer cannot secure the necessary financing to complete the sale.Be very careful when you are about to take delivery on a new (or used) vehicle. Sometimes vehicle’s that have problems (both the vehicle and/or the contract) right from the start can be avoided entirely by the consumer following a few guidelines:1. Test-drive the vehicle before signing the contract for mechanical/operational problems.2. Inspect the new vehicle under fluorescent lights for body/paint flaws or dealer-repaired damage. It’s easier to start off with a vehicle that doesn’t required post-sale paint repairs. NOTE: even brand new vehicles may have previously sustained damage during the railcar transportation process, loading or unloading, or while on the dealers lot.3. If buying or leasing a “used” vehicle, (whether or not it’s “certified” or not) have it checked out by a reputable mechanic. Also have a reputable body shop check for undisclosed collision damage repairs.4. Make sure the contract lists all accessories that you are purchasing as part of the sale/lease. NOTE: Accessories added by the dealer (especially non-factory aftermarket accessories) are not reimbursable in a “lemon law” claim. “Lemon law” claims are based on the vehicle ”as equipped” on the factory Monroney label (window sticker).Once you have purchased or leased your choice of vehicle, and if it turns out to be problematic with substantial defects that may be applicable to “lemon law”, we invite you to call our offices for a free case “lemon law” review.

Lemon Law... See us on California’s freeways and highways

The Law Offices of William R. McGee, California Lemon Law Attorneys, has become part of the California highway “landscape”, with outdoor billboard advertising on California’s freeways and highways. Our high visibility “1-800-CA-LEMON” phone number provides California motorists with an instant “lemon line” to call and get rid of their “lemon” vehicle.

Lemon Law... Dealership “pressure” sales tactics

Most new vehicles manufactured for sale or lease to consumers turn out to be “good” vehicles to their buyers or leasers, fulfilling their requirements of providing reliable transportation.Some vehicles will turn out to be “lemons” under our California Lemon Law. These vehicles will turn out to have operational/mechanical problems, and/or safety/use impairment issues.Can a consumer spot a brand new vehicle that may be a potential “lemon”? The answer is YES. Can consumers avoid these potential lemons? Yes. Do automobile dealerships often pressure the customer to “speed up” the sale/lease process and side-step important pre-sale decision steps? Yes.Some examples of potential “lemon law” candidate vehicles are:1. Vehicle’s that have a severe steering “pulling” problem noted by the consumer on the “test drive”.2. Vehicle’s that have paint flaws, such as “peeling” or “flaking” new paint. Also, vehicle having “panels” that do not color match to one another (example: fender does not color match door correctly) should be avoided.3. Vehicle’s that have doors or hatches that improperly close/latch/fit.4. Vehicle’s that are represented as “company demonstrators” or “executive cars” that are registered as “new”, but the consumer fails to have inspected for abuse or damage prior to signing the contract.How does the consumer avoid the “pressure tactics” of car dealerships and car salespeople, yet at the same time ensure that they properly inspect and “test drive” their vehicle choice? It’s basically a “buyer takes control” step-by-step plan.To “take control” of the vehicle purchasing/leasing experience and minimize stress, “pressure sales tactics” and reduce the possibility of a “lemon” vehicle, consider following these steps:1. Speak with your banker or credit union on what price vehicle you can afford before you go into a car dealership. Discuss your available down-payment, payments, etc. with your loan officer so you will have a good idea what the “maximum price” car you can afford before starting your car buying/leasing quest. Any purchase price you end up negotiating that is below your “target price” will result in a lower monthly payment.2. Before visiting the car dealership(s), do your homework on the internet. A wealth of information is available on the internet, including factory rebates, incentives, special financing and more. Most manufacturers allow you to “build” your vehicle online at their web site, reviewing what the “MSRP” (manufacturers suggested retail price) is before ever going on a dealers lot! Many websites, such as www.kbb.com, and www.edmunds.com allow you to “build” a new vehicle on line with options you desire, allowing you to see both “retail” and “dealer invoice” prices. 3. Once completing your “pre-dealership visit homework”, it’s now time to visit the car dealership.4. Once you have completed the time necessary to find the vehicle that is the your potential purchase/lease candidate, you will need to remember this important tip: “price negotiations at the dealership can either be to the benefit of the consumer, or to the dealer”. Time=Fatigue=Pressure. The more time you spend at a dealership, the more tired you become. The more tired you are (as well as the emotions involved in the car buying experience) the more fatigued you become, and the dealer then takes control. If you find that you are feeling tired, fatigued or “pressured”, STOP. This is where the buyer can take control. You can choose to halt the negotiations/sale process for some “breathing room”. This is a good time to consider returning on another day to the dealership. A simple refundable deposit check is all that is necessary to “hold” a vehicle so you can come back another day to continue the negotiating/sale process. There is a big difference between signing a contract (completed sale), and simply leaving a refundable deposit to “hold” the particular vehicle you are interested in.5. What if the vehicle has a rebate and/or special financing, that is ending the day you find your vehicle? This is a situation that requires you to make choices. These choices are up to you. 6. What if the dealer “pressures” me with “this price is only for today” or similar verbal sales tactics? Figure it this way, if the dealer can sell it to you for “X” price today, what makes tomorrow any different? Answer: nothing. If the dealer attempts to talk “rebate ends” or other tactics, the rebates have nothing to do with the “selling price” that the dealer is negotiating with you. The rebate is taken after the vehicle purchase price, tax and license are computed. Don’t fall for this old dealer pressure sales tactic.Remember, no one is handcuffing you to a chair at the dealership. You can get up and leave at any time. The buyer is in control until or unless the buyer chooses to allow the emotions (or the dealer) to control the sale. Keep in mind this is a business/monetary transaction. You are exchanging money and/or a financial obligation in return for motoring transportation. If you treat it as such, and not a “spur of the moment” or “pressured” same day decision, you will likely end up being happier with your purchase/lease decision.Once you have decided upon and have completed your vehicle acquisition, and if it for some reason the vehicle turns out to be a “lemon”, we would invite you to call our law offices for a free “lemon law” case review and evaluation.

Lemon Law... Used Car Lemon Law

Can a vehicle purchased or leased as “used” be considered a “lemon” under the California Lemon Law? The answer is “yes”, if it meets certain criteria:
The vehicle is covered by the balance of the manufacturer’s new vehicle limited warranty.
The vehicle was sold with a manufacturer’s “certified” used vehicle limited warranty.
The vehicle was sold with a limited warranty provided by the selling dealer, as described on the “BUYERS GUIDE” disclosure label.
When a vehicle has had an unreasonable number of repair attempts within the limits of the manufacturer’s warranty period for a repeated defect of a substantial nature, the vehicle may be a “lemon law” candidate. The California lemon law may be applicable for repurchase relief.If the vehicle has had an unreasonable number of repair attempts within the limits of the dealer-provided limited warranty for a repeated defect of a substantial nature, the dealer can be pursued for legal remedy. NOTE: Our law firm does not pursue “independent” used car dealerships (meaning those dealerships that are not franchised to sell new cars). It should be noted that for vehicles covered by a dealer-provided limited warranty, the vehicle must be presented to the selling dealership for warranty repairs.

Lemon Law... FAQ's (frequently asked questions)

1.Am I required to go through Arbitration before pursuing a Lemon Law claim?
No. The California Lemon Law does not require the consumer to participate in arbitration that may be offered by the vehicle manufacturer in order to pursue a Lemon Law claim.

2.Am I required to notify the vehicle manufacturer and give them a opportunity to repair a problem before pursuing a Lemon Law claim?
No. So long as the manufacturer’s authorized warranty repair facility has had a reasonable number of opportunities to repair a warranty problem, the manufacturer need not be given notice or a opportunity to repair the problem.

3.Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicles that are older than one or two years?
Yes. As long as the vehicle is having warranty problems, the Lemon Law potentially can apply no matter hold old the vehicle is. The Lemon Law may also apply to a vehicle even if the original new vehicle warranty has expired so long as the vehicle is still having problems complained about on repair orders during the original warranty period.

4.Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicle that have in excess of 18,000 miles, or 18 months?
Yes. As long as the vehicle is having warranty problems, the Lemon Law may apply no matter what the odometer reading is on the vehicle.

5.Is a vehicle registered to a business on lease or purchase covered by the Lemon Law?
Please click on our web site link “Senate Bill 1718 Passed” for more information on business use/owned/leased vehicles.

6.Is there a specific number of repair attempts that must be completed in order to have a valid Lemon Law claim?
No. There must be a reasonable number of repair attempts. The definition of what constitutes a reasonable number of repair attempts will vary given the vehicles particular problem(s). In general, if a problem has been subject to at least four separate repair attempts at the manufacturers authorized repair facility, or has spent more than 30 days cumulative in the shop, this is sufficient to establish a reasonable number.

7.Are there situations where only 2 repair attempts are considered reasonable?
Please click on our web site link “Senate Bill 1718 passed” for more information.

8.Does the Lemon Law apply only to passenger cars?
No. The Lemon Law applies not only to passenger cars, but also to trucks, SUV’s, vans, motorcycles, and all consumer goods that are covered by a manufacturers warranty and are used primarily for personal, family or household use.

9.Does the Lemon Law apply to vehicles that are purchased used?
Yes. The Lemon Law can apply to a used vehicle. The vehicle must be covered by a warranty.

10.Does the Lemon Law apply to minor defects, or only significant defects?
The Song-Beverly Act applies to defects which constitute a substantial impairment to the use, value or safety of the vehicle to the owner or lessee. Therefore, inconveniences (static or poor reception in the radio, for example) normally do not make a Lemon Law claim. Serious problems with brakes, transmission, engine function, SRS/airbag, inoperable air conditioning, persistent water leaking, engine oil or transmission oil leaks, overheating, “CHECK ENGINE”, to cite a few, are examples of Lemon Law impairment to use, value, or safety of the vehicle. There are other federal laws that further expand on what is considered to be a “defect” that constitutes replacement of purchase price or a refund of monies spent.

Lemon Law... Arbitration - What you should know

“Arbitration” is an “alternative dispute resolution process” that many automobile manufacturers make available to purchasers of their vehicles who may want to pursue their Lemon Law rights. A consumer does not have to use the manufacturer’s arbitration process to enforce the Lemon Law. A consumer can choose to use a Lemon Law attorney.An arbitration hearing is not necessarily a “win” or “lose” outcome for the consumer. The arbitrator may “award” another repair attempt for the vehicle's manufacturer as the “reasonable” solution to the problem(s), even though the consumer feels that they have provided the manufacturer or its dealership with more than enough repair attempts. In addition, if the arbitrator does not feel that the consumer’s problem is “substantial,” the arbitrator may reject the consumer’s claim. Often times the arbitrator will ask to test drive the consumer’s vehicle in an attempt to duplicate the consumer’s complaint, however, if the problem is of an intermittent nature this can result in a denial of the consumer’s claim. A very common arbitrator's decision is to order an additional repair attempt, typically infuriating the vehicle owner. The consumer needs to be aware that an arbitrator’s decision or opinion is not a binding determination of the consumer’s Lemon Law rights.It is important for the consumer to know that a manufacturer’s arbitration process is VOLUNTARY in California. In other words, the consumer does not have to use the manufacturer’s arbitration process to enforce the Lemon Law. It is also important to be aware that while the arbitrator’s decision is not binding on the consumer, the decision is admissible in any later court proceeding and may be used against the consumer by the automobile manufacturer.Often times in the course of the arbitration process, the automobile manufacturer may make an offer to the consumer to “resolve” his/her Lemon Law claim. However, such an offer by the manufacturer may not follow the requirements of the Lemon Law and may provide the consumer with substantially less than the Lemon Law would otherwise provide the consumer.If you are considering, or have already applied for arbitration, you should consider calling our offices prior to any arbitration hearing taking place. In addition, if you have already completed the arbitration process and would like to know if you received or have been awarded your full Lemon Law entitlement, you should consider calling our office for a arbitration award review.

Lemon Law... Manufacturer’s “customer assistance” 800 #'s

Every automobile manufacturer provides a toll-free phone number that consumers can call to seek assistance from the manufacturer’s Customer Assistance Center to resolve their vehicle problems.Consumers must be aware that these telephone conversations are generally recorded by the manufacturer’s Customer Assistance Center, and may be used by the manufacturer against the consumer in a later legal action brought by the consumer. Therefore, the consumer should always be courteous and respectful in these telephone conversations, and NEVER resort to insults or profanity! Since it is required that the manufacturer inform the consumer that their conversation may be recorded (often under the explanation of “for quality control purposes”), the consumer can (and should) inform the Customer Assistance Center representative that he/she intends to also record the conversation. What is fair for one is fair for both parties.The consumer should be prepared to accurately memorialize any conversation with the manufacturer’s Customer Assistance Center. This can be accomplished by the taking of detailed notes, including the date and time of call, the representative’s name and the substance of the conversation, including the consumer’s request and the manufacturer’s response. As referenced above, the conversation can also be recorded in its entirety so long as the representative is informed of the recording.Often times in response to the consumer’s request for a vehicle replacement or repurchase (buyback), the manufacturer’s representative will “inform” the consumer that he/she does not qualify for Lemon Law relief. In some cases, the manufacturer’s representative will “inform” the consumer that he/she must first go through the manufacturer’s arbitration process. In other cases, the manufacture’s representative may respond to the consumer’s request for a vehicle replacement or repurchase by offering a “goodwill” gesture, such as a service contract. The consumer must be aware that a manufacturer’s denial of the consumer’s request for a replacement or repurchase, does not mean that the consumer is not entitled to a replacement or repurchase under the Lemon Law.We invite you to call our office so that a qualified California Lemon Law case evaluation can be performed to see what potential entitlement under California’s Lemon Law you may be entitled to.

Lemon Law... Warranty Repairs: Defining a "repair attempt"

Under our California Lemon Law, the manufacturer is allowed a “reasonable” number of “repair attempts” to correct the substantial non-conformity to warranty that the offending vehicle has suffered from.So, what is a “repair attempt”, and what does it mean to a potential “lemon law” claim?Under our California Lemon Law, a repair attempt is when the consumer gives the authorized car dealership a description of the complaint/symptom that is written on the Repair Order. and gives the dealership an opportunity to effect repairs.The consumer is not expected to be an auto mechanic. The consumer’s complaint/symptom should, however, contain information on the “system” which may be the source of the problem. Here is a good example: your car does not seem to shift properly and “surges” when accelerating. How would you describe this to be written on the Repair Order? “customer states that vehicle will not shift correctly”. That’s complaint # 1. Complaint # 2 (listed as a separate line item) would be: “customer states that engine surges” while driving”. You have now created two distinctly different complaints and have incorporated the likely culprit components, namely transmission and engine systems.What happens if the Repair Invoice comes back noting “could not duplicate”, “no problem found”, or “operating as to mfg’s design intent”? Does this mean that it is not counted as a valid “repair attempt”? Answer – NO. It is a valid “repair attempt” under our California Lemon Law as you have given the dealer both description and opportunity to repair. Whether or not the dealer is capable or incapable of effecting diagnosis or repair is of no concern to the consumer in California. The consumer, however, must get a copy of the completed “Repair Invoice” upon returning to the dealership to pick up their vehicle.For more information California Lemon Law “repair attempts”, please visit: www.CaliforniaLemonLaw.info

Lemon Law... Hiring California's Largest Lemon Law Firm

Pursuing a lemon law case in California requires not only an experienced attorney firm, but one that has the skills to effectively negotiate with the automobile manufacturers lawyers and legal representatives to produce the desired results – a settlement or “win” of the client’s lemon law case.The Law Offices of William R. McGee have developed the experience and skills that allow us to achieve a stunning 99.7% success rate in recovering for our clients in their lemon law cases. We have successfully pursued automobile manufacturers in California lemon law cases with only 1% of the cases ever having to go to court.Our California lemon law has been enforced for California consumers statewide for over 19 years by our law firm. We have pursued thousands of lemon law cases to success for our clients.Hiring the largest lemon law firm in California offers many benefits to the consumer. Many cases are settled very quickly in only 7-10 days, with vehicle’s often being returned to the manufacturer and refunds (or new vehicle replacements) being made just 2-3 weeks after settlement is reached, getting consumers out of their defective vehicle as quickly as possible. With choosing our firm, there are no “up front” fees. Consultations are free. Case reviews are free. In the event that a automobile manufacturer is resistant to settling a case, we will pursue legal remedy (lawsuit) to enforce the lemon law and our clients right to recovery. Though the need for a court trial is very rare for our firm, the automobile manufacturers know we are one of the most experienced lemon law trial lawyer firms in the state of California, calling upon 19 years of litigation and trial experience. Our firm pursues not only the California lemon law, but also pursues the highest level of client satisfaction through effective client-attorney communications. With 19 years of working with consumers, we understand how frustrating dealing with a defective vehicle can be, and how the attorney-client communication relationship can make the stress of a defective vehicle lemon law claim a positive experience, yielding positive results. We invite you to call us today.

Lemon Law... How do I get started?

You get started by providing us with documents that allow us to do a thorough review of your potential Lemon Law case. You simply call our toll-free number and we will provide a list of required documents that you can fax or e-mail.
Once we have reviewed your documents, you will be contacted right away. We will let you know if we have accepted your case. At that point we will fax you a Retainer Agreement, which clearly and concisely defines the terms of our legal services. Once we receive your signed Retainer Agreement back, we will start on your case right away by sending a legal demand to the auto manufacturer that produced your vehicle.
Once we have reached a proper settlement with the auto manufacturer, we will contact you with specific instructions on turning in your vehicle at your local dealership.
If you think that you may qualify, call us right away. The sooner you get your Lemon Law case started, the sooner you can get your case settled! Call us now

Lemon Law... “Warranty Repair History” - What it is, why you need it, and how to get it.

All too often in the excitement of the “new car experience,” consumers do not retain records of their warranty repair visits, only to be frustrated later when their vehicle turns out to potentially be a “lemon”. Sometimes this is as easy as asking your servicing dealer for copies of your warranty repair invoices – or sometimes not. Today’s automobile manufacturers and their dealerships are linked together by sophisticated computer systems. The purpose is to keep the dealers and the manufacturers “connected” during the period the vehicle is covered by the manufacturers’ new vehicle limited warranty. By use of this system, your dealer has the ability to print out a “warranty repair history.” This can be in a simple “summary” format, or a fully detailed “complete” history with the details of complaints, testing and repairs. Either of these formats will cover all warranty repairs done to a vehicle by a franchised new car dealership, and these computers are linked to the manufacturer, who maintains the warranty history database. You should consider asking your dealership Service Advisor or Service Manager for a printout of your vehicle’s warranty repair history. You may be surprised to find out about warranty repairs that you have long forgotten about, but that may be vital to a Lemon Law claim now, or later on.

Lemon Law... The California Lemon Law

The California Lemon Law (officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act, found in California Civil Code sections 1790 et seq.) is a law designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease warranted motor vehicles. If it is determined that a motor vehicle is a “lemon", the motor vehicle's warrantor must repurchase or replace the motor vehicle from the buyer.
The Lemon Law commands that if a vehicle manufacturer or its authorized dealer(s) cannot properly repair a material defect in your vehicle while it is under warranty after “a reasonable number of attempts", the manufacturer must either promptly replace your new vehicle or refund your money, at your choice. The Lemon Law applies to all vehicles (including trucks and recreational vehicles) purchased or leased in the State of California and under the manufacturer’s new vehicle warranty.
A “material defect” is defined under the Lemon Law as something which “substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle". ”Most mechanical or drive-ability problems will qualify under this standard. The more serious the defect, the fewer number of repair attempts will be necessary to qualify the vehicle as a “Lemon".
What constitutes a "reasonable number of attempts” at repair is a question of fact that can only be answered on a case by case basis. However, as a guideline, the Lemon Law states that if within 18 months or 18,000 miles of use, whichever occurs first, either the same material defect has been subject to repair four or more times, or the vehicle has been in the shop by reason of repairs for material defects for a cumulative total of more than 30 calendar days, then the vehicle is “presumed” to be a lemon.
In addition, for vehicles purchased or leased after January 1, 2001, if the vehicle is repaired two times for a defect that is likely to result in serious bodily injury or death, the vehicle is “presumed” to be a lemon. Keep in mind, this is only a guideline; any vehicle which is not properly repaired while still under warranty after a “reasonable number of attempts” may qualify as a lemon, regardless of length of ownership or mileage. Therefore, with today's lengthy warranties, it is possible that a vehicle will qualify under the Lemon Law even though it may be three or four years old and have been driven 50,000 miles or more! We invite you to call our law offices for a free case review and consultation.

The California "Lemon Law"

The California Lemon Law (officially known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty act, found in California Civil Code sections 1790 et seq.) is a law designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease warranted motor vehicles. If it is determined that a motor vehicle is a "lemon," the motor vehicle's warrantor must repurchase or replace the motor vehicle from the buyer.
In order to have a valid Lemon Law claim, the following elements must be met:
1.) The vehicle must be used some of the time for personal, family or household purposes. If a vehicle is used exclusively for business purposes, the Lemon Law will not apply, but other laws may provide certain remedies.
2.) The vehicle must have problems covered by a warranty. There is a simple rule: no warranty means no Lemon Law case.
3.) The warrantor must be unable to repair the vehicle's warranty problems after a reasonable number or repair attempts. What constitutes a reasonable number of repair attempts will vary depending on the problem. For example, if a vehicle's brakes fail, one repair attempt may be enough to establish a reasonable number. Generally, safety-related or driveability concerns will require fewer repair attempts than those which are not safety-related or affect driveability.
Also relevant to determining whether there has been a reasonable number of repair attempts is the number of days the vehicle is out-of-service due to warranty repairs. The more days out-of-service, the better the chance of establishing a reasonable number of repair attempts.
There is a common misconception concerning the Lemon Law, that it only applies to vehicles that are less than 18 months old or have less than 18,000 miles. This belief is not true! The Lemon Law will apply to a vehicle regardless of how old it is or how many miles is has, so long as the vehicle is having problems that are under warranty.
Even if the warranty has expired, the Lemon Law may apply. If the vehicle is still having problems that were complained about and never properly repaired during the warranty period, a valid Lemon Law claim may exist.
4.) The vehicle must contain a problem covered by the warranty that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety to the buyer/lessee. The Lemon Law, generally, will not apply to vehicles with trivial or minor defects. Nevertheless, each case must be judged independently taking into account the particular needs and expectations of the particular vehicle's owner/lessee.
If the above mentioned elements are met, the vehicle is a lemon. The vehicle's owner/lessee will be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a refund of the vehicle's purchase/lease price.

The California Law Experts

California lemon law relief for all California residents! Has your vehicle been back to the dealer's shop over and over again for repairs while under warranty? You may have a valid California lemon law Claim that will allow you to return the vehicle and get a refund of all the monies and payments you have paid (as well as a payoff of any loan or lease balance), a new replacement vehicle, or a substantial cash settlement payment. Any new or used vehicle sold that has factory warranty coverage may be a candidate for California lemon law protection.
Our firm's practice is exclusively California lemon law. We are a 20 year California-based firm, not an out-of-state law firm. Many cases are settled in as little as 10 days!
Call 1-800-225-3666 for a FREE consultation and a review of your repair documents. Find out if you have a case - today. No long questionnaire forms to fill out over the net, just one simple phone call! Our offices have settled over 8,000 California lemon law claims over 20 years. We settle over 99.7% of our cases, most with zero fees, and never any money due up-front to start your case. All cases on a contingency basis. The California lemon law has a provision for attorney’s fees, making the automobile manufacturer pay the attorney for time spent on a lemon law claim. Call or e-mail us now! If you prefer to receive a free on-line case evaluation by our attorneys in just 1 hour, click here.
Important Consumer Notice: Arbitration is not a requirement for consumers in California to pursue a lemon law claim/case against an automobile manufacturer. Additionally, your lemon law rights extend to the entire new vehicle limited warranty period, which is typically 3 years/36,000 miles, or 4 years/50,000 miles. Don't be mislead by "information" or "instructions" or manufacturer's "lemon law booklets" that a lemon law claim must be filed within 18 months or 18,000 miles, or that you "must" go through Arbitration - this is simply not the case in California! Our lemon law offices will give you all the information you need on how to pursue a lemon law case to get your money back, or a new replacement vehicle.
Pitfalls of “do-it-yourself” Lemon Law – Owner Beware: This is where many consumers get themselves into trouble – unknowingly. If a consumer wants to pursue his/her California lemon law rights by attempting to “settle” their “case” themselves, they can expose themselves to a “settlement” that is substantially less monetarily than is afforded by the California lemon law statute. Why? If a consumer attempts to deal directly with the automobile manufacturer seeking a “buyback” of their vehicle, the automobile manufacturer has no “rule book” on lemon law to follow, but rather, can simply make any offer that they think the consumer may think is “reasonable”, or that they simply will accept. Worse yet, many vehicles have substantial safety and driveability issues that make them a unsafe lemon. Even if the automobile manufacturer was to offer a lemon law “buyback”, that does not necessarily mean the vehicle is being repurchased as a California Lemon Law buyback wherein the vehicles title is branded “lemon law buyback”. Rather, the vehicle is simply repurchased as a “goodwill” buyback, with the consumer signing a settlement document that releases the manufacturer from all “California lemon law buyback” responsibility, allowing these defective vehicles to be resold to unsuspecting consumer(s) without any “lemon law buyback” disclosure!
Having our law firm handle your lemon law case assures you that when vehicles are repurchased, they are repurchased pursuant to our California lemon law, not by a “goodwill” offer. You can eliminate all this time, hassle, downside and pitfalls by having California’s largest lemon law firm handle all this for you by simply calling us at 1-800-225-3666.
“Typical Car Dealer”: This age-old expression often rings true when it comes to the California lemon law. Car dealers are there to do one thing – and one thing only – make money. They have nothing to do with repurchasing your vehicle under the California lemon law. The automobile manufacturer is the party responsible for repurchasing vehicles under the California lemon law. Our firm has worked with the automobile manufacturers for over 20 years - so you don’t have to. We also eliminate you having to deal in any way with your car dealership.
Certified Pre-Owned Used Car Warranties: If you purchased your used vehicle from a new car franchised dealer as a “certified pre-owned” used vehicle, then you can enjoy many of the same California lemon law benefits as the new car purchaser! These factory sponsored “CPO” (Certified Pre-Owned) vehicles come with a written warranty backed by the automobile manufacturer. So, even if your vehicle is out of the manufacturer’s original “new vehicle limited warranty”, you still have California lemon law protection during the “certified pre-owned” warranty period, just like a person that purchased new! Our experts will be able to fully brief you on your rights under the California lemon law with a “CPO” vehicle, as well as tell you if you have a pursuable case.

California's Largest Lemon Law Firm

California lemon law relief for all California residents!

Has your vehicle been back to the dealer's shop over and over again for repairs while under warranty? You may have a valid California lemon law Claim that will allow you to return the vehicle and get a refund of all the monies and payments you have paid (as well as a payoff of any loan or lease balance), a new replacement vehicle, or a substantial cash settlement payment. Any new or used vehicle sold that has factory warranty coverage may be a candidate for California lemon law protection.
Our firm's practice is exclusively California lemon law. We are a 20 year California-based firm, not an out-of-state law firm. Many cases are settled in as little as 10 days!
Call 1-800-225-3666 for a FREE consultation and a review of your repair documents. Find out if you have a case - today. No long questionnaire forms to fill out over the net, just one simple phone call! Our offices have settled over 8,000 California lemon law claims over 20 years. We settle over 99.7% of our cases, most with zero fees, and never any money due up-front to start your case. All cases on a contingency basis. The California lemon law has a provision for attorney’s fees, making the automobile manufacturer pay the attorney for time spent on a lemon law claim. Call or e-mail us now! If you prefer to receive a free on-line case evaluation by our attorneys in just 1 hour, click here.
Important Consumer Notice: Arbitration is not a requirement for consumers in California to pursue a lemon law claim/case against an automobile manufacturer. Additionally, your lemon law rights extend to the entire new vehicle limited warranty period, which is typically 3 years/36,000 miles, or 4 years/50,000 miles. Don't be mislead by "information" or "instructions" or manufacturer's "lemon law booklets" that a lemon law claim must be filed within 18 months or 18,000 miles, or that you "must" go through Arbitration - this is simply not the case in California! Our lemon law offices will give you all the information you need on how to pursue a lemon law case to get your money back, or a new replacement vehicle.
Pitfalls of “do-it-yourself” Lemon Law – Owner Beware: This is where many consumers get themselves into trouble – unknowingly. If a consumer wants to pursue his/her California lemon law rights by attempting to “settle” their “case” themselves, they can expose themselves to a “settlement” that is substantially less monetarily than is afforded by the California lemon law statute. Why? If a consumer attempts to deal directly with the automobile manufacturer seeking a “buyback” of their vehicle, the automobile manufacturer has no “rule book” on lemon law to follow, but rather, can simply make any offer that they think the consumer may think is “reasonable”, or that they simply will accept. Worse yet, many vehicles have substantial safety and driveability issues that make them a unsafe lemon. Even if the automobile manufacturer was to offer a lemon law “buyback”, that does not necessarily mean the vehicle is being repurchased as a California Lemon Law buyback wherein the vehicles title is branded “lemon law buyback”. Rather, the vehicle is simply repurchased as a “goodwill” buyback, with the consumer signing a settlement document that releases the manufacturer from all “California lemon law buyback” responsibility, allowing these defective vehicles to be resold to unsuspecting consumer(s) without any “lemon law buyback” disclosure!
Having our law firm handle your lemon law case assures you that when vehicles are repurchased, they are repurchased pursuant to our California lemon law, not by a “goodwill” offer. You can eliminate all this time, hassle, downside and pitfalls by having California’s largest lemon law firm handle all this for you by simply calling us at 1-800-225-3666.
“Typical Car Dealer”: This age-old expression often rings true when it comes to the California lemon law. Car dealers are there to do one thing – and one thing only – make money. They have nothing to do with repurchasing your vehicle under the California lemon law. The automobile manufacturer is the party responsible for repurchasing vehicles under the California lemon law. Our firm has worked with the automobile manufacturers for over 20 years - so you don’t have to. We also eliminate you having to deal in any way with your car dealership.
Certified Pre-Owned Used Car Warranties: If you purchased your used vehicle from a new car franchised dealer as a “certified pre-owned” used vehicle, then you can enjoy many of the same California lemon law benefits as the new car purchaser! These factory sponsored “CPO” (Certified Pre-Owned) vehicles come with a written warranty backed by the automobile manufacturer. So, even if your vehicle is out of the manufacturer’s original “new vehicle limited warranty”, you still have California lemon law protection during the “certified pre-owned” warranty period, just like a person that purchased new! Our experts will be able to fully brief you on your rights under the California lemon law with a “CPO” vehicle, as well as tell you if you have a pursuable case.