Short answers
to the questions on your mind

Do I need to know whether my car qualifies before I call?

No. Tell us what keeps happening and what the repair shop has tried. We’ll review the sale, warranty, and repair history with you. You don’t need to diagnose the fault or use legal terms.

What does the first conversation cost?

Your initial case review is free, with no obligation to hire us. If we represent you, you do not pay our attorney’s fees. Zero out of pocket. California lemon law allows a prevailing consumer to recover reasonable attorney’s fees from the manufacturer. A free review is not a promise that every case qualifies.

Do I need all my repair records before reaching out?

No. Start with the details you have. Keep your purchase or lease agreement, warranty, repair orders, and related messages together. We can explain which missing records to request. Mention any deadline or written offer when you contact us.

How long will a lemon law case take?

There isn’t one reliable timeline for every case. The records, the manufacturer’s response, negotiations, and any court proceedings can all affect timing. If we take your case, we’ll explain the next step and discuss offers with you. Submitting an inquiry does not start representation or extend a deadline.

What if my warranty has already expired?

Tell us when the problem began and when you first took the car in for repair. Warranty expiration and the deadline to bring a claim are different questions. The applicable warranty, repair dates, manufacturer, and type of claim need an individual review. Don’t wait for another repair just to ask.

Can you review a used or certified pre-owned vehicle?

You can ask us to review the paperwork. Remaining factory warranty coverage does not automatically give every used or certified pre-owned vehicle the same buyback rights as a qualifying new vehicle. How it was sold and which warranty was issued matter; other warranty claims may need a different analysis.

• Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — California Civil Code §§ 1790–1795.8

Does California lemon law cover a leased car?

Yes, a qualifying new leased vehicle can be covered. Leasing does not by itself exclude you from California’s new-vehicle remedy. We still need to review the warranty, defect, repair history, and lease paperwork. Keep the full lease agreement and any offer from the manufacturer or lessor.

• California Civil Code § 1793.2 — warranty repairs and remedies

Can charging or software problems in an electric car count?

They may, if the problem is covered by the warranty and meets the legal requirements. A software issue is not automatically too minor, and an update alone does not prove a lemon law claim. Save the service messages, update dates, and details of any recurring symptom so the repair history can be reviewed.

• California Civil Code § 1793.2 — warranty repairs and remedies
• California Civil Code § 1793.22 — vehicle definitions and repair presumption

How many repair attempts are enough?

There is no single number for every case. California’s early-ownership presumption can involve two attempts for the same defect likely to cause death or serious injury, or four attempts for the same problem, within 18 months after delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Warranty coverage, substantial impairment, and notice or dispute-process conditions also matter. These are not universal minimums or automatic buyback rights.

• California Civil Code § 1793.22 — vehicle definitions and repair presumption

My car has been in the shop for a month. Is it a lemon?

The downtime deserves a review, but a month in the shop does not automatically require a buyback. The early-ownership presumption addresses more than 30 calendar days in total for repairs to covered defects within 18 months after delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Delays beyond the manufacturer’s control and other conditions can affect the analysis. Keep the drop-off and ready-for-pickup dates for every visit.

• California Civil Code § 1793.22 — vehicle definitions and repair presumption

What if the dealer says it cannot reproduce the problem?

Keep that repair order too. Write down when the symptom returns and the conditions in which it happens. Ask the service team to record your concern accurately, and preserve messages or safely captured evidence. That visit may matter to the review, but the wording on one invoice does not decide the claim. Never recreate an unsafe driving situation to prove a problem.

If my car qualifies, can I get a refund or replacement?

For a qualifying new-vehicle claim, California law provides for restitution, often called a buyback, or replacement when the requirements are met. A buyer can choose restitution instead of replacement. The calculation can include eligible charges and expenses, with a possible deduction for use. An offer that lets you keep the car is a different arrangement and needs its own review.

• California Civil Code § 1793.2 — warranty repairs and remedies