California Lemon Law: Your Rights

Last reviewed: June 28, 2026

California's lemon law, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, is one of the strongest in the country. It covers new and used vehicles still under the manufacturer's original new-car warranty. If the manufacturer cannot repair a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a refund or a replacement vehicle, with a mileage offset based only on the miles you drove before your first repair visit.

California lemon law at a glance

What these rules mean for you

If your vehicle has a substantial defect that the manufacturer cannot fix after the repair attempts above, or it has been out of service for the listed time, you may have a lemon law claim. The remedy is usually a refund (a buyback) or a replacement vehicle. The details turn on your documentation, so keep every repair order from the first visit on. See what to document for a defect or lemon law claim.

A recall is not required for a claim, and recall repair attempts can count toward your total. For the full picture, read the pillar guide, recall vs. lemon law, and learn how many repair attempts before lemon law applies and how a buyback, replacement, or cash settlement compares.

Official California sources

Verify the current rules with these authoritative sources:

• California DCA Arbitration Certification Program
• California Civil Code section 1793.22 (Tanner Consumer Protection Act)