South Carolina Lemon Law: Your Rights
Last reviewed: June 29, 2026
South Carolina's lemon law covers new vehicles only (used vehicles are not covered), including demonstrators, leased vehicles, and motorcycles. If a substantial defect under warranty can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund the full purchase price plus finance charges, taxes, and fees, less a reasonable allowance for use.
South Carolina lemon law at a glance
| Time / mileage window | 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts (presumption) | 3 or more for the same defect |
| Days out of service | 30 or more calendar days |
| Covers new vehicles | Yes |
| Used-car lemon law | No (new vehicles only) |
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 South Carolina sources
Verify the current rules with these authoritative sources: