Washington Lemon Law: Your Rights

Last reviewed: June 29, 2026

Washington's lemon law is administered by the Attorney General's Office, which runs a free arbitration program. If a substantial defect under warranty can't be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must repurchase or replace the vehicle within 40 days of your written request. You can request arbitration any time within 30 months of delivery.

Washington 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 Washington sources

Verify the current rules with these authoritative sources:

• Washington Attorney General, Lemon Law
• Revised Code of Washington Chapter 19.118 (Motor Vehicle Warranties)