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Tips and Guides

How Lemon Law Applies To Leased Vehicles In California

By CarsFellow

October 27, 2023

Leasing a vehicle in California can be a convenient and cost-effective way to enjoy the benefits of a new car without committing to a long-term purchase. However, what happens when your leased vehicle turns out to be a lemon? 

Fortunately, California’s Lemon Law protects consumers, including those who lease their vehicles. In this blog post, we’ll explore how the Lemon Law applies to leased vehicles in the Golden State.

Understanding California’s Lemon Law

California’s Lemon Law protects consumers who purchase or lease new or used vehicles with persistent defects or issues covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. These issues must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. The law provides legal remedies to consumers stuck with a lemon.

Lemon Law And Leased Vehicles

The Lemon law requirements for leased cars in California are essentially the same as those for new or used vehicles purchased with a warranty. This means that if your leased vehicle meets certain criteria, you can file a lemon law claim to seek a resolution.

Notably, one key advantage is that you, the consumer, do not have to bear any legal fees when pursuing a lemon law claim with the assistance of a California lemon law attorney.

Qualifying For Lemon Law Protection

Your leased vehicle must meet the following criteria to qualify for Lemon Law protection in California:

Lemon Law Remedies For Leased Vehicles:

The Los Angeles lemon law lawyers at Young & Young apc explain that if your leased vehicle meets the Lemon Law criteria, you have several potential remedies available:

Steps To Take

If you believe your leased vehicle is a lemon, follow these steps:

Keep detailed records of all repairs, including dates, descriptions of problems, and invoices.

Inform the vehicle’s manufacturer about the recurring defects and request repairs.

Consider consulting an experienced Lemon Law attorney who specializes in consumer protection.

If the defects persist despite multiple repair attempts, your attorney can help you file a Lemon Law claim against the manufacturer.

Conclusion

Leasing a vehicle should be a hassle-free experience, but if you find yourself with a lemon, remember that the California Lemon Law extends its protections to leased vehicles. If you meet the criteria, you have legal remedies to seek a replacement vehicle, a refund, or reimbursement for attorney’s fees and costs.