Protect Yourself If You Bought a Lemon

If you believe your vehicle may be a lemon, there are a few things you can do to increase your chances of getting a refund or replacement under California lemon law:

Save every invoice, estimate or receipt showing you attempted to repair the vehicle. Make sure you get something written every time you go to repair shop.
When you go to the dealership to get repairs, ask the person helping you to write down all of the problems you've noticed with the vehicle.
Write down the number of miles on the odometer the first time you take your vehicle to the shop. If you win a lemon law claim later, the manufacturer will be entitled to subtract the value of the mileage from your winnings.
Save receipts, invoices and other documents showing that you paid extra money because of the vehicle's problems. This can include money paid for rental cars, repairs from a third party, bus fare -- anything you wouldn't have paid for if the vehicle had worked right.
Keep all of these documents in a safe place. If the manufacturer needs them, send photocopies.
If the manufacturer asks to inspect the vehicle, allow it to do so. You may also want to hire an independent inspector, who is not paid by the manufacturer and may bring less bias to the job.
Don't take money from the manufacturer or sign anything until you're sure the settlement covers all of the costs the lemon caused for you. Taking money is often considered a financial settlement, which takes away your right to sue.
If you feel pressured or bullied in any way by the manufacturer, politely end the conversation and contact the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver for help.

For more information about your rights under California lemon law, you can click here to read the text of the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the Tanner Consumer Protection Act. You can also visit our Frequently Asked Questions about California lemon law.

If you're thinking of filing a California lemon law claim, contact the Law Offices of Howard D. Silver as soon as possible. You can fill out our confidential online contact form, or call 1-866-49-LEMON or (818) 597-2610.

Know your manufacturer? Look here for lemon law information specific to your vehicle's make:

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