Does Lemon Law Apply to Leased Cars?

Alex Tofer | 888-981-5607 | Free Consult

Does lemon law apply to leased cars? If you just started leasing a car and it breaks down or begins exhibiting issues (anything from a nuisance to a safety hazard), lemon laws can help you get a replacement vehicle or a reimbursement so your pocketbook doesn’t have to suffer the damages.

Alex Tofer is the managing attorney and the founding president of Tofer and Associates, PLC based in Beverly Hills, California. He says that under lemon law, you have certain rights if you are leasing a defective vehicle. If you think you have a lemon on your hands, he can speak with you free of charge.

To learn more, contact the attorney directly by calling 888-981-5607 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Lemon laws exist to protect car owners from being stuck with a defective vehicle (AKA a “lemon”) they cannot afford to get rid of.

Every U.S. state has a lemon law, which is great news if you’ve recently purchased or leased a car and are now experiencing some difficulties with it. Under the lemon law, if you are able to prove you were sold a defective car, either new or from a used car agency, you may qualify for a claim that could entitle you to the manufacturer buying it back or letting you out of the lease.

Lemon laws apply to leased cars as well.

Leasing a car can be a smart financial decision for people, but if you find yourself stuck with a lemon it can feel like you don’t have many options. A common misconception is that lemon laws only apply to new or used cars, but in fact, lemon laws are designed to protect people who are leasing their car as well.

If the delivered product does not function properly, the manufacturer must replace it with a new one or reimburse your money.

Regardless of whether the vehicle is owned or leased, if it does not function as it should, lemon laws require the manufacturer to replace it with a new one or to at least reimburse you for the money you spent.

Make sure to take your car to the dealer for maintenance work—failing to do so could result in your car being ineligible for the lemon law in your state.

If maintenance has been done on your car by someone other than the dealer, they may argue that the issues your car is experiencing are a result of that mechanic. Always take your car to the dealer so an attorney can prove that the manufacturer should be held liable for its defects.

A vehicle is one of the biggest purchases a person can make, so it’s essential to make sure yours functions properly from the get-go.

Contact an attorney as soon as you notice your car exhibiting a repeated problem. You don’t want to find yourself saddled with an improperly or not-functioning vehicle, unable to afford a new one. You want to make sure the vehicle you spent all that money on works properly from the start, and will continue to function properly far beyond the manufacturer’s warranty period.

To learn more, contact Alex Tofer directly by calling 888-981-5607 or by submitting a contact form on this page. The consultation is free and confidential, and you owe no out-of-pocket attorney fees.

Video Transcript:

Rob Rosenthal:
It’s time for a Quick Question from AskTheLawyers.com™. If you’re leasing your car, does the lemon law still apply? We asked Los Angeles attorney Alex Tofer.

Alex Tofer:
Absolutely, yes. The way you have to understand the concept of lemon law is like anything that you would go to purchase new, or lease or rent new. If the product that’s being delivered does not function properly, then either they have to replace it with a brand new one that does or reimburse your money. That’s the important understanding of what a lemon law is. And especially with such a huge purchase, such as a vehicle, which is one of our largest average purchases that a person would make, you want to make sure that the vehicle that’s being purchased is going to be able to function properly way beyond the manufacturer warranty period.

Disclaimer: This video is for informational purposes only. In some states, this video may be deemed Attorney Advertising. The choice of lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely on advertisements.