California Lemon Law Information

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BBB AUTO LINE® Vehicle Warranty Program

Every state has a lemon law. The BBB AUTO LINE program assists consumers with vehicle warranty complaints for participating manufacturers in California (see below).

Click to file a California BBB AUTO LINE lemon law complaint.

California Lemon Law Summary

The following is a brief explanation of most relevant provisions of the California lemon law, included within in the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and, in part, titled the Tanner Consumer Protection Act. The complete text of the lemon law can be found at California Civil Code § 1793.2 et seq.

The California lemon law covers a “new motor vehicle” (including the chassis cab of a motor home, a dealer-owned vehicle, a “demonstrator”, or other vehicle sold with a manufacturer’s new car warranty) that:

• is used or bought for use primarily for personal, family or household purposes, or
• has a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds and be bought or used primarily for business purposes by any person or business to which at least one but not more than five motor vehicles are registered in California.

In addition, the motor vehicle must have been:

• originally purchase or leased at retail in California, or
• purchased or leased by a full-time active duty member of the Armed Forces who was stationed or residing in California at the time of purchase or lease or at the time the claim is filed.
  

For the full California Lemon Law summary, click here.

The BBB AUTO LINE program handled 3926 claims from California in 2008.

Additional Information on the California Lemon Law.

Manufacturers participating in California: