If you recently purchased or leased a vehicle in California and find yourself dealing with a lemon, it’s important to know your rights and the steps to file a lemon law claim. Lemon laws exist to protect consumers with defective vehicles, giving them the right to seek a refund or replacement.

Here are seven valuable tips for successfully filing a California lemon law claim.

Know Your Rights

The California Lemon Law, also known as the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, provides specific guidelines and protections for buyers or lessees of defective vehicles that can’t be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts.

Familiarize yourself with these requirements by carefully reading your warranty book or owner’s manual. Pay close attention to the section that outlines the Lemon Law provisions specific to your vehicle. 

 

Clear Communication

If you encounter car problems, clear and effective communication is key. When you take your vehicle to an authorized dealer, clearly explain the problem you’re experiencing. Ensuring the dealer fully describes the issue in the repair order is essential. This document outlines the details of the repair process.

 

Work with the Dealer First

Before pursuing a lemon law claim, attempt to resolve the issue with the authorized dealer. Give them the opportunity to address and repair the problem. Under California’s Lemon Law, you must make a reasonable number of repair attempts at the dealership before filing a claim.

Working with the dealer first not only gives them a chance to rectify the situation but also strengthens your case.

 

Always Get a Repair Order

When you take your vehicle to the dealer for repairs, always make sure to get a repair order. This document serves as proof of your visit and the work performed on your car. It’s crucial to have a repair order for every warranty or vehicle problem, even if the issue seems minor — don’t leave the dealership without it!

 

Keep Detailed Records

Keep all repair orders, invoices, and correspondence related to your vehicle’s issues. It’s important to include any comments from previous technicians who worked on your car.

In addition to keeping records, document all interactions with the authorized dealer and their employees. Take notes of conversations, including dates, names of individuals involved, and a summary of what was discussed. This documentation will help support your claim and provide a clear timeline of events.

 

Create a Repair Log

Creating a repair log is an effective way to track warranty-related repair attempts and ongoing problems with your vehicle. Include dates, incidents, and other relevant information in this log, which will help establish a pattern of recurring issues and reinforce your claim.

 

Continue Payments

Even if your vehicle is inoperable or experiencing issues, continue making payments. Failing to make payments can negatively affect your credit and legal standing. Remember your Lemon Law claim is separate from your financing or lease agreement.

Don’t Let a Lemon Ruin Your Day!

Norman Taylor & Associates has over 37 years of experience helping clients navigate California Lemon Law. Don’t hesitate to call 818-244-3905 or contact us to get the ball rolling on your claim!

We offer FREE case evaluations and will help you work towards a favorable outcome, whether it be a refund or a replacement vehicle.