# California — State lemon law eligibility thresholds: time limits, mileage, and repair attempts by US state

For California, time limit is within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first); mileage limit is 18,000 miles; repair attempts required is Four or more times for the same problem and it still is not fixed, or Two or more times for the same problem, if that problem is big enough to cause death or serious injury, and it still is not fixed; days out of service is more than 30 days (the 30 days do not need to be in a row); vehicles covered is most new vehicles purchased or leased in California that are still under a manufacturer's new-vehicle warranty. The Lemon Law also applies to used vehicles for which a manufacturer's new car warranty is issued with the sale, recorded from its source on 2026-08-13.

- **State:** California _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Time limit:** within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first) _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Mileage limit:** 18,000 miles _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Repair attempts required:** Four or more times for the same problem and it still is not fixed, or Two or more times for the same problem, if that problem is big enough to cause death or serious injury, and it still is not fixed _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Days out of service:** more than 30 days (the 30 days do not need to be in a row) _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Vehicles covered:** most new vehicles purchased or leased in California that are still under a manufacturer's new-vehicle warranty. The Lemon Law also applies to used vehicles for which a manufacturer's new car warranty is issued with the sale. _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Remedy:** the manufacturer must promptly repurchase or replace it. You have the right to choose a refund instead of a replacement.
- **Arbitration required:** many vehicle manufacturers offer a state-certified arbitration program; arbitration is a free and relatively simple way of resolving disputes

## What the source says

> California. The Lemon Law also applies to used vehicles for which a manufacturer’s new car warranty is issued with the sale. Under the Lemon Law, the manufacturer may be required to buy back or replace your vehicle if, after a “reasonable” number of repair attempts, it cannot repair a problem that: Is covered by the manufacturer’s new-vehicle warranty; Substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of the vehicle; and Is not caused by unauthorized or unreasonable use of the vehicle after sale. What is considered a “reasonable” number of repair attempts depends on many factors. While the following factors are not required, there is a rebuttable presumption that your vehicle is a lemon if: The problem first occurred within 18 months of delivery or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first); If required by the warranty or owner’s manual, you notified the manufacturer about the problem; and You have taken the vehicle in for repair by the manufacturer or its agents: Four or more times for the same problem and it still is not fixed, or Two or more times for the same problem, if that problem is big enough to cause death or serious injury, and it still is not fixed, or The vehicle has been out of service for repair for more than 30 days (the 30 days do not need to be in a row).

## Source

- https://oag.ca.gov/consumers/general/lemon

Last verified: 2026-08-13. Review by: 2027-08-13.
Part of [State lemon law eligibility thresholds: time limits, mileage, and repair attempts by US state](https://referencesource.org/state-lemon-law-eligibility-thresholds/).