Lemon Law Buyback

A qualifying lemon law claim may require the manufacturer to repurchase your car, truck, or SUV. The refund can include eligible purchase charges, less the applicable mileage offset.

Free Buyback Evaluation

What Is a Lemon Law Buyback?

A lemon law buyback is a repurchase remedy under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. In a qualifying case, the refund can include eligible purchase charges and related costs, subject to the applicable mileage offset. Your purchase agreement, loan balance and repair history affect the calculation.

What a Buyback Can Include

Eligible Purchase Charges Qualifying amounts paid for the vehicle, subject to the mileage offset and the terms of the transaction

Sales Tax & Fees Qualifying sales tax, registration and other official charges reflected in your records

Incidental Damages Eligible, documented expenses caused by the defect, such as towing and rental costs

Loan Payoff An outstanding loan balance is addressed as part of the repurchase; it affects the amount paid directly to you

Estimate your buyback

Live calculator

Punch in your numbers. The calculator runs the §1793.2(d)(2)(C) formula and shows what the manufacturer should owe under Song-Beverly.

Purchase price ($) Vehicle + tax + license + manufacturer options. Excludes extended warranty, GAP, aftermarket. Mileage at first repair attempt The odometer reading the day you first delivered the vehicle for the defect. Finance charges paid ($) Total interest paid on the auto loan, from purchase to today. Zero if you paid cash. Incidental damages ($) Out-of-pocket costs caused by the defect — rental car, towing, replacement registration.

Enter a purchase price to see your estimate.

Have an attorney check these numbers →

Free and no obligation. We'll check your estimate against your actual repair and purchase documents.

Estimate only. Your actual recovery depends on the specific facts of your case. The civil penalty requires a court to find a willful violation under §1794(c) — see the civil penalty pillar for what triggers it.

The Mileage Offset

The statutory mileage offset accounts for use before the first repair attempt for the defect giving rise to the claim. The basic formula is:

Mileage Offset Formula

Purchase Price × (Miles at First Repair ÷ 120,000)

Example: If you bought a $40,000 vehicle and had 5,000 miles on it at the first repair attempt, the offset would be $40,000 × (5,000 ÷ 120,000) = $1,667. Your refund would be $38,333 plus taxes, fees, and incidental costs.

Buyback vs. Other Remedies

A buyback isn't your only option. You can also choose a replacement vehicle or negotiate a cash-and-keep settlement. Which option is best depends on your situation:

Buyback is ideal when you want to walk away from the vehicle entirely and get your money back
Replacement works when you like the model but got a bad unit
Cash-and-keep makes sense when the defect is annoying but you still want the car

How Long Does a Buyback Take?

Timing depends on the repair records, the manufacturer's response, and whether litigation is needed. The process may involve a demand, negotiations, and repurchase paperwork. After reviewing your documents, we can explain the next steps; we cannot promise a settlement date.

Do I Qualify for a Buyback?

These are some of the facts we review when assessing a potential buyback claim:

Where and when the vehicle was purchased or leased, and the manufacturer warranty issued with the sale
Has a substantial defect that impairs use, value, or safety
Whether the manufacturer or its authorized dealer had a reasonable opportunity to repair the covered problem; the repair count depends on the facts

Not sure if you qualify? Get a free case evaluation — we'll review your purchase, warranty and repair records and explain your options.

Get Your Free Lemon Law Buyback Evaluation

About 60 seconds · no obligation.

$0 upfront. No fees or costs unless we win.

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