California Lemon Law Buyback Calculator

California's lemon law is the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (California Civil Code sections 1793.2 and 1793.22). A buyback (repurchase) under it refunds the vehicle's purchase price, adds back collateral charges such as sales or use tax, license fees and registration fees, plus incidental damages such as reasonable repair, towing and rental car costs, and subtracts an offset for your use of the vehicle. Civil Code section 1793.2(d)(2)(C) sets that offset as a formula: the miles the vehicle traveled before you first delivered it to the manufacturer, its distributor or an authorized repair facility to fix the problem, multiplied by the price paid or payable for the vehicle, including transportation charges and manufacturer-installed options, and divided by 120,000. Illustration only: 6,000 counted miles on a $35,000 price is an offset of $1,750. Our calculator estimates the offset from the mileage you enter for when the defect first appeared, so treat its figure as an estimate: the statute's own count of miles controls, and a licensed attorney can confirm how it applies to your purchase or lease.

California recognizes a "lemon presumption" that shifts the burden to the manufacturer once your repair history crosses set thresholds. If the dealer cannot fix the same substantial, warranty-covered defect after 4 repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative 30 days, the vehicle is presumed to be a lemon. This presumption generally applies within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles of ownership.

California is among the states whose lemon law extends to qualifying used vehicles sold with a manufacturer's warranty, not just new cars. California's law also reaches recreational vehicles (RVs), which many states exclude.

No single filing deadline is confirmed here for every California lemon law claim. The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act states no lawsuit deadline of its own, and a general time limit that may apply has not been confirmed for this page. Where the manufacturer has elected the procedures in Code of Civil Procedure sections 871.20 to 871.30 for vehicles sold in the year yours was, an action for restitution or replacement must be commenced within 1 year after the applicable express warranty expires and no later than 6 years after original delivery, with time added for periods the law tolls, such as while the vehicle is out of service for repair (section 871.21). The manufacturer must tell the buyer of a new vehicle which procedure governs it (section 871.29(d)), and the Department of Consumer Affairs' Arbitration Certification Program publishes the list of manufacturers that elected. A licensed attorney can confirm which deadline applies to your vehicle. When a vehicle qualifies, California requires the manufacturer to repurchase or replace it rather than keep attempting repairs. California's lemon law provides for an award of attorney fees to a consumer who wins (California Civil Code 1794(d)).