Massachusetts Lemon Law Buyback Calculator

In Massachusetts, a lemon law buyback (repurchase) refunds what you paid for the vehicle minus an allowance for the use you got from it. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 90, section 7N1/2(3) sets that allowance as the total contract price (on a lease, the payments made under the lease) multiplied by the miles the vehicle traveled before the manufacturer accepted its return, divided by 100,000 (25,000 for a motorcycle). Illustration only: 6,000 counted miles on a $35,000 price is an allowance of $2,100. Our calculator applies the 100,000-mile divisor to 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.

Massachusetts 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 3 repair attempts, or if the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative 15 business days, the vehicle is presumed to be a lemon. This presumption generally applies within the first 12 months or 15,000 miles of ownership.

Massachusetts is among the states whose lemon law extends to qualifying used vehicles sold with a manufacturer's warranty, not just new cars.

The Massachusetts new car lemon law (General Laws chapter 90, section 7N1/2) states no deadline of its own for filing a lawsuit, and a general time limit that may apply has not been confirmed for this page. The statute does limit state-certified new car arbitration: manufacturers must submit to it if the consumer requests it within 18 months from the date of original delivery (section 7N1/2(6)), and a consumer dissatisfied with the arbitration finding may file a claim under chapter 93A. Other time limits can apply, so act promptly, well within 18 months of delivery; a licensed attorney can confirm which deadline applies to your vehicle. When a vehicle qualifies, Massachusetts requires the manufacturer to repurchase or replace it rather than keep attempting repairs. Massachusetts's lemon law provides for an award of attorney fees to a consumer who wins (Massachusetts General Laws chapter 90, section 7N1/2(6)).