Ohio Lemon Law Buyback Calculator

In Ohio, a lemon law buyback refunds the vehicle's purchase price plus incidental costs such as taxes, registration, and towing. Ohio does not reduce the refund by a mileage offset for miles driven before the defect appeared, which can make a successful buyback more valuable than in states that subtract a use-based offset. Our calculator estimates your refund from the price you paid and your defect history.

Ohio 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 30 days, the vehicle is presumed to be a lemon. This presumption generally applies within the first 12 months or 18,000 miles of ownership.

Ohio's state lemon law generally covers new vehicles purchased with a manufacturer's warranty. If your vehicle is used or falls outside the state statute, you may still have a claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, which applies to written warranties nationwide.

You generally have 5 years to bring a lemon law claim in Ohio, longer than the national average of 2.4 years. Acting before the warranty expires and while repair records are fresh protects your claim. When a vehicle qualifies, Ohio requires the manufacturer to repurchase or replace it rather than keep attempting repairs. Ohio's lemon law provides for an award of attorney fees to a consumer who wins (Ohio Revised Code 1345.75(A)).