Santa Clarita

LEMON LAW

UNDERSTANDING

Attorney Advertising

Santa Clarita is the third-largest city in Los Angeles County. It ranks in the top 100 most populous cities in the U.S.

According to the California Department of Motor Vehicles, more California vehicles are registered in Los Angeles County than in any other county.

White Scribbled Underline

Vehicle Registrations

IN 2023, ROUGHLY

cars, trucks, trailers, and motorcycles were registered in Los Angeles County.

7.5 MILLION

How Common are Lemon Law Claims?

Lemon lawsuits are relatively rare. Between 2018 and 2021, 0.45 percent of new vehicle registrations resulted in a lemon lawsuit.

The number of lawsuits doesn’t accurately reflect the number of lemon vehicles in California.

This is because most lemon claims never go to court.

Cases are settled between the auto manufacturer and the vehicle owner, often with the help of an experienced lemon law attorney.

White Scribbled Underline

Some vehicles are more likely to be the subject of lemon law claims than others.

White Scribbled Underline

For example: from 2018 - 2021

General Motors faced one lemon law claim for every 78 vehicles sold in California.

Overall:

GENERAL MOTORS IS

29% of all cases

FIAT CHRYSLER IS

17% of all cases

FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS

13.5% of all cases

Is My Vehicle  a Lemon?

It has a defect or defects that substantially impair its use, value, or safety.

A car may be a lemon if:

It has been repaired two or more times during warranty.

The automaker cannot keep the vehicle free from defects.

01

02

03

When Lemon Law May Not Apply

Your vehicle was never registered.

California’s lemon law does not cover vehicles that aren’t registered with the state’s DMV.

01

Your warranty has expired.

If the warranty expired before the problems began, the vehicle’s owner may not have a lemon law claim.

02

You bought your vehicle in a private sale.

California’s lemon law covers vehicles purchased or leased “at retail,” from a dealership or directly from a manufacturer.

03

Problems are the result of abuse, misuse, or rough handling.

California’s lemon law covers only problems that arise during typical vehicle use.

04

The law provides four categories of compensation for lemon vehicle owners:

White Scribbled Underline

Working with an Experienced Santa Clarita Lemon Lawyer

Refund or Replacement

Lemon law allows lemon vehicle owners to choose a refund or a “substantially similar” replacement vehicle.

01

Out of pocket repair costs related to the defects as well as alternative transportation costs are recoverable.

Incidental and Consequential Damages

02

California lemon law requires automakers to pay a vehicle owner’s attorney’s fees if their vehicle is a lemon.

Attorneys’  Fees

03

When a manufacturer or distributor willfully fails to repurchase or replace a lemon, then you may also be entitled to civil penalties.

Civil  Penalties

04

If you think you have a lemon, talk to an experienced Santa Clarita lemon lawyer so that you can learn about your legal options.

free no obligation evaluation

(858) 879-3557

We help Southern California consumers get the compensation they deserve after purchasing a lemon. Talk to a winning Santa Clarita Valley attorney: