Lemon Law

Defective car or wheelchair?  New York’s lemon laws protect you!

If you bought or leased a new or used car or a wheelchair that turned out to be defective (a “lemon”), you may be able to get a refund if:

• Your car’s condition does not match up to the terms in the written warranty and
• The manufacturer or its authorized dealer cannot repair the car after a reasonable number of efforts.

Learn more about how the lemon laws can help you.

• Read facts about the lemon laws for:  New cars | Used cars
• See frequently asked questions (FAQs) for:  New cars | Used cars
• Read the full text of the laws for: New cars | Used cars
• Download our information publications:
  Wheelchair lemon law | Brochure on new and used cars | Consumer bill of rights for used cars
• Download our consumer guides for:
  New cars | Used cars | Excess wear and tear on leased cars | Wheelchairs

How we can help you

First, have our office decide whether your situation might qualify. This process is called “arbitration.”

Download the appropriate guide to find out if:

• Your car lease charged too much for “wear and tear”
• The new car you bought could be a lemon
• The used car you bought could be a lemon
• The wheelchair you bought, leased, or received could be a lemon

To ask us to start arbitration, download the form for the:

• Car you leased
• New car you bought
• Used car you bought
• Wheelchair you leased, bought, or were given

Complete all questions as accurately as you can, especially the questions about dates and mileage. If you bought your car, describe the problem briefly but completely in Question 14.

Email the form to us at nyag.lemonlaw@ag.ny.gov (for the fastest response) or mail it to us at:

Attorney General’s Lemon Law Unit
28 Liberty Street, 15th floor
New York NY 10005

(Please mark: “Attention: Lemon Law Arbitration Unit” or “Attention: Wheelchair Lemon Law Arbitration Unit”)
 

Coming soon: Is your new farm equipment a lemon?

We will soon be rolling out a program to help settle disputes (arbitration) for new farm equipment that is defective. Learn the details:

Full text of the lemon law for farm equipment

Description of the arbitration procedure for new farm equipment that is defective