Idaho · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Idaho Lemon Law (Motor Vehicle Warranties) (Idaho Code §§ 48-901 to 48-913) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Idaho, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
The manufacturer is presumed to have had a reasonable number of attempts if, within the period: the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists; a defect causing complete failure of the brakes or steering, likely to cause death or serious injury, was repaired at least once and still exists; or the car was out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. The manufacturer must have received your written notice at least once and had at least one chance to fix the defect.
Period: You must report the defect within the manufacturer's express warranty term, 2 years from original delivery, or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you reported it within the warranty term, you can still qualify if the repair attempts happen within 3 years of delivery.
Required. You (or someone for you) must notify the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer of the defect in writing at least once and give them an opportunity to fix it. A dealer who receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail. The Attorney General recommends sending your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, and sending a copy to the manufacturer if you write to the dealer.
Idaho has no state-run program. Every manufacturer must offer an informal dispute settlement (arbitration) program located in Idaho, and you must use it before suing for a refund or replacement unless the manufacturer lets you skip it. Any fee to you can be no more than the county conciliation (small claims) court filing fee. The decision is not binding unless both sides agree; either side can take the case to district court.
A comparable replacement vehicle, or a refund of what you paid (including trade-in value), capped at 105% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, plus sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental-car costs caused by warranty repairs. If offered a replacement, you may insist on a refund. The manufacturer may deduct a use allowance of no more than: miles you drove up to the arbitration hearing times the purchase price, divided by 120,000. Lessees get a refund only (pro-rata down payment and other charges; the lease payments made count as the use allowance).
Attorney fees: Yes. A consumer who sues under the Lemon Law can recover reasonable attorney's fees and costs of the lawsuit, but not attorney's fees spent in the manufacturer's arbitration program (Idaho Code § 48-909).
Deadline: A lawsuit must be filed within 3 years of the vehicle's original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer's arbitration program within those 3 years and disagree with its decision, you must go to court within 3 months after the final decision (Idaho Code § 48-910).
Idaho's Lemon Law covers only new vehicles (and later owners while the manufacturer's warranty lasts); there is no separate used-car lemon law.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Required. You (or someone for you) must notify the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer of the defect in writing at least once and give them an opportunity to fix it. A dealer who receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail. The Attorney General recommends sending your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, and sending a copy to the manufacturer if you write to the dealer. Fill this in, copy the letter, sign it and send it by certified mail with return receipt. Keep a copy. Nothing you type here is sent to us; the letter is made in your browser.
The manufacturer is presumed to have had a reasonable number of attempts if, within the period: the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists; a defect causing complete failure of the brakes or steering, likely to cause death or serious injury, was repaired at least once and still exists; or the car was out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. The manufacturer must have received your written notice at least once and had at least one chance to fix the defect.
You must report the defect within the manufacturer's express warranty term, 2 years from original delivery, or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. If you reported it within the warranty term, you can still qualify if the repair attempts happen within 3 years of delivery.
Required. You (or someone for you) must notify the manufacturer, its agent or authorized dealer of the defect in writing at least once and give them an opportunity to fix it. A dealer who receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail. The Attorney General recommends sending your letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, and sending a copy to the manufacturer if you write to the dealer.
Idaho has no state-run program. Every manufacturer must offer an informal dispute settlement (arbitration) program located in Idaho, and you must use it before suing for a refund or replacement unless the manufacturer lets you skip it. Any fee to you can be no more than the county conciliation (small claims) court filing fee. The decision is not binding unless both sides agree; either side can take the case to district court.
A comparable replacement vehicle, or a refund of what you paid (including trade-in value), capped at 105% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price, plus sales or excise tax, license and registration fees, and towing and rental-car costs caused by warranty repairs. If offered a replacement, you may insist on a refund. The manufacturer may deduct a use allowance of no more than: miles you drove up to the arbitration hearing times the purchase price, divided by 120,000. Lessees get a refund only (pro-rata down payment and other charges; the lease payments made count as the use allowance).
A lawsuit must be filed within 3 years of the vehicle's original delivery. If you applied to the manufacturer's arbitration program within those 3 years and disagree with its decision, you must go to court within 3 months after the final decision (Idaho Code § 48-910).
Idaho's Lemon Law covers only new vehicles (and later owners while the manufacturer's warranty lasts); there is no separate used-car lemon law.
Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.
Federal warranty lawLast checked: Oct 2026.