Kentucky · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Kentucky Motor Vehicle Lemon Law (new motor vehicle warranty law) (Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 367.840–367.846; informal dispute resolution: §§ 367.860–367.870) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Kentucky, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, your car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still is not fixed, or if the car has been out of service for a total of at least 30 calendar days for repair of the same defect. The 30 days can be extended if parts are unavailable because of war, civil unrest, fire, flood or natural disaster. The defect must substantially impair the car's use, value or safety. The law has no separate rule for safety defects and no final repair attempt for the manufacturer.
Period: The first 12 months after delivery to you or the first 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If the manufacturer or its dealers cannot fix the defect after a reasonable number of tries during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, you must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing. The law does not require a specific method such as certified mail, but sending it in a way you can prove is wise.
Before you sue for a refund or replacement, you must first use the manufacturer's dispute resolution program (one that meets Kentucky's rules in KRS 367.860–367.870 or the federal rules in 16 C.F.R. Part 703). The program must be free to you and offer an oral hearing; its decision binds the manufacturer but not you unless you sign a special written waiver.
At your choice, the manufacturer must replace the car with a comparable one or take it back and refund the full purchase price. The refund includes what you paid for the car, finance charges, all sales tax, license and registration fees, similar government charges, and all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use of the car. The use allowance cannot count time the car was out of service because of the defect; the law gives no formula. Refunds are paid to you and any lienholder as their interests appear.
Attorney fees: Yes. A court may award reasonable attorney fees to a consumer who wins (KRS 367.842(9)).
Deadline: You must file a lawsuit under the lemon law within 2 years after the original delivery of the new car to you (KRS 367.842(8)).
Kentucky has no used-car lemon law, and there is no legal right to cancel a car purchase. Dealers must post the federal FTC Buyers Guide showing whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty; "as is" means no warranties at all.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. If the manufacturer or its dealers cannot fix the defect after a reasonable number of tries during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, you must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing. The law does not require a specific method such as certified mail, but sending it in a way you can prove is wise. 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.
Within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, your car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still is not fixed, or if the car has been out of service for a total of at least 30 calendar days for repair of the same defect. The 30 days can be extended if parts are unavailable because of war, civil unrest, fire, flood or natural disaster. The defect must substantially impair the car's use, value or safety. The law has no separate rule for safety defects and no final repair attempt for the manufacturer.
The first 12 months after delivery to you or the first 12,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If the manufacturer or its dealers cannot fix the defect after a reasonable number of tries during the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, you must report the defect to the manufacturer in writing. The law does not require a specific method such as certified mail, but sending it in a way you can prove is wise.
Before you sue for a refund or replacement, you must first use the manufacturer's dispute resolution program (one that meets Kentucky's rules in KRS 367.860–367.870 or the federal rules in 16 C.F.R. Part 703). The program must be free to you and offer an oral hearing; its decision binds the manufacturer but not you unless you sign a special written waiver.
At your choice, the manufacturer must replace the car with a comparable one or take it back and refund the full purchase price. The refund includes what you paid for the car, finance charges, all sales tax, license and registration fees, similar government charges, and all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use of the car. The use allowance cannot count time the car was out of service because of the defect; the law gives no formula. Refunds are paid to you and any lienholder as their interests appear.
You must file a lawsuit under the lemon law within 2 years after the original delivery of the new car to you (KRS 367.842(8)).
Kentucky has no used-car lemon law, and there is no legal right to cancel a car purchase. Dealers must post the federal FTC Buyers Guide showing whether the car is sold "as is" or with a warranty; "as is" means no warranties at all.
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.
Law: Ky. Rev. Stat. §§ 367.840–367.846; informal dispute resolution: §§ 367.860–367.870