Nebraska · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Nebraska Lemon Law (motor vehicle express warranties) (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Nebraska, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery (whichever ends first), the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and is still there, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 40 or more days. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value. The presumption only applies after the manufacturer has received direct written notice from you by certified mail and has had a chance to fix the defect.
Period: The manufacturer's express warranty term or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first
Send the manufacturer direct written notice of the defect by certified mail, and give it a chance to fix it. Without this, the lemon presumption does not apply. Your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website may list the address.
If the manufacturer has or takes part in a dispute program certified by the Director of Motor Vehicles, you must use it first before you can claim a refund or replacement. There is no state-run arbitration. The Attorney General says a decision should come within 40 days, and if you are not satisfied you may sue.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one, or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and similar government charges. It may deduct a reasonable allowance for use by you (and any earlier owner) before you first reported the defect, and while the vehicle was not out of service for repair. The refund is split between you and any lender.
Attorney fees: Yes. If you win a lemon law case, the court must award you reasonable attorney's fees (§ 60-2707).
Deadline: File suit within 1 year after the express warranty expires or 2 years after original delivery, whichever is earlier (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-2706).
Nebraska's lemon law covers new vehicles only; the Attorney General says it does not apply to vehicles sold as used and that Nebraska has no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase. Used cars sold 'as is' come with no warranty, and complaints about dealers go to the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Send the manufacturer direct written notice of the defect by certified mail, and give it a chance to fix it. Without this, the lemon presumption does not apply. Your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website may list the address. 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.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery (whichever ends first), the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and is still there, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 40 or more days. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value. The presumption only applies after the manufacturer has received direct written notice from you by certified mail and has had a chance to fix the defect.
The manufacturer's express warranty term or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first
Send the manufacturer direct written notice of the defect by certified mail, and give it a chance to fix it. Without this, the lemon presumption does not apply. Your owner's manual or the manufacturer's website may list the address.
If the manufacturer has or takes part in a dispute program certified by the Director of Motor Vehicles, you must use it first before you can claim a refund or replacement. There is no state-run arbitration. The Attorney General says a decision should come within 40 days, and if you are not satisfied you may sue.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one, or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and similar government charges. It may deduct a reasonable allowance for use by you (and any earlier owner) before you first reported the defect, and while the vehicle was not out of service for repair. The refund is split between you and any lender.
File suit within 1 year after the express warranty expires or 2 years after original delivery, whichever is earlier (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 60-2706).
Nebraska's lemon law covers new vehicles only; the Attorney General says it does not apply to vehicles sold as used and that Nebraska has no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase. Used cars sold 'as is' come with no warranty, and complaints about dealers go to the Motor Vehicle Industry Licensing Board.
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.