What protects you if you bought a used car that keeps breaking down.
State lemon laws were written for new vehicles. A used car can still be covered if it is within the original lemon law period and warranty. A few states also have their own used-car rules: a required dealer warranty, a used-car lemon law, or limits on selling "as is". Everywhere, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act applies to any written warranty you got.
Before you buy, read the Buyers Guide sticker on the window: it says whether the car comes with a warranty or is sold "as is".
| State | Used car protection |
|---|---|
| Alabama | The lemon law covers only new or previously untitled vehicles. Alabama has no separate used-car lemon law. |
| Alaska | The Attorney General says the lemon law does not apply to used vehicles. |
| Arizona | Arizona has a used-car lemon law (A.R.S. § 44-1267). A used-car dealer must give an implied warranty that the car will be fit for ordinary use for 15 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first; you must give the dealer notice and a reasonable chance to repair, you pay half of the first two repairs (up to $25 each), and the dealer's liability is capped at the purchase price. |
| Arkansas | The lemon law covers only new or previously untitled vehicles, so used cars are not covered. Arkansas has no separate used-car lemon law. |
| California | The Department of Consumer Affairs says used vehicles are covered only if the manufacturer's new-car warranty is issued with the sale (for example, dealer-owned cars and demonstrators). Other used cars are not covered by the lemon law's refund-or-replace rules. |
| Colorado | The lemon law does not apply to used vehicles or to licensed used-car dealers, except for the 'Lemon Law Buyback' disclosure rules, which do protect used-car buyers. |
| Connecticut | The lemon law does not cover used cars, but Connecticut's used-car warranty law requires dealers to give a written warranty on parts and labor: 30 days or 1,500 miles for cars priced $3,000 to $4,999, and 60 days or 3,000 miles for $5,000 or more. Cars under $3,000 or 7 or more model years old are exempt (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-221). |
| Delaware | The Attorney General says the Delaware Lemon Law applies only to new vehicles. Delaware has no separate used-car lemon law. |
| District of Columbia | Used cars still within 18,000 miles or 2 years of original delivery count as 'new' under the lemon law. For other used cars, dealers must disclose in writing any known material mechanical defect and any known fire, water, or collision damage costing over $1,000 to repair, and whether they inspected the car; you can claim damages for violations, starting with the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration (D.C. Code § 50-505). |
| Florida | Florida's Lemon Law covers only new and demonstrator vehicles; there is no separate used-car lemon law. A used vehicle may be covered only if it is transferred to you during the original owner's 24-month Lemon Law rights period. |
| Georgia | Georgia's Lemon Law covers only new vehicles; vehicles titled as used, or previously titled to anyone other than a new-car dealer, are not covered. There is no separate used-car lemon law. |
| Hawaii | Yes. Hawaii requires dealers to give a written warranty on most used cars covering parts and labor for major parts (engine, transmission, brakes, steering and more): 90 days/5,000 miles under 25,000 miles; 60 days/3,000 miles for 25,000-49,999 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 50,000-75,000 miles (Haw. Rev. Stat. ch. 481J). It does not apply to cars sold for under $1,500, cars over 75,000 miles, or cars 5 or more years old, among other exemptions. |
| Idaho | 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. |
| Illinois | Yes, limited. When a licensed dealer (or public auction) sells most used cars, Illinois law gives an implied warranty that the powertrain will be free of defects for 15 days or 500 miles, whichever comes first; you must notify the seller within 2 business days after that period and pay half the cost of each of the first 2 repairs, up to $100 per repair (815 ILCS 505/2L). It does not apply to vehicles over 150,000 miles, rebuilt or flood titles, vehicles 8,000 lbs or more, or antique/collector vehicles. |
| Indiana | Indiana's Lemon Law covers only vehicles within 18 months/18,000 miles of original delivery; there is no separate used-car lemon law. |
| Iowa | Iowa's Lemon Law covers new or previously untitled vehicles only; there is no separate used-car lemon law. |
| Kansas | Kansas's Lemon Law covers only new vehicles and only the original buyer or lessee; there is no separate used-car lemon law. |
| Kentucky | 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. |
| Louisiana | Louisiana has no separate used-car lemon law. Louisiana's redhibition law (Civil Code arts. 2520–2548) protects buyers against hidden defects in vehicles, and a vehicle bought back as a lemon must carry a written disclosure and a title notice when resold. |
| Maine | Maine's Lemon Law covers used vehicles still under an express warranty within 3 years/18,000 miles. Separately, dealers must give an inspection warranty on used cars; if a car is sold "as is" with implied warranties properly disclaimed, the only warranty is that it can pass state inspection. |
| Maryland | Maryland's lemon law covers only new vehicles, but a later owner gets the same rights while the vehicle is within 24 months and 18,000 miles of original delivery. A lemon buyback resold through a Maryland dealer must come with a written disclosure that it was returned and why. |
| Massachusetts | Yes. Dealers must give a written warranty on used cars (90 days/3,750 miles for under 40,000 miles; 60 days/2,500 miles for 40,000–79,999; 30 days/1,250 miles for 80,000–124,999). If the dealer cannot fix the same defect in 3 tries or the car is out of service more than 10 business days, the dealer must buy it back, minus 15 cents a mile. |
| Michigan | Michigan has no used-car lemon law. The Attorney General says the Lemon Law can still apply to a used vehicle that is covered by the manufacturer's express warranty if the problem is reported within 1 year of delivery to the original buyer. |
| Minnesota | Yes. Minnesota's used car warranty law (Minn. Stat. § 325F.662) requires dealers to warrant key parts on most used cars: 60 days/2,500 miles under 36,000 miles; 30 days/1,000 miles for 36,000–74,999; 15 days/500 miles for 75,000–199,999 (with exceptions). The lemon law itself also covers used cars still under the original manufacturer's warranty. |
| Mississippi | Mississippi's lemon law is for new vehicles, but it also covers demonstrators sold with a manufacturer's warranty and later owners who receive the vehicle while the warranty is still in effect. |
| Missouri | Missouri's lemon law covers only new vehicles, but it includes demonstrators sold with a manufacturer's warranty and later owners who receive the vehicle while the warranty is still in effect. |
| Montana | Montana's lemon law covers new vehicles only. A later owner can use it only if the vehicle is still within the original 2-year/18,000-mile period. |
| Nebraska | 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. |
| Nevada | Nevada's lemon law covers new vehicles. A later owner is covered only while the manufacturer's warranty is in effect and the 1-year period has not ended. |
| New Hampshire | The law covers new vehicles bought or leased in New Hampshire. We found no separate used-car lemon law on the state's pages. |
| New Jersey | New Jersey's Used Car Lemon Law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 to 56:8-80) requires dealers to give a written warranty on most used cars: 90 days/3,000 miles (up to 24,000 miles on the odometer), 60 days/2,000 miles (24,001-59,999 miles), or 30 days/1,000 miles (60,000+ miles, which you can waive by negotiating the price). It does not apply to cars sold for under $3,000, cars 7 or more model years old, cars with over 100,000 miles, or disclosed insurance total losses; if the dealer cannot fix a covered defect after 3 tries or 20 days, it must buy the car back. |
| New Mexico | Used-car dealers (4 or more sales a year) may not disclaim the implied warranty of merchantability for 15 days or 500 miles after delivery, whichever comes first; you must notify the seller within 30 days of a breach, and you pay half of each of the first two repairs, up to $25 each (§ 57-16A-3.1). |
| New York | New York's Used Car Lemon Law (Gen. Bus. Law § 198-b) requires dealers (3 or more sales a year) to give a written warranty on used cars sold for $1,500 or more with no more than 100,000 miles: 90 days/4,000 miles (up to 36,000 miles), 60 days/3,000 miles (36,001-79,999 miles), or 30 days/1,000 miles (80,000-100,000 miles). The state arbitration program also handles used-car cases ($120 fee). |
| North Carolina | North Carolina's lemon law covers new vehicles only, and the Attorney General's guide describes it as applying to new vehicles bought in North Carolina. |
| North Dakota | The lemon law covers new vehicles only. The Attorney General's fact sheet says used-car buyers have little protection unless they bought an extended warranty or can prove the seller lied about the car's condition. |
| Ohio | The lemon law does not apply to vehicles more than one year old or driven more than 18,000 miles. The Attorney General suggests checking whether a used car has a branded 'BUYBACK' title through the Ohio BMV and the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System. |
| Oklahoma | The lemon law covers new vehicles only. Complaints about used-car dealers go to the Oklahoma Used Motor Vehicle, Dismantler, and Manufactured Housing Commission. |
| Oregon | Oregon's lemon law covers new vehicles only. The Department of Justice notes Oregon has no three-day right to cancel a car purchase unless your contract says so. |
| Pennsylvania | The Automobile Lemon Law covers new vehicles only. A violation of the Lemon Law is also a violation of Pennsylvania's Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law. |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island has a separate used-car warranty law (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-5.4): dealers must give a written warranty of at least 60 days/3,000 miles on cars with 36,000 miles or less, and 30 days/1,000 miles on cars with 36,001-100,000 miles, covering major parts like the engine, transmission, brakes and steering. If the dealer cannot fix a covered defect that substantially impairs the car's value, it must take the car back and refund the price. |
| South Carolina | South Carolina's lemon law does not cover used vehicles. You can file a complaint about a used vehicle you bought or leased with the Department of Consumer Affairs. |
| South Dakota | The Attorney General's office says the lemon law covers new vehicles only. |
| Tennessee | Tennessee's lemon law does not cover used vehicle purchases, according to the state's Consumer Affairs help article (Tennessee Commerce & Insurance help center, 'Lemon Law'). |
| Texas | The lemon law is about new-vehicle warranties, but a later owner who is a Texas resident and registered the vehicle in Texas counts as an 'owner' (§ 2301.601(2)(E)), so a used vehicle can qualify if the repair attempts fall within the warranty and the first 24 months/24,000 miles. The Texas State Law Library notes lemon laws may apply to used vehicles still under the manufacturer's warranty. |
| Utah | Utah's lemon law covers only new vehicles. The Division of Consumer Protection notes there is no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase, and returns are allowed only if the seller's own policy permits them. |
| Vermont | A used vehicle can qualify if the first repair attempt happened while the manufacturer's express warranty was in effect and the other requirements are met, according to the Vermont DMV. |
| Virginia | The act covers later owners who get the vehicle while a warranty applies, and the Attorney General notes it may apply to used vehicles under certain conditions (Subaru of America, Inc. v. Peters, 1998). |
| Washington | Later owners can use the lemon law if they bought or leased the vehicle within 2 years and 24,000 miles of the original delivery and request arbitration within 30 months, according to the Attorney General. |
| West Virginia | No specific used-car rule found. |
| Wisconsin | Used vehicles do not qualify under the lemon law. A Wisconsin dealer must inspect a used car and disclose known problems on the Wisconsin Buyers Guide window sticker even when selling 'as is', and WisDOT's Dealer & Agent Section can investigate complaints. |
| Wyoming | No specific used-car rule found. |