California’s Lemon Law is known as one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. However, recent updates to the law may make it more difficult for consumers to get relief from lemon vehicles – especially without experienced legal representation.
With over 15 years of dedicated service, the California Lemon Law attorneys at The Barry Law Firm stand ready to help. Call now or reach out online for a FAST & FREE case evaluation to determine whether you have a Lemon Law claim and how these recent changes may affect your case.
What Is the California Lemon Law?
The Lemon Law in California provides legal remedies for consumers who purchase or lease defective vehicles. The law applies to vehicles with defects covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty that substantially impact the vehicle’s safety, use, or value. If the manufacturer cannot fix the defect after having a reasonable opportunity, the consumer can demand that the manufacturer buy the faulty vehicle back and refund what they have spent on it.
New Changes to the California Lemon Law in 2025
California’s Lemon Law has recently been significantly affected by a seemingly rushed piece of new legislation and a major court case ruling. While there are many new changes to California’s Lemon Law in 2025, these are the most critical for consumers:
- Shorter claim deadline – The changes set a shorter deadline to file a Lemon Law claim and make determining the statute of limitations more complex. It’s crucial to contact a Lemon Law attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to a claim.
- Lawsuit procedures – The updated law outlines new standardized procedures when the consumer intends to file a lawsuit under the Lemon Law seeking civil penalties, including notification requirements, manufacturer response times, and rules for Lemon Law disputes.
- Used car limitations – A recent California Supreme Court case severely limits the state’s Lemon Law protections for used vehicles. While certain used cars may qualify, they must meet specific, limited conditions.
What Do These Changes Mean for California Consumers?
Lawmakers claim that California’s Lemon Law changes in 2025 are intended to help address the growing number of claims for defective cars that are “clogging the state’s court system.” However, these sudden changes are creating confusion and may limit consumers’ rights in some cases. While the new rules may aim to make the system more efficient and streamlined, the stricter requirements could end up making it harder for California consumers to get rid of their lemon vehicles.
The updated law makes having an experienced California Lemon Law attorney on your side even more critical. An attorney can help you navigate these changes, protect your rights, and ensure you file a Lemon Law case that meets the requirements.
Steps to Take If You Think You Have a Lemon
Filing a California Lemon Law claim requires careful documentation and adherence to legal procedures to show the defect and the manufacturer’s failure to fix it. Proper preparation strengthens your case and helps you seek a fair resolution.
Document Everything
Creating comprehensive records from the first sign of trouble establishes the foundation for proving your Lemon Law claim and countering manufacturer arguments. Thorough documentation eliminates disputes about repair history and defect severity.
Crucial records to collect may include:
- Repair orders with dates, mileage, reported issues, and work done
- Written communications with authorized dealerships and manufacturer representatives
- Photos or videos showing defects and their effects
- Notes on how the defect impacts daily vehicle use
- Purchase papers, manufacturer’s warranty details, and financing agreements
- Out-of-pocket expenses related to the defect or repair attempts
Begin documenting problems immediately when they first appear. Even seemingly minor issues deserve documentation, as patterns of related problems often reveal underlying defects that individual incidents might not expose.
Pursue Repeated Repairs
Manufacturers must be allowed reasonable opportunities to diagnose and correct warranty defects before Lemon Law remedies become available. What the California Lemon Law considers a reasonable number of repair attempts varies from case to case.
When defects create substantial safety risks, the law typically considers two or more unsuccessful repair attempts sufficient to trigger Lemon Law protections. Less severe defects may require more repair opportunities. Additionally, a vehicle that remains out of service for an inordinate amount of time can qualify it as a lemon, as excessive downtime itself substantially impairs your ability to use the vehicle.
You should take your vehicle to the authorized dealership as soon as you notice a defect to ensure you don’t miss any critical deadlines.
Call a California Lemon Law Attorney
With the shorter deadlines and stricter requirements resulting from the Lemon Law changes, it’s vital to reach out to an attorney as soon as you think you may have a lemon. They can explain your rights and help you pursue a claim before it’s too late, all while guiding you through the complicated legal process.
An experienced Lemon Law attorney can:
- Evaluate whether your situation qualifies for protection
- Organize critical evidence and assemble it into a persuasive claim
- Handle communications with the manufacturer
- Negotiate fair settlements
- Pursue litigation if needed
Contact a California Lemon Law Attorney for Help with Your Lemon
Auto manufacturers should be held accountable when they sell defective vehicles. However, the California Lemon Law changes in 2025 may leave more consumers shouldering the burden of owning lemons. Don’t try to navigate this complicated system on your own. A skilled Lemon Law attorney can level the playing field so you can pursue relief from your faulty vehicle.
The Barry Law Firm has a long-standing history of vindicating consumer rights when major automotive manufacturers try to evade responsibility. Our seasoned Lemon Law attorneys have helped thousands of dissatisfied consumers resolve Lemon Law claims and obtain justice from large automakers across California. And we do it all without ever charging them anything. California’s Lemon Law requires manufacturers to pay the consumer’s legal fees in a successful claim, and you’ll never get a bill from us – no matter the outcome of your case.
Call us now or reach out online for a FAST & FREE case evaluation to determine whether you have a Lemon Law claim. We’ve earned numerous client testimonials that demonstrate our commitment to excellent service. Let us put our experience to work fighting for your rights.
