Is your Uber or Lyft vehicle spending more time in the shop than on the road? You depend on your car to earn a living. You shouldn’t have to deal with constant breakdowns, lost income, and repair bills while the manufacturer gives you the runaround. California’s Lemon Law protects rideshare drivers in San Diego, but many drivers don’t know they qualify.
A Lemon Law lawyer from The Barry Law Firm can review your repair history, explain your rights, and help you take the next steps. If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer may have to buy it back and cover your legal costs. Contact us now for a FAST & FREE consultation to find out if you have a San Diego Lemon Law claim.
Rideshare Protection That Uber & Lyft Drivers Should All Know
If you drive for Uber, Lyft, or another rideshare company in San Diego, you rely on your car to make a living. That’s why you should know what protections are available to you if your vehicle turns out to be defective. California has strong Lemon Law protections for drivers, including those who use their cars for work. But not every driver knows when these rights apply to them.
Some people think the Lemon Law only covers personal vehicles, but that’s not true. While the law protects vehicles purchased for personal, family, or household use, it also applies to certain vehicles used for commercial purposes, including rideshare vehicles. However, the vehicle must have been purchased or used by an owner or business with less than five registered vehicles in the state of California and have a gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds. Since most rideshare drivers only operate one car for their work, they typically meet this requirement.
If you bought or leased your vehicle in California and a substantial problem arose during the manufacturer’s original warranty period that the manufacturer is unable to fix after a reasonable number of attempts, you might have a Lemon Law case – even if you use the car for rideshare work.
Don’t assume the manufacturer has the final say. If you know and exercise your rights now, it could save you from a long and expensive fight later.
How Can the California Lemon Law Protect Rideshare Drivers in San Diego?
California’s Lemon Law, under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, can help San Diego rideshare drivers if their cars have serious issues that the manufacturer hasn’t fixed within a reasonable number of tries.
The Lemon Law in San Diego, CA, only applies to substantial defects that are covered by the car manufacturer’s original warranty and start while the warranty is still active. It also requires you to give the manufacturer or their authorized dealership a fair chance to fix the issue. However, if the manufacturer still cannot fix it, you could qualify for a Lemon Law buyback. In a California Lemon Law claim, manufacturers might have to buy the car back and refund your losses related to the faulty vehicle, including:
- The purchase or lease price
- Sales or use taxes
- License and registration fees
- Repair costs
- Other related out-of-pocket expenses
- Lost income
- Legal fees
How Can a Defective Vehicle Affect Rideshare Drivers?
If you’re driving for Uber or Lyft in San Diego, you depend on your vehicle every single day. It’s not just how you get around – it’s how you earn a living. If your vehicle has a serious defect, the impact could go far beyond an annoying trip to the repair shop. A lemon vehicle might throw off your work schedule, shrink your paycheck, and damage your ratings. In some cases, it could even make it unsafe to stay on the road.
Here are some ways a defective vehicle could affect you as a rideshare driver:
Rapid Mileage Accumulation
If you drive for a rideshare company, your odometer climbs much faster than it would for a typical car owner. That matters because a manufacturer’s original warranty typically only lasts for a set number of miles or years. So, while most drivers have more time to catch serious problems under warranty, rideshare drivers can burn through that protection window in a matter of months. If your vehicle starts showing defects, you might have less time to get them addressed under warranty, which can affect your Lemon Law rights.
The manufacturer may also try to argue that the issue with your rideshare vehicle was caused by excessive usage and miles put on the car. A skilled rideshare Lemon Law attorney can help you fight back against these claims and establish that the issue comes from a vehicle defect.
Warranties That Don’t Cover Commercial Driving
Many auto manufacturers write language into their warranties that excludes coverage for commercial use. If you’re using your vehicle to pick up rideshare passengers, they might try to say you aren’t entitled to repairs or a Lemon Law buyback because of how you use the car. That could make it harder to get help, even if you started to notice defects while the rideshare vehicle’s original warranty was still active. A Lemon Law attorney can help you push back if a manufacturer refuses to take responsibility.
Safety Risks for You and Your Passengers
Some car problems aren’t just frustrating – they’re dangerous. Failing brakes, steering problems, or a stalling engine can all lead to loss-of-control crashes. If you drive for Uber or Lyft, you can’t afford to take chances with safety.
Even if you’ve never had an accident, your car might still qualify as a lemon if the warranty-covered defects are severe and the manufacturer hasn’t fixed them after a reasonable number of attempts. It’s best to get ahead of these risks and file a Lemon Law claim before your vehicle harms you or anyone else.
Lost Driving Time Means Lost Income
A vehicle that breaks down again and again can take away your main source of income as a rideshare driver. Even one day off the road could lead to lower weekly earnings, and missed days can add up quickly. On top of that, canceling rides or getting poor reviews because of mechanical issues could hurt your driver rating, which can affect your ability to get high-paying trips in the future.
If a manufacturer fails to fix your car after repeated attempts, you could have the right to demand a buyback – which could also cover your lost income due to your vehicle’s issues.
If You Have a Faulty Vehicle, Protect Your Future by Filing a Claim
If your vehicle has a serious warranty-covered issue that the manufacturer hasn’t fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, you may have a rideshare Lemon Law claim. The first step in filing a claim is to talk with a lawyer who knows how to handle these cases.
An experienced Lemon Law attorney serving San Diego from The Barry Law Firm can review your repair history and explain if your car qualifies. And when you work with The Barry Law Firm for your Lemon Law claim, you’ll never get a bill from us – no matter the outcome of your case.
If your car has a serious defect, don’t wait until the warranty runs out or your work suffers. You don’t have to figure this out alone. A lawyer from The Barry Law Firm can deal with the manufacturer and help you protect your financial future before the problem gets worse.
You Are Not Alone: Call The Barry Law Firm for Support with Your Lemon!
Think your rideshare vehicle might qualify as a lemon? Don’t wait to find out. Contact The Barry Law Firm now to see if you might have a Lemon Law claim. And remember: you won’t ever pay us anything, no matter how your case turns out.
