California Lemon Law Attorneys

At DearLegal, we connect you with experienced California lemon law attorneys who can leverage the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ.

Free to use — if you win, the other side pays your attorney
Matched with a California attorney in 24 hours
30,000+ plaintiffs served nationwide

Free California lemon law case review

A California attorney will take a look. Or call 1-833-WELEGAL.

How we match your California lemon law case

When you submit a California lemon law matter, we route it through a national network of independent partner firms and put it in front of the one that fits best — based on the kind of case it is, what it is likely to involve, where it has to be handled, and who has capacity to take it on now.

Case type

A lemon law matter needs someone who handles lemon law work day to day, not a generalist. Practice area is the first filter.

Size and complexity

Some firms are built for catastrophic injury and multi-party litigation; others resolve straightforward claims quickly. We weigh what your matter is likely to involve against how each firm actually works.

Jurisdiction and licensing

Your matter is decided under California law, so it goes to an attorney licensed in California who regularly appears where your case would be heard.

Capacity and fit

Availability, conflicts of interest and language all matter. If the best-fit firm cannot take your case, we route it to the next one that can — or tell you plainly when no one in the network is the right answer.

Every partner reviews your case for free. Injury and workers’ compensation matters are handled on contingency — no fee unless you win. Other matters are quoted upfront, before you commit to anything.

Get started How DearLegal works

DearLegal provides marketing and matching services and is not a law firm, and is not a State Bar-certified lawyer referral service. Submitting a case does not create an attorney-client relationship. Matches depend on case type, jurisdiction and firm availability.

Exhibit A

What happens with a lemon law claim in California

Day 0
The same problem keeps coming back.
Keep every repair order and note dates, mileage and days out of service. Those records are the case.
Within 24 hours
Tell us what happened.
Two minutes on this page. A California lemon law attorney reviews it for free and, if it’s a fit, you’re matched within 24 hours.
Weeks 1–4
Repair history is reviewed.
Your attorney checks the repair attempts and days down against California’s lemon law standard and the manufacturer’s warranty.
Months 1–3
Demand to the manufacturer.
A formal demand for repurchase or replacement. Manufacturers often settle here once counsel is involved.
Before the 4-year deadline
Suit is filed if it has to be.
California gives 4 years from the date it happened. Filing keeps your leverage; missing it ends the claim.
Resolution
Refund, replacement or cash.
If you win, the law shifts your attorney’s fees to the other side. You keep your recovery.

State Lemon Law Citation: Song-Beverly
Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, Cal. Civ. Code § 1790 to § 1795.8
Coverage Period / Mileage (Presumption): 18 months
18 months or 18,000 miles for the statutory presumption (Civ. Code § 1793.22); covers vehicles still under any express warranty
Presumption Trigger: 4 repairs
4 or more repair attempts for the same defect (2 for safety defects), or 30 cumulative days out of service
Federal Backup: Magnuson-Moss
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2301 et seq.
Statute of Limitations: 4 years
4 years for breach of warranty (Cal. Com. Code § 2725); Song-Beverly claims generally use the 4-year UCC SOL
Typical attorney fee: Fee-shifting
Fee-shifting — if you win, the other side pays your attorney’s fees

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ. Code § 1790 to § 1795.8) is the strongest lemon law in the United States. It covers new and used vehicles sold with an express warranty, requires the manufacturer to refund or replace the vehicle after a reasonable number of repair attempts, and allows a civil penalty of up to two times actual damages when the manufacturer willfully fails to comply. The statutory presumption applies when the manufacturer cannot repair a defect after 4 attempts (or 2 attempts for safety defects), or the vehicle is out of service for 30 cumulative days, within 18 months or 18,000 miles. California also enacted significant reforms in 2023–2024 (AB 1755, SB 26) re-routing lemon cases and modifying procedural requirements. An experienced California lemon law attorney pursues the full Song-Beverly remedy stack — refund, civil penalty, and statutory attorney fees under Civ. Code § 1794(d).

Exhibit B

When to call a lemon law attorney in California

Does any of this sound like you? Tap what applies.

0of 6 apply

Tick anything that applies. Even one is reason enough to talk to a California lemon law attorney before you talk to an insurer.

Talk to an attorney anyway

Meanwhile, don’t

Not documenting every repair attempt with a dated dealer repair order (California courts strictly count documented attempts)
Letting a non-dealer shop perform warranty repairs — those attempts often won’t count toward the Song-Beverly presumption
Skipping participation in the manufacturer’s qualified third-party dispute resolution program if one is offered
Letting the vehicle’s express warranty expire while still negotiating informally
Accepting the manufacturer’s first buy-back without analyzing the Civ. Code § 1793.2(d)(2)(C) use offset
Missing the 4-year UCC statute of limitations under Com. Code § 2725

Exhibit C

Lemon Law cases we take in California

Which one is closest to yours?

Engine failures (oil consumption, head gasket)

California’s strict emissions regime makes engine defects highly consequential — failed smog tests often track to manufacturer-known defects already documented in TSBs.

Sound like yours? A California attorney reviews it free — and if you win, the other side pays your attorney.

Start my free review

Exhibit D

How much do California lemon law attorneys cost?

Typical fee schedule

California · Lemon Law

Fee modelManufacturer Pays Fees

Attorney feepaid by the other side if you win

Your recoverykept in full

Case reviewFree

Illustrative only. Your fee terms are set in a written agreement with your attorney and may include costs and expenses regardless of outcome.

In California lemon law cases the law can shift your attorney’s fees to the other side — you keep your recovery.

California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ. Code § 1794(d)) and the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2)) are fee-shifting statutes — the manufacturer pays the prevailing consumer’s reasonable attorney fees on top of the recovery. California’s statute also allows up to a 2x civil penalty for willful violations. Almost every California lemon law attorney takes cases with no fee deducted from the consumer’s refund or replacement.

A good attorney walks through every number at your free consultation — before you sign anything.

Get startedTakes about two minutes. No obligation.

Exhibit E

What your California lemon law compensation can include

A California lemon law recovery is built from several parts. Tap one to see what it covers.

Full Refund

Full purchase price (taxes, registration, finance charges, dealer-installed options) less the statutory use offset calculated under Civ. Code § 1793.2(d)(2)(C) based on miles at first repair attempt.

DearLegal is a legal referral service, not a law firm. We connect individuals with licensed attorneys who can evaluate their case. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. Results vary based on individual circumstances.

Exhibit F

California lemon law questions, answered

Still unsure? Tell us what happened and a California attorney will review it for free.

Start free review

Under Song-Beverly (Civ. Code § 1793.22), a vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles, the manufacturer cannot repair a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts — generally 4 attempts (or 2 for safety defects that could cause death/serious injury) — or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for 30 or more cumulative days. The presumption is a floor, not a ceiling — California courts find vehicles to be lemons outside the presumption when warranted by the facts.

Yes — uniquely among major lemon laws. Song-Beverly covers used vehicles sold with an express written warranty, including manufacturer-certified pre-owned (CPO) vehicles. This makes California one of the strongest states for used-car claims.

Yes. Song-Beverly applies to leased vehicles. The lessee can recover lease payments, down payment, and residual obligations to the leasing company.

When a manufacturer willfully fails to comply with Song-Beverly, Civ. Code § 1794(c) allows the court to award the consumer up to two times the amount of actual damages as a civil penalty — on top of refund/replacement. “Willful” means the manufacturer knew its obligation and refused. This 2x civil penalty is unique to California and is the single biggest reason California lemon law is the most plaintiff-friendly in the country.

The consumer chooses. Civ. Code § 1793.2(d) gives the consumer the option of a refund of the full purchase price (less a reasonable use offset calculated under Civ. Code § 1793.2(d)(2)(C)) or a comparable replacement vehicle.

The manufacturer. Civ. Code § 1794(d) requires the manufacturer to pay the prevailing consumer’s reasonable attorney fees, costs, and expenses — on top of the consumer’s recovery. The federal Magnuson-Moss Act also adds fee-shifting under 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2). This is why nearly every California lemon law attorney takes cases on a no-fee-to-consumer basis.

AB 1755 (effective 2024) re-routed Song-Beverly claims and updated procedural requirements, including pre-litigation notice and discovery rules for many cases. The substantive rights — refund, replacement, civil penalty, fee-shifting — are preserved, but timing and process matter more than ever. An attorney familiar with the post-2024 framework is essential.

Lemon Law attorneys by city in California

Same California rules and the same attorneys — with what’s local to each city.

Other case types in California

All California practice areas →

Animal Incident attorneysCalifornia holds dog owners strictly liable for bites — the owner pays even if the dog had never bitten anyone before.

Business Dispute attorneysCalifornia bans most non-compete clauses, which shifts the leverage in partnership and employment disputes.

Car Accident attorneysPure comparative fault means even partially at-fault drivers can recover — an attorney protects your share against insurer pushback.

Consumer Protection attorneysCalifornia’s consumer-protection and unfair-competition laws give consumers some of the strongest claims in the country.

Criminal Defense attorneysCalifornia’s criminal code, Three Strikes law, and newer resentencing rules require counsel who knows the local DA office.

Defective Product attorneysCalifornia pioneered holding manufacturers strictly liable for defective products — and still leads on consumer-protective doctrine.

Employment attorneysCalifornia’s state civil-rights agency and worker-protection laws give employees more leverage than federal law alone — if filed on time.

Family Law attorneysCalifornia is a community-property state, and the law traces separate-property contributions back through the marriage — math matters here.

Immigration attorneysCalifornia has the largest immigrant population in the U.S. — and immigration courts in San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego each run on different timelines.

Medical Malpractice attorneysCalifornia recently raised its medical-malpractice caps on pain-and-suffering damages, and they now rise each year — a reform that re-opens cases the old cap discouraged.

Personal Injury attorneysA 2-year filing deadline and pure comparative fault frame every California PI case — the math of your recovery starts here.

Slip and Fall attorneysCalifornia premises liability turns on notice and reasonableness — courts have set clear rules for how often stores must inspect for hazards.

Social Security Disability attorneysCalifornia’s SSA hearing offices (Oakland, Los Angeles, San Diego) handle some of the country’s longest waits — an attorney accelerates and strengthens your claim.

Workers’ Compensation attorneysCalifornia’s workers’ comp division runs hearings statewide — and the state’s medical-evaluator process can make or break your impairment rating.

California Lemon Law Attorneys

How we match your California lemon law case

Case type

Size and complexity

Jurisdiction and licensing

Capacity and fit

What happens with a lemon law claim in California

The same problem keeps coming back.

Tell us what happened.

Repair history is reviewed.

Demand to the manufacturer.

Suit is filed if it has to be.

Refund, replacement or cash.

When to call a lemon law attorney in California

Lemon Law cases we take in California

Engine failures (oil consumption, head gasket)

Transmission defects (DCT, CVT)

Electrical and infotainment failures

Brake system defects

Steering system failures

Airbag recall overlap

HVAC failures

Paint and body defects

Persistent rattles and drivetrain noise

EV-specific defects (Tesla, Rivian, Lucid)

Recall non-fix

Persistent check-engine and emissions defects

How much do California lemon law attorneys cost?

What your California lemon law compensation can include

Full Refund

Comparable Replacement Vehicle

Cash & Keep Settlement

Civil Penalty (up to 2x Damages)

Attorney Fees (Fee-Shifting)

Incidental & Consequential Damages

California lemon law questions, answered

Lemon Law attorneys by city in California

Other case types in California

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