The Washington State Lemon Law

How Does the Lemon Law in Washington State
Protect Me?

The Washington State lemon law was established to protect you, the consumer, who purchased a defective vehicle.

Under this law, if you purchase a vehicle that requires big repairs within the first three months, then you probably have a lemon motor vehicle on your hands.

The Washington State lemon law also applies if you have had three separate repairs done on the same problem, and the car still will not function properly.

In this case, you definitely have a lemon and you need to do something about it.

My Car Is a Lemon. What Can I Do About It?

There are plenty of things that you can do, although many of those may require a visit to a lemon law attorney's office. Your claim could end up in a courtroom, but that really depends on how far the dealer or manufacturer wants to take the issue.

Washington State Lemon Laws—Which
Motor Vehicles Are Covered?

Many different vehicles are covered under the Washington State lemon Laws, including cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles. Computers are also covered.

In order to be considered a lemon in Washington State, a vehicle needs to undergo several repair attempts of the same problem. If there are more than two attempts at repairing a serious safety defect, or four attempts at any other feature, then the vehicle qualifies as a lemon.

As you can see, it takes a bit of time to determine whether your vehicle is a lemon. You have until the warranty expires to report the problem, though for it to stand up in court, it's recommended that you take action as soon as you confirm that your vehicle is a lemon.

Lemon Law Legal Evaluations—How To Present Your Complaint or Case

As soon as you discover that your motor vehicle is a lemon, you should go to your dealer or manufacturer and ask for a refund or replacement. In many cases, they'll be more than happy to give it to you, but in the event that they don't comply, you will then need to go directly to a lemon law attorney to seek either a settlement or a trial.

To ensure the best outcome, have all your documentation ready, including any communications with the retailer/dealer and the manufacturer. This includes your bill of sale, warranty, repair bills, repair estimates, and any other information that can back up your claim.

The Washington State lemon law is here to protect you. But if you don't meet your obligations under this law, you could end up losing your case. Be thorough in your preparation and you'll receive the compensation that's owed to you.