How long does the lemon law last?
The lemon law protects repairs made inside a window that starts on the day the vehicle was first delivered to a consumer:
| State | Window | Mileage limit |
|---|---|---|
| Texas | 24 months, or the end of the warranty if earlier | 24,000 miles |
| California | 18 months for the presumption (the warranty itself can last longer) | 18,000 miles |
| Florida | 24-month Lemon Law rights period | None |
Filing deadlines then run beyond the window, which our lemon law statute of limitations guide explains.
How long each stage of a lemon law claim takes
Several stages of a claim have time limits written into law or program rules. This table collects them for three states and the federal rule.
| Stage | Time limit | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Florida final repair attempt | 10 days to respond, then 10 days to repair | Fla. Stat. § 681.104(1)(a) |
| Florida screening | About 20 days | Florida Attorney General |
| Florida Board hearing and decision | Hearing within 40 days, decision within 60 days of approval | Fla. Stat. § 681.1095 |
| Florida compliance | 40 days after the decision | Fla. Stat. § 681.1095 |
| California certified arbitration | Generally within 40 days of filing; manufacturer complies within about 30 days of acceptance | California DCA |
| California (AB 1755 opt-in) pre-suit notice | 30 days to offer, 60 days to complete | California DCA |
| Manufacturer programs under Rule 703 | Within 40 days of notification | 16 C.F.R. § 703.5(d) |
| Texas decision | Within 60 days after the hearing closes | TxDMV |
Example: a Florida claim from notice to payment
Here is how those limits add up in a typical Florida case, counting from the moment you send notice.
| Step | Approximate time | Running total |
|---|---|---|
| Send the Defect Notification Form | Day 0 | 0 days |
| Manufacturer responds and repairs | Up to 20 days | 20 days |
| Request for Arbitration screened | About 20 days | 40 days |
| Board hearing and decision | Up to 60 days after approval | About 100 days |
| Manufacturer complies | Up to 40 days | About 140 days |
Mail time, a disputed eligibility decision or an appeal can add weeks. A settlement can also end the case early.
Lemon law timelines in other states
Other states set their own clocks. These are the time limits we verified for five more states.
| State | Stage | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Michigan | Final repair after notice | 5 business days once the repair facility has the vehicle |
| Washington | Response to your written repurchase or replacement request | 40 days |
| Washington | Request state arbitration | Within 30 months of delivery |
| Massachusetts | State arbitration decision | Generally within 45 days of acceptance; payment or appeal within 21 days |
| New York | State arbitration | Hearing about 45 days after the fee; award usually within 5 days |
| Georgia | Apply for state arbitration | Within 12 months after the rights period |
Why is my lemon law claim taking so long?
When a claim drags on, the cause is usually one of these.
- Waiting for one more repair. Many owners spend months on extra visits before filing.
- Incomplete paperwork. Programs return applications missing repair orders or proof of notice.
- Inspections. The manufacturer may ask to inspect or test-drive the vehicle before a hearing.
- Loan payoff. Getting a lender’s payoff letter and title release can add weeks to a buyback.
- Lawsuits. Court schedules, discovery and motions take far longer than arbitration.
If your case stalls, ask the program in writing what is missing and by what date. A written record helps if a deadline is at risk.
Example: how a Texas claim moves through the DMV
Texas uses an administrative hearing instead of arbitration. This is how a claim moves through the Texas DMV.
| Step | Timing |
|---|---|
| Written notice to the manufacturer | Before relief can be ordered; send it as soon as you meet a test |
| Complaint to TxDMV with the $35 fee | Within 6 months after the earliest of warranty end, 24 months or 24,000 miles |
| Review and mediation by a TxDMV case advisor | After the complaint is accepted |
| Hearing (if mediation fails) | Scheduled by the Office of Administrative Hearings |
| Written decision | Within 60 days after the hearing closes |
| Rehearing or appeal | Either side may ask for a rehearing, then appeal to a Travis County district court |
How to keep your lemon law case moving
You cannot control the program’s schedule, but you can avoid adding delays of your own.
- File complete paperwork the first time; incomplete forms are returned.
- Answer requests for information and inspection dates quickly.
- Keep your repair orders in date order and send copies, not originals.
- File as soon as you qualify. Waiting adds miles to the usage offset in Texas and Florida.
Before starting the clock, check your car’s lemon law status.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a lemon law claim take?
Arbitration programs usually decide within 40 to 60 days after a claim is accepted. Add time for the final repair attempt, screening and the manufacturer’s compliance; three to five months in total is common in Florida. Court cases take longer.
How long does the lemon law last?
It depends on the state: 24 months or 24,000 miles in Texas, 18 months or 18,000 miles for California’s presumption, and 24 months with no mileage limit in Florida, counted from the first delivery.
How long is the lemon law good for on a used car?
Only as long as the original window, counted from the first owner’s delivery date. Florida covers a used car for what is left of its 24-month rights period; Texas offers repair help inside the original warranty and 24 months or 24,000 miles.
How long does the manufacturer have to pay after a lemon law decision?
In Florida, 40 days after a Board decision. In California certified arbitration, generally 30 days after you accept.
Why is my lemon law claim taking so long?
The usual causes are incomplete paperwork, a manufacturer inspection, loan payoff steps or a lawsuit instead of arbitration. Ask the program or your attorney in writing what is pending and the date it is due.
How long does it take to settle a lemon law case?
Settlements can come quickly after written notice or during a program’s mediation step. Payment then depends on the loan payoff and the handover of the vehicle. Court cases take longer.
Sources
Checked on October 12, 2026. Read how we verify every rule in our editorial policy.
- Florida Statutes, Chapter 681 (Lemon Law)
- Florida AG: Hearings before the Arbitration Board
- California DCA Arbitration Certification Program: FAQs
- California DCA: New Lemon Law Procedures (AB 1755 / SB 26)
- 16 C.F.R. § 703.5, operation of the dispute mechanism
- TxDMV: Texas Lemon Law
- Michigan Department of Attorney General: Michigan’s Lemon Law
- Washington Attorney General: General Lemon Law
- Mass.gov: Apply for Lemon Law Arbitration
- NYSDRA: New York Lemon Law Arbitration Program
- Georgia Consumer Protection Division: Georgia Lemon Law
- TxDMV: Office of Administrative Hearings