Arkansas Lemon Law rules at a glance
The Arkansas New Motor Vehicle Quality Assurance Act (Lemon Law) is Act 297 of 1993.
| Rule | What Arkansas law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Statute | Act 297 of 1993 | Act 297 of 1993 |
| Vehicles covered | Motor vehicles titled and registered in Arkansas; Motor homes over 13,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (except the living quarters) | |
| Not covered | Mopeds and motorcycles; The living quarters of motor homes; Vehicles over 13,000 lbs gross vehicle weight (other than motor homes); Vehicles of 10,000 to 13,000 lbs substantially altered after the first sale | |
| Protection window | The Quality Assurance Period: 24 months from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever is longer | Arkansas AG guide, p. 3 |
| Serious Safety Defect Test | 1 unsuccessful repair of a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, then a final repair opportunity that fails | Arkansas AG guide, p. 3 |
| Three Repairs Test | 3 unsuccessful repairs of the same defect, then a final repair opportunity that fails | Arkansas AG guide, p. 3 |
| 30 Days Out of Service Test | Out of service for repair a cumulative total of at least 30 calendar days | Arkansas AG guide, p. 4 |
| Five Repairs of Any Defects Test | 5 or more repair attempts for any defects that together substantially impair use and value | Arkansas AG guide, p. 4 |
| Written notice | For the 3-repair and safety tests, send a letter to the manufacturer, not the dealer, by certified or registered mail, giving it one last chance to repair. The manufacturer has 10 calendar days after receiving it to schedule the final repair attempt. | Arkansas AG guide, p. 5 |
| Dispute program first? | As a general rule you must seek a refund or replacement through the Independent Dispute Settlement Program before suing. It must hear and decide the claim within 40 days of your demand; if you accept the decision the manufacturer has 30 days to comply and cannot appeal. | |
| Deadline | The Attorney General’s guide does not state a deadline to sue. Act promptly and ask a licensed Arkansas attorney which time limit applies | Arkansas AG guide |
| Usage deduction | purchase price × mileage when first brought in for repair of the defect ÷ 120,000 | Arkansas AG guide, p. 7 |
Four ways to qualify in Arkansas
According to the Attorney General’s guide, there are four ways to show the manufacturer had a reasonable opportunity to repair, during the Quality Assurance Period:
Serious Safety Defect Test
1 unsuccessful repair of a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, then a final repair opportunity that fails.
Arkansas AG guide, p. 3Three Repairs Test
3 unsuccessful repairs of the same defect, then a final repair opportunity that fails.
Arkansas AG guide, p. 330 Days Out of Service Test
Out of service for repair a cumulative total of at least 30 calendar days.
Arkansas AG guide, p. 4Five Repairs of Any Defects Test
5 or more repair attempts for any defects that together substantially impair use and value.
Arkansas AG guide, p. 4The defect must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, market value or safety. The manufacturer can rebut the presumption by showing the defect is minor or was caused by an accident, abuse, neglect or unauthorized changes.
Notice to the manufacturer in Arkansas
For the 3-repair and safety tests, send a letter to the manufacturer, not the dealer, by certified or registered mail, giving it one last chance to repair. The manufacturer has 10 calendar days after receiving it to schedule the final repair attempt.
In Arkansas the 3-repair and safety tests need a certified or registered letter to the manufacturer and a failed final repair attempt.
Dispute program first. As a general rule you must seek a refund or replacement through the Independent Dispute Settlement Program before suing. It must hear and decide the claim within 40 days of your demand; if you accept the decision the manufacturer has 30 days to comply and cannot appeal.
You have the right to a dated, detailed repair statement every time the vehicle is returned for repair; keep them all.
Is there an Arkansas lemon law deadline?
The Attorney General’s guide does not state a deadline to sue. Act promptly and ask a licensed Arkansas attorney which time limit applies (Arkansas AG guide).
| Event | Date | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle delivered | Mar 15, 2025 | The protection window starts |
| Protection window ends | April 19, 2030 | Repairs after this date do not count toward the tests |
| Filing deadline | Not stated in the AG guide | The Attorney General’s guide does not state a deadline to sue. Act promptly and ask a licensed Arkansas attorney which time limit applies |
How to file an Arkansas lemon law claim
- Report every defect right awayDirectly to the manufacturer or the dealer, and keep every repair receipt.
- Send the final-repair letterFor the 3-repair and safety tests: certified or registered mail, to the manufacturer, not the dealer.
- Allow the final repairThe manufacturer has 10 calendar days to schedule it.
- Demand a refund or replacement through the dispute programIt must hear and decide your claim within 40 days.
- Accept the decision or go to courtIf you accept, the manufacturer has 30 days to comply and cannot appeal.
Refund, replacement and the Arkansas deduction for use
| Remedy | What it includes |
|---|---|
| Refund | The full purchase price, including trade-in credits, dealer-added options, sales tax, license and registration fees, finance charges, rental costs while the car was out of service and manufacturer extended warranties, minus a reasonable allowance for use. |
| Replacement | A replacement vehicle with no added financing obligations beyond the original agreement, minus a reasonable allowance for use. You have the unconditional right to choose refund or replacement. |
How the Arkansas deduction for use is calculated
purchase price × mileage when first brought in for repair of the defect ÷ 120,000 (Arkansas AG guide, p. 7).
| Step | Math | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | — | $36,000.00 |
| Deduction for use | 6,000 miles before the first report × $36,000 ÷ 120,000 | −$1,800.00 |
| Refund before taxes, fees and other charges | Those are added under the rules above | $34,200.00 |
Why “whichever is longer” matters in Arkansas
| Driving | Period ends |
|---|---|
| 8,000 miles a year | When the car reaches 24,000 miles, around March 2028 |
| 12,000 miles a year | March 15, 2027 (24 months and about 24,000 miles together) |
| 20,000 miles a year | March 15, 2027 (24 months, even though 24,000 miles came earlier) |
If the vehicle is sold during the period, the new owner is covered for the rest of it.
The Arkansas dispute program
As a general rule you must seek a refund or replacement through the Independent Dispute Settlement Program before suing. The process starts with a demand letter to the manufacturer; the Attorney General’s guide suggests sending a copy to the program too.
| Step | Rule |
|---|---|
| Hearing and decision | Within 40 days of your demand, unless extended for good cause |
| Hearing | In person in Arkansas, before independent arbitrators |
| Your choice | Accept or reject the decision |
| If you accept | The manufacturer must comply within 30 days and has no appeal |
| If you reject | You can go to court; a consumer who wins may be awarded attorney fees |
What an Arkansas refund includes
- Credits and allowances for any trade-in
- Options and modifications added by the manufacturer or dealer
- Sales tax, license and registration fees and finance charges
- Charges for renting a similar vehicle while yours was out of service
- Manufacturer extended warranty charges
The guide’s own example: a $20,000 vehicle first brought in at 12,000 miles has a use allowance of $20,000 × 12,000 ÷ 120,000 = $2,000. You may also be charged for damage beyond normal wear.
Later owners in Arkansas
A vehicle transferred during the Quality Assurance Period stays covered for the rest of that period. Coverage ends with the Quality Assurance Period.
If the vehicle is transferred during the Quality Assurance Period, the new owner is covered for the rest of it. A dealer reselling a returned vehicle must tell the buyer in writing that it was returned for a defect not cured within a reasonable time.
To test your own dates and repair visits, see if your Arkansas car qualifies using the checker.
Arkansas Lemon Law FAQs
What qualifies as a lemon in Arkansas?
A vehicle with a defect that substantially impairs its use, market value or safety after 3 repairs plus a failed final attempt, 1 repair of a serious safety defect plus a failed final attempt, 30 days out of service, or 5 repairs of any defects, during the Quality Assurance Period.
How long is the Arkansas lemon law period?
The Quality Assurance Period is 24 months from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever is longer.
How is the Arkansas lemon law refund calculated?
The full purchase price with trade-in credits, taxes, fees, finance and rental charges, minus purchase price × mileage at the first repair ÷ 120,000.
Does the Arkansas lemon law cover motorcycles?
No. The Attorney General’s guide says mopeds, motorcycles and the living quarters of motor homes are not covered.
Who chooses refund or replacement in Arkansas?
You do. The guide says the owner has the unconditional right to choose.
Sources
Checked on October 13, 2026. We re-verify Arkansas rules when the legislature, the courts or the agency change them. Read how we check every rule in our editorial policy.