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Lemon law for leased cars
Yes, in most states. 39 state lemon laws cover leased vehicles in their own text, 2 (Mississippi and Missouri) leave them out, and 10 do not say. When a leased car is bought back, the lease ends: you get back what you paid, less the state's deduction for the miles you drove, and the maker settles with the leasing company.
Leased cars, state by state
| State | Leases | State | Leases |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | The law does not say | Montana | Covered |
| Alaska | The law does not say | Nebraska | Covered |
| Arizona | Covered | Nevada | The law does not say |
| Arkansas | Covered | New Hampshire | Covered |
| California | Covered | New Jersey | Covered |
| Colorado | The law does not say | New Mexico | The law does not say |
| Connecticut | Covered | New York | Covered |
| Delaware | Covered | North Carolina | Covered |
| District of Columbia | Covered | North Dakota | Covered |
| Florida | Covered | Ohio | Covered |
| Georgia | Covered | Oklahoma | The law does not say |
| Hawaii | Covered | Oregon | Covered |
| Idaho | Covered | Pennsylvania | Covered |
| Illinois | Covered | Rhode Island | Covered |
| Indiana | Covered | South Carolina | Covered |
| Iowa | Covered | South Dakota | The law does not say |
| Kansas | Covered | Tennessee | Covered |
| Kentucky | Covered | Texas | Covered |
| Louisiana | Covered | Utah | Covered |
| Maine | Covered | Vermont | Covered |
| Maryland | The law does not say | Virginia | Covered |
| Massachusetts | Covered | Washington | Covered |
| Michigan | Covered | West Virginia | The law does not say |
| Minnesota | Covered | Wisconsin | Covered |
| Mississippi | Not covered | Wyoming | The law does not say |
| Missouri | Not covered |
"Covered" means the lemon law names leased vehicles or lessees. Where the law does not say, federal warranty law still applies to the maker's warranty, and the state guide quotes what the law does say.
What a lease buyback pays back
The rules are set per state, but the pattern is the same in most: the lease ends, you get back the money you paid (the down payment and the monthly payments, with taxes and fees), less a deduction for the miles you drove before the first repair, and the maker pays off the leasing company. Your state guide gives its rule, and the buyback calculator works out the deduction.
What to do first
- Keep every repair order, as with a car you bought.
- Tell the maker in writing, not only the dealer, and keep a copy. A letter template is free.
- Keep paying the lease while the claim runs. Missed payments can cost you the claim and your credit.
- Do not hand the car back early. A buyback needs the car.
Questions people ask
Can you lemon law a leased car?
Yes, in most states. 39 state lemon laws name leased vehicles. Mississippi and Missouri leave them out, and 10 do not say.
What do I get back if my leased car is a lemon?
Usually the money you paid on the lease, less a deduction for the miles you drove before the first repair. The lease ends and the maker deals with the leasing company.
Should I keep making lease payments during a lemon law claim?
Yes. The lease contract still runs until the claim is settled. Stopping payments can hurt your credit and your claim.
Sources
- Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)(2) (law.cornell.edu)
- Each state's lemon law, quoted and linked on its state guide.
Quotes are copied from the page they link to, checked October 26, 2026.
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