Lemon law in Alaska

Checked against the law's own text on October 26, 2026 by the Lemon Law Finder team. Sources

Alaska Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (Lemon Law), AS 45.45.300 - 45.45.360. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Alaska when, during the protection period, the same defect was repaired 3 or more times without a fix, or it was out of service for repairs 30 or more days in total. The protection period is 12 months after delivery, whichever comes first. Used vehicles are not covered.

At a glance

Protection period	12 months
Repair attempts, same defect	3
Attempts, serious safety defect	Not set
Days out of service	30
Used vehicles	Not covered
Leased vehicles	See below
State arbitration program	No
Time limit to file	Written notice by certified mail within 60 days after the warranty or the first year ends, whichever is first; the law sets no separate lawsuit deadline

Who qualifies

Which vehicles

New four-wheel (or more) vehicles normally used for personal, family, or household purposes that must be registered in Alaska. Tractors, farm vehicles, and off-road vehicles are not covered.

“means a land vehicle having four or more wheels, that is self-propelled by a motor, is normally used for personal, family, or household purposes, and is required to be registered under AS 28.10 , but does not include a tractor, farm vehicle, or a vehicle designed primarily for off-road use”
akleg.gov

Repair attempts

Three or more repairs of the same defect within the period, with the defect still present.

“the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times by the manufacturer, distributor, dealer, or repairing agent during the term of the express warranty or the one-year period after delivery”
akleg.gov

Serious safety defects

The law does not say.

Days out of service

A total of 30 or more business days out of service for repair within the period.

“the vehicle is out of service for repair for a total of 30 or more business days during the express warranty term or the one-year period referred to in (1) of this section, whichever period terminates first”
akleg.gov

Used vehicles

No. The Attorney General says the lemon law does not apply to used vehicles.

“The lemon Law does not apply to used vehicles.”
law.alaska.gov

Leased vehicles

The law does not say.

Deadlines

Protection period

The term of the express warranty or one year after delivery to the original owner, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit.

“If during the term of the express warranty or within one year from the date of delivery of the motor vehicle to the original owner, whichever period terminates first”
akleg.gov

Time limit to file

The written notice must be sent within 60 days after the warranty or the one-year period ends, whichever comes first.

“You must send this notice within sixty days after the express warranty ends, or within sixty days after the one-year period ends (measured as one year from the date the motor vehicle was delivered to the original owner), whichever occurs first.”
law.alaska.gov

Steps

Keep every repair order. Each visit to the dealer should give you a work order with the date, the mileage, what you reported and what they did. Ask for one every time, even when they find nothing. These papers are your case.
Check the dates. The term of the express warranty or one year after delivery to the original owner, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit. The written notice must be sent within 60 days after the warranty or the one-year period ends, whichever comes first.
Tell the manufacturer in writing. The law asks for written notice. See written notice below.
Use the dispute program if one is required. See arbitration below for whether you must go there before court.
Ask for a refund or a replacement, or file. Send the letter, then file before the time limit if the manufacturer will not buy the vehicle back or replace it.

Written notice

After the owner's written notice (sent by certified mail under AS 45.45.310), the manufacturer has 30 days to make a final repair attempt.

“Within 30 days after receiving the notice required by this section the manufacturer may make a final attempt to conform the vehicle before a refund or replacement is made”
akleg.gov

Arbitration

If the manufacturer has a dispute program approved by the Attorney General, the owner must use it before getting a refund or replacement under the law.

“If the manufacturer has an approved informal dispute settlement procedure you will be required to arbitrate your dispute before going to court under the lemon law.”
law.alaska.gov

What you get

At the owner's choice, a comparable new vehicle or a refund of the full purchase price minus an allowance for use.

“at the owner's option, shall replace the nonconforming vehicle with a new, comparable vehicle or shall refund the full purchase price to the owner less a reasonable allowance for the use of the motor vehicle from the time it was delivered to the original owner”
akleg.gov

Do it yourself

You can bring a lemon law claim without a lawyer. It takes letters, records and patience. The usual route:

Put your repair orders in date order and count the attempts and the days out of service.
Send the manufacturer the letter below, by a tracked method, to the address in your owner's manual or warranty booklet.
If it offers a final repair, let it try within the time the law gives it.
If it refuses or does not answer, file with the manufacturer's dispute program or the state program (Alaska Department of Law, Consumer Protection Unit), then court if you need to.
Do not sell or trade in the vehicle while the claim is open.

Letter template for Alaska

[Your name]
[Your address]
[Date]

[Manufacturer name]
[Address from your owner's manual or warranty booklet]

Re: Lemon law claim, [year make model], VIN [VIN]

I bought (or leased) this vehicle on [date] from [dealer], in Alaska. It has a defect that the dealer has not been able to fix: [describe it in one or two sentences].

It has been in for repair of this defect [number] times, on [dates], and out of service for a total of [number] days. Copies of the repair orders are enclosed.

Under Alaska Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (Lemon Law) (AS 45.45.300 - 45.45.360), I ask you to repurchase or replace the vehicle. Please reply in writing within 15 days. I can bring the vehicle in for a final repair attempt if the law gives you one.

[Your name]
[Phone and email]

What a buyback pays in Alaska

The law asks for a reasonable allowance for your use without a fixed formula. Makers and courts often use the one several states write into law: the price times the miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect, divided by 120,000. For a $40,000 car with 6,000 miles at the first repair and 15,000 now, that is about $2,000.

Estimate your buyback

Questions people ask about Alaska's lemon law

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Alaska?

Three or more repairs of the same defect within the period, with the defect still present.

How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Alaska?

A total of 30 or more business days out of service for repair within the period.

How long does Alaska's lemon law cover a car?

The term of the express warranty or one year after delivery to the original owner, whichever ends first. There is no mileage limit.

Which vehicles does Alaska's lemon law cover?

New four-wheel (or more) vehicles normally used for personal, family, or household purposes that must be registered in Alaska. Tractors, farm vehicles, and off-road vehicles are not covered.

Does Alaska's lemon law cover used cars?

No. The Attorney General says the lemon law does not apply to used vehicles.

Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?

After the owner's written notice (sent by certified mail under AS 45.45.310), the manufacturer has 30 days to make a final repair attempt.

Do I have to go to arbitration before court?

If the manufacturer has a dispute program approved by the Attorney General, the owner must use it before getting a refund or replacement under the law.

How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Alaska?

The written notice must be sent within 60 days after the warranty or the one-year period ends, whichever comes first.

What do I get if my car is a lemon in Alaska?

At the owner's choice, a comparable new vehicle or a refund of the full purchase price minus an allowance for use.

How much is taken off a buyback for the miles I drove?

Who pays the lawyer in a Alaska lemon law case?

The lemon law does not mention attorney fees. A manufacturer that fails to refund or replace when required is presumed to have committed an unfair trade practice under AS 45.50.471. Alaska's lemon law has no fee rule, but federal warranty law lets an owner who wins make the maker pay the lawyer.

Can I keep driving my car during a lemon law claim?

Usually, yes. Keep it maintained and insured, and do not sell or trade it in while the claim is open: a buyback needs the car. If the defect makes it unsafe, stop driving it and tell the dealer and the maker in writing.

Do I need a lawyer for a lemon law claim?

No. You can bring a claim yourself. The steps and a letter template are on this page. A lawyer knows what makers offer in cases like yours and what the use deduction should be. Alaska's lemon law has no fee rule, but federal warranty law lets an owner who wins make the maker pay the lawyer.

Find a Alaska lemon law lawyer

The lemon law does not mention attorney fees. A manufacturer that fails to refund or replace when required is presumed to have committed an unfair trade practice under AS 45.50.471.

“is presumed to have committed an unfair trade practice under AS 45.50.471”
akleg.gov

Because the manufacturer usually pays the lawyer's fees when you win, most lemon law lawyers charge you nothing up front. A lawyer also knows what the manufacturer offers in cases like yours and what the use deduction should be.

Send the free case check below and we find a lemon law firm that takes Alaska cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.

Check your car against these numbers

Free, about ten taps. You see what Alaska's law says first. If you want, we find a lemon law firm that takes Alaska cases and they contact you.

Check my car

Who pays the lawyer? Alaska's lemon law has no fee rule, but federal warranty law lets an owner who wins make the maker pay the lawyer.^* * So most lemon law lawyers ask nothing up front. Some charge costs, or a share of a settlement: ask before you sign. You never pay us. More

Sources

AS 45.45.300 - 45.45.360, Alaska Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (Lemon Law)
Alaska Department of Law, Consumer Protection Unit
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. § 2310, the federal warranty law that also lets owners recover attorney fees.

Each quote above is copied from the page it links to, checked 2026-10-26. If a page has moved, the citation still finds the law.