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Lemon law in Indiana
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Motor Vehicle Protection Act, Ind. Code § 24-5-13. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Indiana when, during the protection period, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times without a fix, or it was out of service for repairs 30 or more days in total. The protection period is 18 months or 18,000 miles after delivery, whichever comes first. Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are covered only in some cases.
At a glance
| Protection period | 18 months or 18,000 miles |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts, same defect | 4 |
| Attempts, serious safety defect | Not set |
| Days out of service | 30 |
| Used vehicles | Some |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| State arbitration program | No |
| Time limit to file | 2 years from the date the problem was first reported to the dealer |
Who qualifies
Which vehicles
Cars and light trucks bought or leased for personal use from an Indiana dealer.
“DID YOU BUY OR LEASE FOR PERSONAL USE: • A car or light truck?”
in.gov
Repair attempts
The car may be a lemon if it has had at least four repair attempts and the problem still exists.
“A reasonable number of attempts means your vehicle is subject to at least four repair attempts or is out of service due to repairs for at least 30 business days and the problem still exists.”
in.gov
Serious safety defects
The law does not say.
Days out of service
The car may be a lemon if it is out of service for repairs for at least 30 business days and the problem still exists.
“A reasonable number of attempts means your vehicle is subject to at least four repair attempts or is out of service due to repairs for at least 30 business days and the problem still exists.”
in.gov
Used vehicles
The Attorney General's guide counts the 18 months from when the car first left the dealership, not from when the current owner bought it. It does not say directly whether a later buyer is covered.
“Within 18 months of the date the car initially left the dealership?”
in.gov
Leased vehicles
Yes. Cars and light trucks leased for personal use are covered.
“DID YOU BUY OR LEASE FOR PERSONAL USE:”
in.gov
Deadlines
Protection period
18 months after the car first left the dealership or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The problem must be reported within that time.
“Report the problem within 18 months of initial ownership of the vehicle or before 18,000 total miles, whichever comes first.”
in.gov
Time limit to file
If the manufacturer does not resolve the claim, the owner must sue within two years from the date the problem was first reported to the dealer.
“If the manufacturer does not resolve your claim, you must file a lawsuit within two years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer.”
in.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. 18 months after the car first left the dealership or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The problem must be reported within that time. If the manufacturer does not resolve the claim, the owner must sue within two years from the date the problem was first reported to the dealer.
- 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
The owner's manual or warranty may require the owner to send written notice of the problem, with copies of all repair orders, to the manufacturer. If no notice is required and there is no dispute program, the owner may sue without notifying the manufacturer.
“Per your owner's manual or vehicle warranty, you may be required to send written notice of your problem, along with copies of all repair orders to the manufacturer at the address identified in the owner's manual or vehicle warranty.”
in.gov
Arbitration
If the manufacturer has a dispute program certified by the Attorney General, the owner must use it before suing. The Attorney General cannot represent owners seeking a refund or replacement.
“If the manufacturer adopted an informal dispute procedure that has been certified by the attorney general, you must follow the procedure before you can file a lawsuit under the Lemon Law.”
in.gov
What you get
The manufacturer has 30 days to take the vehicle back and, at the owner's choice, replace it or refund the owner's money.
“The manufacturer has 30 days to accept return of your vehicle and, at your option, replace the vehicle or refund your money.”
in.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 (Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division), then court if you need to.
- Do not sell or trade in the vehicle while the claim is open.
Letter template for Indiana
[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 Indiana. 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 Motor Vehicle Protection Act (Ind. Code § 24-5-13), 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 Indiana
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.
Questions people ask about Indiana's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Indiana?
The car may be a lemon if it has had at least four repair attempts and the problem still exists.
How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Indiana?
The car may be a lemon if it is out of service for repairs for at least 30 business days and the problem still exists.
How long does Indiana's lemon law cover a car?
18 months after the car first left the dealership or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. The problem must be reported within that time.
Which vehicles does Indiana's lemon law cover?
Cars and light trucks bought or leased for personal use from an Indiana dealer.
Does Indiana's lemon law cover used cars?
The Attorney General's guide counts the 18 months from when the car first left the dealership, not from when the current owner bought it. It does not say directly whether a later buyer is covered.
Does Indiana's lemon law cover leased cars?
Yes. Cars and light trucks leased for personal use are covered.
Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?
The owner's manual or warranty may require the owner to send written notice of the problem, with copies of all repair orders, to the manufacturer. If no notice is required and there is no dispute program, the owner may sue without notifying the manufacturer.
Do I have to go to arbitration before court?
If the manufacturer has a dispute program certified by the Attorney General, the owner must use it before suing. The Attorney General cannot represent owners seeking a refund or replacement.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Indiana?
If the manufacturer does not resolve the claim, the owner must sue within two years from the date the problem was first reported to the dealer.
What do I get if my car is a lemon in Indiana?
The manufacturer has 30 days to take the vehicle back and, at the owner's choice, replace it or refund the owner's money.
How much is taken off a buyback for the miles I drove?
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.
Who pays the lawyer in a Indiana lemon law case?
An owner who wins the lawsuit can recover all costs and attorney fees. In Indiana, an owner who wins can 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. In Indiana, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Find a Indiana lemon law lawyer
An owner who wins the lawsuit can recover all costs and attorney fees.
“If you win the lawsuit, you can recover all your costs and attorney fees.”
in.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 Indiana cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.
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Who pays the lawyer? In Indiana, an owner who wins can 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
- Ind. Code § 24-5-13, Motor Vehicle Protection Act
- Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
- 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.