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Lemon law in Maryland
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Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (Maryland Lemon Law), Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Maryland when, during the protection period, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times without a fix, or a defect that could cause death or serious injury was repaired 1 or more times, or it was out of service for repairs 30 or more days in total. The protection period is 24 months or 18,000 miles after delivery, whichever comes first. Used vehicles are covered only in some cases.
At a glance
| Protection period | 24 months or 18,000 miles |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts, same defect | 4 |
| Attempts, serious safety defect | 1 |
| Days out of service | 30 |
| Used vehicles | Some |
| Leased vehicles | See below |
| State arbitration program | No |
| Time limit to file | 3 years from the date the vehicle was first delivered to you |
Who qualifies
Which vehicles
New passenger cars, motorcycles, multipurpose vehicles, and trucks rated 3/4 ton or less that are registered in Maryland. Motor homes and fleet purchases of five or more vehicles are not covered.
“"Motor vehicle" means a vehicle that is registered in this State as a: (i) Class A (passenger) vehicle; (ii) Class D (motorcycle) vehicle; (iii) Class E (truck) vehicle with a 3/4 ton or less manufacturer's rated capacity; or (iv) Class M (multipurpose) vehicle.”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Repair attempts
The car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times during the warranty period and still exists.
“The same nonconformity, defect, or condition has been subject to repair 4 or more times by the manufacturer or factory branch, or its agents or authorized dealers, within the warranty period but such nonconformity, defect, or condition continues to exist;”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Serious safety defects
For a brake or steering failure, one repair attempt is enough if the manufacturer was notified and had a chance to fix it, and the car still fails Maryland's safety inspection.
“A nonconformity, defect, or condition resulting in failure of the braking or steering system has been subject to the same repair at least once within the warranty period, and the manufacturer has been notified and given the opportunity to cure the defect,”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Days out of service
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days during the warranty period.
“The vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of 1 or more nonconformities, defects, or conditions for a cumulative total of 30 or more days during the warranty period;”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Used vehicles
A used car is covered only if it was transferred to you while the original warranty period was still running. Maryland has no separate used car lemon law in this subtitle.
“Any person to whom a new motor vehicle is transferred during the duration of the warranty applicable to such motor vehicle;”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Leased vehicles
The law does not say.
Deadlines
Protection period
24 months after the vehicle was first delivered to you or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
“"Manufacturer's warranty period" means the earlier of: (i) The period of the motor vehicle's first 18,000 miles of operation; or (ii) 24 months following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer.”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Time limit to file
You must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the date the vehicle was first delivered to you.
“Any action brought under this section shall be commenced within 3 years of the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer.”
mgaleg.maryland.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. 24 months after the vehicle was first delivered to you or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. You must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the date the vehicle was first delivered to you.
- 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
Yes. You must report the defect in writing to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the warranty period, and give it a chance to fix the problem. The repair must be done within 30 days of the manufacturer getting your notice.
“the consumer shall, during such period, report the nonconformity, defect, or condition by giving written notice to the manufacturer or factory branch by certified mail, return receipt requested.”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
Arbitration
If the manufacturer has a dispute program that meets federal rules, you may use it first, but using it does not take away your right to sue. Maryland does not run its own lemon law arbitration program under this law.
“If a manufacturer or factory branch has established an informal dispute settlement procedure which complies in all respects with the provisions of Title 16, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 703, as amended, a consumer may resort to that procedure before subsection (c) of this section applies.”
mgaleg.maryland.gov
What you get
You choose a comparable replacement or a refund of the full purchase price, including license, registration, and similar government fees. The refund is reduced by a use allowance of no more than 15 percent of the price and by any damage beyond normal wear. You can also recover the excise tax from the Motor Vehicle Administration.
“Accept return of the motor vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase price including all license fees, registration fees, and any similar governmental charges, less:”
mgaleg.maryland.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 (Maryland Office of the 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 Maryland
[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 Maryland. 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 Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (Maryland Lemon Law) (Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504), 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 Maryland
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, and never more than 15% of the price. 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 Maryland's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Maryland?
The car is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times during the warranty period and still exists.
What if the defect could cause a crash or an injury?
For a brake or steering failure, one repair attempt is enough if the manufacturer was notified and had a chance to fix it, and the car still fails Maryland's safety inspection.
How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Maryland?
The car is presumed a lemon if it is out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more days during the warranty period.
How long does Maryland's lemon law cover a car?
24 months after the vehicle was first delivered to you or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Which vehicles does Maryland's lemon law cover?
New passenger cars, motorcycles, multipurpose vehicles, and trucks rated 3/4 ton or less that are registered in Maryland. Motor homes and fleet purchases of five or more vehicles are not covered.
Does Maryland's lemon law cover used cars?
A used car is covered only if it was transferred to you while the original warranty period was still running. Maryland has no separate used car lemon law in this subtitle.
Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?
Yes. You must report the defect in writing to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the warranty period, and give it a chance to fix the problem. The repair must be done within 30 days of the manufacturer getting your notice.
Do I have to go to arbitration before court?
If the manufacturer has a dispute program that meets federal rules, you may use it first, but using it does not take away your right to sue. Maryland does not run its own lemon law arbitration program under this law.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Maryland?
You must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the date the vehicle was first delivered to you.
What do I get if my car is a lemon in Maryland?
You choose a comparable replacement or a refund of the full purchase price, including license, registration, and similar government fees. The refund is reduced by a use allowance of no more than 15 percent of the price and by any damage beyond normal wear. You can also recover the excise tax from the Motor Vehicle Administration.
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, and never more than 15% of the price. 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 Maryland lemon law case?
Yes. A court may award reasonable attorney fees to an owner who wins. In Maryland, 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 Maryland, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Find a Maryland lemon law lawyer
Yes. A court may award reasonable attorney fees to an owner who wins.
“A court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing plaintiff under this section.”
mgaleg.maryland.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 Maryland cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.
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Who pays the lawyer? In Maryland, 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
- Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504, Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (Maryland Lemon Law)
- Maryland Office of the 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.