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Lemon law in Nebraska
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Nebraska Lemon Law, Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709. A new vehicle is presumed a lemon in Nebraska 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 40 or more days in total. The protection period is 12 months after delivery, whichever comes first. Leased vehicles are covered. Used vehicles are not covered.
At a glance
| Protection period | 12 months |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts, same defect | 4 |
| Attempts, serious safety defect | Not set |
| Days out of service | 40 |
| Used vehicles | Not covered |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| State arbitration program | Yes |
| Time limit to file | See below |
Who qualifies
Which vehicles
New vehicles bought in Nebraska and used for personal, family, household, or business purposes, from motorcycles up to semi-trucks. Trailers and self-propelled motor homes are not covered.
“It may be any size, from a motorcycle to a semi-truck.”
dmv.nebraska.gov
Repair attempts
The car is presumed a lemon if it went in for repair of the same problem four or more times in the first 12 months after delivery.
“A vehicle is presumed to be a lemon if within the first 12 months after the vehicle was delivered to the consumer, the consumer has taken the vehicle to the dealer four or more times for repairs for the SAME problem”
protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov
Serious safety defects
The law does not say.
Days out of service
The car is also presumed a lemon if you were without it for a total of 40 or more days in the first 12 months.
“the consumer has been without the use of the vehicle for a cumulative total of 40 or more days”
protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov
Used vehicles
No. The lemon law applies only to new vehicles.
“the lemon law only applies to new vehicles”
protectthegoodlife.nebraska.gov
Leased vehicles
Yes. A vehicle leased from a dealer in Nebraska can qualify.
“It may be leased from a dealer in Nebraska.”
dmv.nebraska.gov
Deadlines
Protection period
The car must be under warranty and less than one year old when you send notice to the manufacturer.
“The vehicle must be: purchased in Nebraska, under warranty and less than one year old when notice is sent to the manufacturer.”
dmv.nebraska.gov
Time limit to file
The law does not say.
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 car must be under warranty and less than one year old when you send notice to the manufacturer.
- 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
You must notify the manufacturer in writing by certified mail and give it a chance to fix the problem.
“You must give the manufacturer written notification by certified mail, and he must have an opportunity to fix the problem.”
dmv.nebraska.gov
Arbitration
Some manufacturers can be sued only after you try their arbitration program. The Nebraska DMV certifies some manufacturers' programs, which are run through BBB AUTO LINE, and the decision binds only the manufacturer.
“Some manufacturers can be sued only after you have attempted arbitration .”
dmv.nebraska.gov
What you get
The manufacturer must pay the full purchase price, including sales tax, license and registration fees, minus a reasonable amount for your use of the car.
“the full purchase price for the vehicle including all sales tax, license and registration fees, and any similar governmental charges (minus a reasonable amount for the use of the vehicle.)”
dmv.nebraska.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 (Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, Legal Division), then court if you need to.
- Do not sell or trade in the vehicle while the claim is open.
Letter template for Nebraska
[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 Nebraska. 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 Nebraska Lemon Law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709), 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 Nebraska
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 Nebraska's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Nebraska?
The car is presumed a lemon if it went in for repair of the same problem four or more times in the first 12 months after delivery.
How many days in the shop make a car a lemon in Nebraska?
The car is also presumed a lemon if you were without it for a total of 40 or more days in the first 12 months.
How long does Nebraska's lemon law cover a car?
The car must be under warranty and less than one year old when you send notice to the manufacturer.
Which vehicles does Nebraska's lemon law cover?
New vehicles bought in Nebraska and used for personal, family, household, or business purposes, from motorcycles up to semi-trucks. Trailers and self-propelled motor homes are not covered.
Does Nebraska's lemon law cover used cars?
No. The lemon law applies only to new vehicles.
Does Nebraska's lemon law cover leased cars?
Yes. A vehicle leased from a dealer in Nebraska can qualify.
Do I have to tell the manufacturer in writing?
You must notify the manufacturer in writing by certified mail and give it a chance to fix the problem.
Do I have to go to arbitration before court?
Some manufacturers can be sued only after you try their arbitration program. The Nebraska DMV certifies some manufacturers' programs, which are run through BBB AUTO LINE, and the decision binds only the manufacturer.
What do I get if my car is a lemon in Nebraska?
The manufacturer must pay the full purchase price, including sales tax, license and registration fees, minus a reasonable amount for your use of the car.
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 Nebraska lemon law case?
Yes. If you win, the manufacturer must pay your attorney. In Nebraska, 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 Nebraska, an owner who wins can make the maker pay the lawyer.
Find a Nebraska lemon law lawyer
Yes. If you win, the manufacturer must pay your attorney.
“If you win, the manufacturer will have to pay your attorney.”
dmv.nebraska.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 Nebraska cases like yours. The firm contacts you, and you decide whether to hire them.
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Who pays the lawyer? In Nebraska, 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
- Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 60-2701 to 60-2709, Nebraska Lemon Law
- Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, Legal 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.