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If your car keeps going back to the shop for the same problem, it may be a lemon. Under California law, you could be owed a full refund or a replacement, and the manufacturer pays the attorney fees.
If you purchased or leased a vehicle with a substantial defect the manufacturer cannot repair after a reasonable number of attempts, California lemon law may protect you. The defect must be covered by the warranty and must substantially impair your vehicle’s use, value, or safety, and more issues qualify than most people realize.
Recurring engine problems, transmission failures, electrical malfunctions, brake issues, and persistent warning lights can all meet this threshold. If it affects how you drive it, what it’s worth, or whether it’s safe, it’s worth having us review your case.
If your vehicle qualifies, you may be entitled to one of the following, plus reimbursement of related costs.
Your down payment, monthly payments, and incidental costs returned in full, minus a usage offset.
A comparable new vehicle of equal value, if you and the manufacturer both agree to it.
Registration, towing, and rental car costs the defect forced you to pay out of pocket.
More defective vehicles qualify than you might think. California lemon law may cover:
Under the original manufacturer warranty.
Used primarily for personal or family use.
Still covered under a remaining factory warranty.
With a manufacturer-backed CPO warranty.
Under certain conditions. Ask us about your case.
We’ll review your repair records and give you a straight answer. No sales pitch.
Most lemon law firms evaluate your case based on what the dealer documented, or require outside inspections. We go further. The Margarian Garage, our own facility, lets us physically inspect vehicles, run diagnostics, and document defects with our own equipment before we ever file.
It’s part of what makes a Margarian Law case different before it reaches a negotiating table. See our lemon law process and why it works →
We handle everything, so you are not left dealing with the manufacturer, the paperwork, or the burden of proof alone.
We review repair orders, the purchase or lease contract, registration, and any active recalls before accepting a case.
When needed, we inspect the vehicle and document the defect ourselves at the Margarian Garage.
An honest, written evaluation of case strength. If a case is weak, we say so. If it’s strong, we explain why.
We have the resources to file suit, run discovery, retain experts, and go to trial when a manufacturer won’t make it right.
Focused exclusively on automotive law. Lemon law, dealer fraud, and automotive class actions are all we do. Our focus is evident in our results.
20 years against manufacturers and dealers. They have strong legal teams, but we’ve been outmatching them for two decades, and they know it.
$400M+ recovered across 6,000+ cases. Manufacturers don’t pay fairly without a fight, and we know how to make them.
In-house inspection capability. The Margarian Garage lets us physically inspect and document your defect before we file, giving us evidence most firms simply don’t have.
A written, honest case assessment. Most firms tell you what you want to hear to get a signature. We tell you the truth before you sign a retainer.
There is no magic number. California law looks at whether the manufacturer has had enough chances to fix the same problem and failed. For serious safety issues, even two attempts may be enough. For other defects, it may take more. The most important thing you can do is keep every single repair order, because those records are what prove your case.
It can, and more used vehicles qualify than people expect. If your used vehicle had a defect that showed up while it was still covered under the original manufacturer warranty, you may have a claim. Certified pre-owned vehicles with a manufacturer-backed warranty can also qualify. See used car lemon law →
If your vehicle qualifies under the California lemon law, the manufacturer is required to pay your attorney fees separately upon a successful outcome. You do not pay out of pocket to pursue a valid claim. Every case is reviewed individually before anything is signed.
Timelines vary based on the manufacturer, the defect, the repair history, and whether the case resolves through negotiation or proceeds through court. An attorney who promises a specific timeline is telling you what you want to hear. We give you a straight, honest assessment based on your specific case.
Repair orders for every visit, the purchase or lease contract, vehicle registration, and a valid driver’s license. Diagnostic reports and any written communication with the manufacturer are helpful too, but don’t wait until you have everything to reach out.
Yes. If you leased your vehicle primarily for personal or family use, you may have a claim. The same protections that apply to purchased vehicles generally apply to leases.
You’ve already dealt with enough. If your vehicle keeps failing and the manufacturer isn’t making it right, our attorneys are here to help. A free case review is easy, and it could change everything. Call (818) 553-1000.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is evaluated on its individual merits. Outcomes vary based on the manufacturer, defect, repair history, and case posture. Attorney fees in qualifying lemon law cases are paid separately by the manufacturer upon a successful outcome under the California Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act.
