Florida Lemon Law Guide: Your Rights Under Florida Lemon Law

What Is the Florida Lemon Law? Florida’s Lemon Law is codified in Fla. Stat. § 681.10 et seq. and is designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease new motor vehicles that suffer from defects or nonconformities covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty. The statute provides a statutory framework for repair attempts, an arbitration process, and remedies when a vehicle cannot be repaired to conform to its warranty. The law focuses on substantial defects that impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety and applies to defects that arise during the statutory coverage period. The Florida Attorney General’s consumer protection office maintains a dedicated Lemon Law resource that explains the program and the state’s mandatory arbitration process see the Florida AG Lemon Law page. The statute and the AG’s guidance together form the practical roadmap for consumers seeking relief under the law Fla. Stat. § 681.10 et seq.; Florida Attorney General. The law requires manufacturers to provide an informal dispute resolution program arbitration and sets objective thresholds for when a consumer may be entitled to a refund or replacement. Which Vehicles Qualify Under Florida Lemon Law? The Florida Lemon Law applies only to new motor vehicles originally purchased or leased for personal, family, or household use. It does not cover used vehicles. Qualification typically requires that the defect arise during the statutory coverage period and be covered by the manufacturer’s express warranty. Coverage begins on the date the original retail buyer takes delivery. Key qualification points: - Vehicle type: New passenger cars, trucks, SUVs, and similarly titled motor vehicles sold or leased for personal use. Commercial vehicles may still qualify if used for personal, family, or household purposes, but different rules can apply where the vehicle is sold or leased primarily for business use. - Condition: The defect must constitute a nonconformity covered by the vehicle’s express warranty and must substantially impair the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. - Timing: The defect must arise within the statutory coverage period: 24 months or 24,000 miles from the date of original delivery to the consumer whichever occurs first. If you are unsure whether your vehicle qualifies, consult the Florida Attorney General’s Lemon Law guidance and consider contacting a qualified lemon law attorney in Florida for an evaluation. For a primer on how lemon laws generally operate, see our general overview of What is the Lemon Law?/resources/what-is-the-lemon-law/. How Many Repair Attempts Are Required in Florida? Florida sets objective thresholds that, if met, establish a presumption that the vehicle is a “lemon” under the statute. The two primary thresholds are a specified number of repair attempts for the same defect and an aggregate number of days the vehicle is out of service. | Threshold Type | Florida Requirement | |---|---:| | Repair attempts for the same defect | 3 rep