Connecticut Lemon Law Info – CT Lemon Law Attorneys

What is the Lemon Law in Connecticut?

In the state of Connecticut, if your vehicle is determined to be a lemon, you are entitled to a refund of your money minus a deduction for mileage from the mileage at the first repair, and the manufacturer also pays off your loan, and you return the vehicle to the manufacturer. Or in the alternative, you’re entitled to a replacement vehicle. You’d be entitled to a new vehicle in place of your current vehicle, and there’s also the possibility of cash compensation where you keep your vehicle. In all of those instances, the manufacturer’s required to pay the attorney’s fees as well

What vehicles Are Covered Under the Connecticut Lemon Law?

Connecticut lemon law covers new passenger vehicles, SUVs, vans, trucks, and motorcycles that are purchased in Connecticut, as well as used cars that are sold by dealers within two years or 24,000 miles of the original purchase (whichever comes first). In order to be considered a “lemon,” the vehicle must meet the following requirements:

• Does not conform to the manufacturer’s express warranty
• Has substantial defects affecting the use, safety, or value of the vehicle
• Has manufacturer’s defects that occurred during the first year from the original owner’s delivery date or the first 15,000 miles on the odometer (whichever period ends first)
• Has been taken in three times for the same problem or if it has been out of service for 15 business days due to a series of unrelated problems
• After the dealer has tried to repair the vehicle three times, the manufacturer has been notified and given a final opportunity to repair the vehicle
• It is used primarily for personal, family, or household purposes

The exact text of the law is available by clicking here.

Does the Connecticut Lemon Law apply to used cars?

Typically a vehicle that is purchased used may still qualify as a lemon if it was purchased and the problems occurred while the vehicle was still under the manufacturers new car warranty or possibly covered by a certified pre-owned warranty or extended warranty. Finally it should be noted that a used vehicle that is purchased as is and without a warranty cannot qualify as a lemon under the CT Lemon Law.

The exact text of the CT used car lemon law is available by clicking here.

Connecticut Lemon Law Relief

Connecticut lemon law provides several options for a successful lemon law claimant. First, you may be awarded a replacement vehicle of the same year, make, and model. You may also qualify for a monetary award, which can include:

• A replacement with an identical or comparable new car; or

• A refund of the contract price. A mileage deduction for the use you have had of the vehicle may or may not be deducted. The statutory mileage deduction is computed by multiplying the present mileage of the vehicle times the contract price and dividing that figure by 120,000.
• Refund or replacement awards may also include reimbursement for other damages or costs if you have receipts.

Pursuing a CT Lemon Law Claim

Under Connecticut lemon law there are three ways to gain relief: go to court, go to mediation, or go to arbitration.

Mediation requires both your consent and that of the manufacturer and/or dealer. Consumer Affairs offers a mediation program for lemon law disputes, or you can use an independent mediator.

Under the provisions of the CT Department Of Consumer Protection , your lemon law case begins with a demand letter to the manufacturer and/or dealer. Here’s a sample demand letter that you can adapt for your use.

If the manufacturer fails to make the repair attempt within seven business days of its receipt of the letter, your vehicle is deemed a “lemon” under the law. Moreover, if the manufacturer fails to make a reasonable offer to settle within 30 calendar days, you may be able to get double or triple damages from the court. If the court finds that the manufacturer’s or dealer’s violation of the Consumer Protection Act was “willful or knowing,” or that their refusal to settle to you was made in bad faith, you may receive between two and three times the amount of your actual damages.

What Happens When You Hire a Lemon Law Lawyer?

A good lemon lawyer will work on your behalf to get the compensation to which you’re entitled — typically in the form of a refund, a replacement vehicle, or a cash settlement. Your Lemon Law attorney will ask you for all of your records, such as repair orders and correspondence, that pertain to your lemon. Your lawyer will conduct a thorough investigation of your vehicle’s repair history, then present the manufacturer with a statement outlining your case and demanding full recovery. More often than not, the manufacturer will settle; if not, though, your Lemon Law attorney should be prepared to sue the manufacturer. Your lawyer should be able to resolve your case within one to two months.

Your Lemon Law Legal Rights

Think you have a lemon? Sit back and let the experts work out your lemon case at no cost to you. The law makes car manufacturers pay legal fees. You may be able to get your lemon out of your life. Every year, auto manufacturers buy back, replace or pay cash settlements to thousands of ‘lemon’ owners like you.

Lemon Law Arbitration v. Lemon Litigation

Under Connecticut Lemon Law, a consumer may either go to court or to arbitration, with or without an attorney. The state arbitration portal encourages consumers to seek relief on their own. However, consumers beware. Legal help in consumer cases such as this is free for you (the manufacturer pays if you win). But whether or not you decide to hire a free attorney such as our firm, the manufacturer is sure to have a lemon law lawyer plus a expert.