It seems like you just drove it off the lot, and your dream car is already giving you nightmares. Lucky for you, the Peach State has laws in place to protect you if your new auto purchase is piling up repair bills. Here is a quick overview to “lemon laws†in Georgia.
State Lemon Laws
A new automobile that has major problems despite numerous attempts to fix it is referred to as a "lemon." Lemon laws, therefore, are put in place to protect consumers and thus create more confidence among new car buyers. Under Georgia lemon laws, which protect consumers for the first two years or 24,000 miles following the purchase, the buyer may either be refunded the purchase price or given a replacement.
Lemon Laws in Georgia
Each state may have different, state-specific lemon laws. The main points of Georgia's lemon laws are summarized in the following chart.
| Code Section | 10-1-780, et seq. |
| Title of Act | Motor Vehicle Warranty Rights Act |
| Definition of Defects | Nonconformity to applicable express warranties which significantly impair the use, value, or safety of motor vehicle |
| Time Limit for Manufacturer Repair | Within 12 months following purchase of vehicle or 12,000 miles following purchase of vehicle, whichever occurs first |
| Remedies | Consumer's option: replace with identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle including payment of all collateral charges which consumer/lessor will incur a second time, less reasonable offset for use or repurchase and refund purchase price plus all collateral charges and incidental costs, less reasonable offset for use |
If you are in the market for an automobile, you should know that Georgia lemon laws only cover new and demonstrator vehicle leases and purchases. Additionally, the lemon law rights period only lasts for the first 24,000 miles or 24 months of ownership, whichever comes first.
While state lemon laws can vary depending on jurisdictions, Georgia law specifies two kinds of defects that qualify for lemon law protection:
It is always a good idea to read through and understand your warranty as well.
Georgia Lemon Laws: Related Resources
Getting stuck with a lemon and dealing with the subsequent hassles can be tough. You might want to consult with a Georgia lemon law attorney in your area about your specific case. If you would like to continue your own legal research, you can visit FindLaw's lemon law section for more introductory resources.
