Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in California
The California lemon law for new cars, the rules for used cars, where to file a complaint, how to check a lawyer's license, and free help. We do not recommend or rank lawyers.
What a lawyer costs in California: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | California's Rule 1.5 bars unconscionable or illegal fees and lists factors for judging a fee, including whether it is fixed or contingent and whether the client gave informed consent. Under Rule 1.5(c), a lawyer may not charge any fee in a family law matter that is contingent on securing a dissolution or nullity of marriage or on the amount of spousal or child support or a property settlement, and may not charge a contingent fee to represent a criminal defendant. Chapter 1 PDF: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/sites/default/files/portals/0/documents/rules/Rules-of-Professional-Conduct-1.pdf |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | California's Mandatory Fee Arbitration program lets clients dispute an attorney's bill; if the client requests arbitration through the program, the attorney must participate. Most fee arbitrations are run by local county bar association programs where most of the legal services were provided; if there is no local program, the State Bar may provide arbitration. Mediation is also available and is voluntary for both sides. A filing fee applies. Clients do not need a lawyer. State Bar program phone: 415-538-2020. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar's Client Security Fund, funded by California lawyers, can reimburse people who lost money or property because a California lawyer committed theft or dishonest conduct. Reimbursement is discretionary and can be up to $100,000 per claim, depending on when the loss occurred. Negligence, malpractice and incompetence, interest, expenses and consequential damages are not covered, and you must be able to prove the lawyer received your money or property. Filing is free and no lawyer is required; filing does not stop statutes of limitations on other remedies. |
California rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | California's lemon law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, including the Tanner Consumer Protection Act) covers new motor vehicles bought or used mainly for personal, family or household purposes, plus new vehicles under 10,000 pounds bought for business use by someone with no more than five vehicles registered in California; it includes demonstrators and the driving portion of motor homes but not motorcycles or off-road vehicles. It is presumed that the manufacturer had a reasonable number of repair attempts if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, whichever comes first: a defect likely to cause death or serious injury was repaired two or more times; the same defect was repaired four or more times; or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 calendar days in total. (For the first two, the buyer must have directly notified the manufacturer at least once, if the manufacturer disclosed that requirement.) If the manufacturer cannot fix the vehicle, it must replace it (if the buyer agrees) or make restitution. If the manufacturer has a state-certified third-party dispute resolution program and properly notified the buyer, the buyer must use it before relying on the presumption. |
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| Used cars | A seller of used consumer goods (including used cars) that gives an express warranty has many of the same warranty duties as a manufacturer, and the implied warranties then last as long as the express warranty, but no less than 30 days and no more than three months. A sale "as is" or "with all faults" means all implied warranties are disclaimed. Source: Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1791.3, 1795.5 |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Notice: the Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) says that, where required, the consumer must have notified the manufacturer directly about the problems before arbitration. Under 2025 changes (AB 1755 and SB 26), manufacturers that opt in to a new procedure must post a lemon law notice address in English and Spanish; if the consumer demands a repurchase or replacement in writing at least 30 days before suing, the manufacturer must offer restitution or replacement within 30 days and complete it within 60 days of receiving the notice, or the consumer may sell the vehicle and sue. DCA publishes a list of manufacturers that opted in. 2) Final repair attempt: no separate final-repair step is described on the DCA pages read. 3) Arbitration: California does not run hearings itself; DCA's Arbitration Certification Program certifies and monitors manufacturers' arbitration programs. Arbitration in a state-certified program is free to consumers, decisions usually come within about 40 days, and the consumer may accept or reject the decision; if accepted, the manufacturer generally must carry it out within 30 days. DCA says a consumer must request arbitration to claim the benefit of the lemon law presumption when the manufacturer has a state-certified program. Not every manufacturer has one; the New Motor Vehicle Board offers consumer mediation, (916) 445-1888. 4) Deadline: the deadline to file a lawsuit was not verified from an official page. Arbitration program details: https://www.dca.ca.gov/acp/acpprocess.shtml and DCA's Lemon Law Q&A (https://www.dca.ca.gov/acp/pdf_files/lemonlaw_qa.pdf). Contact: Arbitration Certification Program, (916) 574-7350, acp@dca.ca.gov. The official statute site (leginfo.legislature.ca.gov) blocked access, so statute text was not read directly. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | File a consumer complaint against a business with the Attorney General's office using its online complaint form. The form asks for details of the transaction, the company representatives you dealt with, and the resolution you want. The Attorney General cannot give legal advice or represent you in a personal legal action. Complaints about licensed businesses (such as auto repair shops or contractors) can also go to the licensing agency, e.g., the Bureau of Automotive Repair or the Contractors State License Board. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of California does not run its own referral service ("the State Bar is not a Lawyer Referral Service"); it certifies lawyer referral services that meet standards approved by the California Supreme Court. A certified service can help you decide whether you need a lawyer and, where available, refer you to a local lawyer in good standing with professional liability insurance who handles your type of problem; you do not have to hire that lawyer. "Lawyers referred to you will offer you an initial consultation for a reduced fee or no fee." Find a certified service with the State Bar's online directory by county, area of law and language. The California Courts self-help guide says referral services typically list lawyers who meet for 30 minutes for a small fee (around $40). Courts self-help guide: https://selfhelp.courts.ca.gov/get-free-or-low-cost-legal-help |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The State Bar of California's "Check Attorney Profile" licensee search is the official tool for looking up California attorneys. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about attorney misconduct are filed with the State Bar of California through its online complaint application; the bar's Public Trust Liaison Office helps members of the public with questions. Fee disagreements follow a separate fee dispute process. The State Bar also publishes recent disciplinary actions. Recent disciplinary actions: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/public/concerns-about-attorney/recent-disciplinary-actions ; Public Trust Liaison Office: https://www.calbar.ca.gov/public/concerns-about-attorney/public-trust-liaison-office |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | All California superior courts have free legal self-help programs, where staff give legal information and help with forms but cannot represent you. For non-criminal cases, legal services programs give free or low-cost help depending on your income and type of problem; use LawHelpCalifornia.org to find local legal aid offices. LSC-funded legal aid organizations in California include Bay Area Legal Aid, California Indian Legal Services, California Rural Legal Assistance, Central California Legal Services, Greater Bakersfield Legal Assistance, Inland Counties Legal Services, Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles, Community Legal Aid SoCal, Legal Aid Society of San Diego, Legal Services of Northern California and Neighborhood Legal Services of Los Angeles County. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in California · Background guide
Last verified against official sources: October 27, 2026.
How we source this page: each state-specific rule links to the statute, court rule or official government page it comes from. A rule taken from a public copy of a state code (used only where the official code is not freely readable online) is marked as a secondary source. Spot an error? Use the contact page to report it. About our sources
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.