Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Colorado
The Colorado 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 Colorado: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Colorado's former contingent fee rules (C.R.C.P. Chapter 23.3) were repealed and reenacted in Colo. RPC 1.5(c), effective January 1, 2021. The terms of a contingent fee agreement must be communicated in writing before or within a reasonable time after the representation begins and must include, among other things: the names of lawyer and client; the claim and each event that triggers the lawyer's right to be paid; how the fee is figured, including the percentage or amounts on settlement, trial, appeal or other final disposition and whether it is computed before or after deducting costs and other amounts owed; what the lawyer may be paid if the representation ends early; an estimate of expenses, whether the lawyer may advance them and the client's obligation to pay expenses if there is no recovery; the possibility of court-awarded costs or fees against or in favor of the client; and the client's rights if the lawyer brings in associated counsel. Colorado's Rule 1.5(d) prohibits domestic relations fees contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for representing a criminal defendant. Repeal of C.R.C.P. 23.3: https://www.coloradojudicial.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Rule_Change_2020-31.pdf |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Colorado Bar Association's Legal Fee Arbitration Committee provides a service to help lawyers and clients resolve fee disputes, as referenced by the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel. Colorado Bar Association committee: http://www.cobar.org/For-Members/Committees/Legal-Fee-Arbitration-Committee |
| If a lawyer takes your money | Colorado's Attorneys' Fund for Client Protection may compensate clients who lost money or property because a Colorado-licensed attorney, acting as their lawyer or court-appointed fiduciary, received and converted it. Fee disputes, poor investments and malpractice are not covered. The limit is $50,000 per claim, with an aggregate maximum of $100,000 for all claims against a single attorney; no interest is paid. Claims must be filed within three years of when you knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. There is no filing fee; the claim form must be signed and notarized. Fund page: https://www.coloradolegalregulation.com/complaints/cpf/ |
Colorado rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Colorado's lemon law covers new private passenger vehicles, including pickups and vans, that carry no more than ten people and are sold to consumers in Colorado for personal, family or household use; it does not cover motor homes, vehicles with three or fewer wheels, or vehicles modified for commercial use. Defects reported within two years or 24,000 miles of delivery, whichever is earlier, must be repaired. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if, in that period, the same defect was repaired three or more times, the vehicle was out of service 24 or more business days, or a safety-related defect (likely to cause death or serious injury, or a fire or explosion risk) was repaired two or more times, and the problem remains. The consumer must first notify the manufacturer by certified mail and give it ten business days to fix the defect. If it cannot be fixed, the manufacturer must, at the manufacturer's option, replace the vehicle or refund the full purchase price, taxes and fees, minus a reasonable allowance for use. Suits must be filed within 30 months of original delivery. These terms reflect 2024 amendments (SB 24-192) that apply to vehicles sold or leased on or after August 7, 2024. The Attorney General's web page still describes the older rules (four repairs or 30 business days). Source: C.R.S. §§ 42-10-101 to 42-10-107 |
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| Used cars | The lemon law covers new vehicles. The Attorney General notes that private-party car sales are generally governed by ordinary contract rules, including vehicles bought "as is," and that there is no three-day right to cancel a car purchase. If a dealer agrees to let a buyer back out, the dealer can keep only $500 of the deposit unless it can show a greater loss. |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Written notice: the presumption that the manufacturer had a reasonable number of repair attempts does not apply unless the manufacturer has received prior written notice by certified mail from or on behalf of the consumer, stating that one or more repair attempts for the same defect have been made and the defect remains. Dealers must include a notice form, with the manufacturer's name and business address, in each owner's manual, and the form must say that written notice by certified mail is required to get lemon law remedies. 2) Final repair attempt: after receiving the notice, the manufacturer has ten business days to fix the defect; that attempt counts as one repair attempt. 3) Arbitration: Colorado has no state-run lemon law arbitration program. If the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute program that substantially complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703), the refund/replacement remedy does not apply to a consumer who has not first used that program. 4) Deadline: a lawsuit must be started within thirty months after the vehicle was originally delivered to the consumer; the time is paused while the consumer is in the manufacturer's arbitration program or while the vehicle is unavailable because it is being repaired. The court must award reasonable attorney fees to the prevailing side. The statute does not mention a fee for the manufacturer's program. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | File a complaint with the Attorney General's office online by choosing the problem area (such as consumer purchases, credit and debt, data privacy, or scams). Some disputes are referred to the department's Consumer Mediation Program for informal negotiation, and consumers selected for it are notified. The office cannot give legal advice or represent you or prosecute your individual case. Car-purchase issues may go to the Department of Revenue's Auto Industry Enforcement Division. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Colorado Bar Association does not give legal advice or run a referral line; it offers a Find a Lawyer directory of member attorneys searchable by legal matter, location or name, with a filter for attorneys accepting "alternative fee arrangements" for people with moderate incomes. CBA offices: 303-860-1115, Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Contact page: https://www.cobar.org/contact |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel, an independent office of the Colorado Supreme Court, runs the Attorney / LLP Search & Disciplinary History tool. Search by registration number or by first and last name to see a lawyer's (or licensed legal paraprofessional's) status and disciplinary history; a lawyer must have "active" status and be in good standing to practice in Colorado. Copies of Presiding Disciplinary Judge decisions and orders are linked as a courtesy. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints (requests for investigation) about Colorado lawyers go to the Office of Attorney Regulation Counsel's central intake division, by phone at (303) 457-5800 or toll-free (877) 888-1370, or through its online complaint form. Unsolicited emails and anonymous complaints are not accepted. An intake attorney or investigator contacts you, on average within 7 to 14 days. Have ready your contact details, the lawyer's name and registration number, relevant dates, and any court case numbers. Disciplinary history appears in the office's attorney search. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Colorado Legal Services, the LSC-funded legal aid program for Colorado, gives free civil legal help to eligible low-income people in family, consumer/debt, housing, senior, government benefits, immigration and other civil matters (not every office handles every case type). Apply with the online intake form at coloradolegalservices.org or call your local office. The courts' local Self-Help Centers answer questions about court cases and forms. CBA page: https://www.cobar.org/For-the-Public/What-to-do-if-you-need-a-Lawyer |
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All legal help in Colorado · 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.