Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Idaho
The Idaho 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 Idaho: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Contingent fees are allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits them. A contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client and state how the fee is figured, including the percentage(s) the lawyer gets on settlement, trial or appeal, the litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated. It must clearly tell the client about any expenses the client must pay whether or not the client wins. At the end, the lawyer must give the client a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the client's share and how it was figured. Lawyers may not charge domestic relations fees contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, or a contingent fee to represent a criminal defendant. Idaho also requires a lawyer, on reasonable request, to give the client a free accounting of fees and costs claimed or collected. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Idaho State Bar's Fee Arbitration Program is free to clients and lawyers, and either may petition. It is not mandatory: the other side has 21 days to decide whether to sign the agreement, a mediator first tries to resolve the dispute, and binding arbitration happens only if both agree. Disputes of $2,500 or less go to one attorney arbitrator; larger ones to a panel of two lawyers and one non-lawyer. Decisions are issued within 15 days after the hearing, and the Bar has no appeal process. Source: Idaho State Bar, Fee Arbitration |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Idaho State Bar Client Assistance Fund, financed by Idaho lawyers' annual fees, can reimburse clients for all or part of losses from an Idaho lawyer's dishonest conduct (theft, embezzlement, conversion, refusing to return unearned advance fees, or borrowing with no intent to repay); malpractice alone does not qualify. The maximum on any one claim is $25,000 under Idaho Supreme Court rule. File a notarized Client Assistance Claim Form with Bar Counsel's Office no later than three years after you knew or should have known of the dishonest conduct. |
Idaho rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | New motor vehicle defects reported during the express warranty, the first two years after delivery, or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends earliest, must be repaired. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if, in that period, the same defect was repaired four or more times and still exists (the manufacturer must have had at least one chance to repair it), the vehicle was out of service for repairs 30 or more business days in total, or a defect causing complete failure of the braking or steering system that is likely to cause death or serious injury was repaired at least once. If a defect impairing use or market value cannot be fixed, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund what the consumer paid (capped at 105% of the manufacturer's suggested retail price) plus taxes, fees and certain towing and rental costs, minus a mileage-based allowance for use. The consumer may reject a replacement and insist on a refund. Leased vehicles qualify for a refund but not a replacement (§ 48-904). The Attorney General publishes a separate Idaho Lemon Law guide. Source: Idaho Code §§ 48-902, 48-903 |
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| Used cars | The lemon law covers new vehicles. The Attorney General explains that federal law requires used car dealers to post a Buyers Guide saying whether the car comes with a warranty, "as is" (no warranty), or with implied warranties only; if a used car is sold "as is," there is no express or implied warranty. There is no three-day cooling-off period for new or used car purchases. From the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Manual (PDF posted 2018). |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Written notice: the repair presumption applies only if the manufacturer, its agent or its authorized dealer has received prior written notice from or on behalf of the consumer at least once and had an opportunity to fix the defect. A dealer or agent that receives the notice must forward it to the manufacturer by certified mail. The dealer must give buyers a written statement that, to get a refund or replacement, they must first notify the manufacturer, agent or dealer in writing and allow a repair opportunity. 2) Final repair attempt: the manufacturer must have at least one opportunity to repair before the presumption applies, even if it was not notified directly. 3) Arbitration: every manufacturer must run or take part in an informal dispute settlement program located in Idaho that meets federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703). The consumer must use it before suing for refund or replacement unless the manufacturer allows otherwise. Any consumer fee may not exceed the conciliation court filing fee in the county where the arbitration is held. Decisions are nonbinding unless the parties agree otherwise; a manufacturer must seek a new trial in district court within 30 days after receiving the decision. 4) Deadline: a lawsuit must be started within 3 years after original delivery. If the consumer applied to the dispute program within those 3 years, an appeal of its decision must be filed within 3 months after the final decision. Notice rule: https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title48/T48CH9/SECT48-903/. Time limits: https://legislature.idaho.gov/statutesrules/idstat/Title48/T48CH9/SECT48-910/. A consumer may recover reasonable attorney's fees in a civil action, but not fees already spent in the dispute program (§ 48-909). |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | File a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division using the online Consumer Complaint Form, or contact the division by phone at 208-334-2424 or toll-free 1-800-432-3545. The division works through public education, voluntary dispute resolution and enforcement of consumer laws. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Idaho State Bar Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) is a public service of the Bar. Participating attorneys must be in good standing, have no pending public disciplinary complaints and carry professional liability insurance. "The fee for a referral is $35" (personal injury, medical malpractice and workers' compensation referrals are free), and "LRS attorneys have agreed to provide their clients with an initial up to a half-hour consultation at no fee"; later fees are negotiated with the lawyer. Start an online referral at idaho.community.lawyer or call 208-334-4500. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Idaho State Bar's Attorney Roster Search lets you look up Idaho lawyers by last name (full or partial). If you cannot find an attorney, contact the Bar's Licensing Department at (208) 334-4500. The Bar also publishes definitions of license status categories. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Grievances about Idaho lawyers go to the Idaho State Bar's Office of Bar Counsel. Complete the Grievance Form Packet with a signed, detailed written explanation and copies (not originals) of supporting documents, and mail it to Idaho State Bar, Office of Bar Counsel, PO Box 895, Boise, ID 83701. Bar Counsel reviews it for possible rule violations; outcomes range from dismissal (explained by letter) to private discipline or formal charges, typically in about three to four months, and you may ask for review by a three-member panel. The Bar handles ethics violations, not malpractice. Only public sanctions are posted on the Bar's Public Discipline and Other Notices page. Phone: 208-334-4500. Public discipline: https://isb.idaho.gov/bar-counsel/public-discipline/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Idaho Legal Aid Services, the state's LSC-funded legal aid organization, provides free civil legal help to eligible low-income Idahoans; statewide phone 208-746-7541 (idaholegalaid.org). The Idaho Volunteer Lawyers Program (Idaho State Bar) also offers legal assistance, and the Idaho Courts Self-Help Center provides free legal information and court forms. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees; IVLP: https://isb.idaho.gov/ilf/ivlp/legal-assistance/ |
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All legal help in Idaho · 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.