Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Michigan
The Michigan 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 Michigan: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | A contingent fee is allowed except where Rule 1.5(d) or other law prohibits it. The agreement must be in writing and state how the fee will be determined; at the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the client's share and how it was figured. Michigan Court Rule 8.121 adds requirements for some contingent fee agreements. Lawyers may not charge a criminal defendant a contingent fee, or charge a domestic relations fee contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, or based on the lawyer's success, results obtained, value added or any factor that leaves the client unable to discern how the fee is determined. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The State Bar of Michigan Client Protection Fund reimburses clients harmed by a lawyer's dishonest conduct, such as theft or embezzlement of estate, trust or settlement funds, or failing to return unearned fees; it does not cover malpractice, negligence, fee disputes or consequential damages. Limits: $150,000 per claimant and $375,000 for all claims against one attorney (prorated if exceeded). File within two years after the loss or six months after discovery, whichever is later (or within one year after a discipline determination or the lawyer's death). A Request for Investigation with the Attorney Grievance Commission is part of the application. There is no filing fee; a lawyer who helps may charge no more than $250 unless the State Bar authorizes more. Contact: cpf@michbar.org, (517) 346-6354. Fund home: https://www.michbar.org/client/protectionfund |
Michigan rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Michigan's lemon law covers new passenger vehicles, SUVs, pickup trucks and vans bought or leased in Michigan (or by a Michigan resident) that come with a manufacturer's express warranty; motor homes, buses, other trucks and vehicles with fewer than four wheels are excluded. Business buyers are covered only if they buy or lease fewer than 10 new vehicles a year. The defect must be reported during the express warranty or within one year of delivery, whichever is earlier. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed if the same defect was repaired four or more times within two years and still exists (the consumer must give written notice after the third attempt, and the manufacturer then gets 5 business days to fix it), or the vehicle was out of service for 30 or more days during the warranty or first year. The manufacturer must then, within 30 days, replace the vehicle with a comparable one or refund the purchase price (the consumer may demand a refund), including collateral charges and towing/rental costs, minus a reasonable allowance for use. |
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| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the defect: the consumer must first report the defect to the manufacturer or a new-vehicle dealer during the express warranty term or within 1 year after delivery to the original consumer, whichever is earlier. 2) Written notice and final repair attempt: before seeking a refund or replacement, the consumer (or a representative) must send the manufacturer written notice by return-receipt service of the need for repair, so the manufacturer has a chance to fix it. Notice is due any time after the third repair attempt for the same defect, or after the vehicle has been out of service in a repair facility for at least 25 days. The manufacturer must tell the consumer as soon as reasonably possible of a reasonably accessible repair facility, and then has 5 business days after the vehicle is delivered there to make the repair. 3) Arbitration: Michigan has no state-run lemon law arbitration program. If the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute program that complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. Part 703), binds the manufacturer to any decision the consumer agrees to, and lets the consumer reject the decision and pursue lemon law remedies, the lemon law does not apply to a consumer who has not first used that program. 4) Deadline: the lemon law act does not state a separate deadline to sue. Dispute program rule: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-257-1405. A consumer who wins in court may be awarded costs and attorney's fees (MCL 257.1407). The statute does not mention a fee for the manufacturer's program. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | The Michigan Department of Attorney General has an online complaint portal for submitting complaints. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar of Michigan Lawyer Referral Service matches people who can afford to hire a lawyer with a participating panel lawyer; a referral assistant matches you by type of matter and area. Per the program rules (May 2023), the service "charges a $25 administrative fee" and the panelist "will provide up to a 25-minute initial consultation free of charge"; the fee is waived for residential tenants, Social Security claimants, workers' compensation claimants and personal injury plaintiffs. Hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:45 p.m., Monday-Friday. A Modest Means Program connects moderate-income people with attorneys offering reduced-cost help. Program rules: https://www.michbar.org/file/lrs/lrs-programrules.pdf |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints (Requests for Investigation) about Michigan lawyers go to the Attorney Grievance Commission. Anyone may file, using the AGC form or a signed letter describing the misconduct with approximate time and place and any documents (unbound, unstapled). Requests are not accepted electronically or by fax; mail them to the Michigan Attorney Grievance Commission, 755 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 2100, Troy, MI 48084. Intake decides whether the lawyer must respond or dismisses (you may ask for reconsideration); after investigation the Commission may close the file, issue a consensual admonition, place the lawyer on contractual probation, or authorize formal charges before the Attorney Discipline Board, and notifies the parties in writing. A lawyer's public disciplinary record can be requested from the Commission. Phone: 313-961-6585. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Michigan's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people: Lakeshore Legal Aid, Legal Aid of Western Michigan, Legal Services of Eastern Michigan, Legal Services of Northern Michigan, Michigan Advocacy Program and Michigan Indian Legal Services. |
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All legal help in Michigan · 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.