Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Missouri
The Missouri 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 Missouri: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel refers fee complaints to the Fee Dispute Resolution Committees operated by The Missouri Bar. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The Missouri Bar's Client Security Fund, created in 1966 and maintained by Bar members' annual fees, can compensate clients harmed by a lawyer who has been disbarred, suspended, ruled mentally incapacitated, or has died. Fee disputes and malpractice are not covered. File within two years of discovering the loss using the Client Security Fund Claim Form on MissouriLawyersHelp.org (or request a printed copy from the fund coordinator). A committee recommends full or partial payment or denial, the Board of Governors has final discretion, and the committee aims to decide claims within a year. |
Missouri rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Missouri's lemon law covers new motor vehicles bought mainly for personal, family or household use, including demonstrators and lease-purchase vehicles sold with a manufacturer's warranty. It does not cover commercial vehicles, off-road vehicles, mopeds, electric bicycles, motorcycles, or recreational vehicles (except their chassis, engine, powertrain and component parts). Problems must be reported during the warranty or within one year of delivery, whichever ends first. A reasonable number of repair attempts is presumed if the same problem has been repaired four or more times and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more working days. The consumer must give the manufacturer written notice, and the manufacturer then has 10 calendar days after the vehicle reaches an authorized repair facility to fix it. If the problem cannot be fixed, the manufacturer must, at its option, replace the vehicle with a comparable new one acceptable to the consumer or refund the full purchase price plus collateral charges, less a reasonable allowance for use. If the manufacturer has a qualifying informal dispute program, the consumer must use it first before seeking a refund or replacement. A lawsuit must be filed within six months after the warranty ends or within 18 months after delivery, whichever is earlier (or within 90 days after a final decision in the manufacturer's dispute program). |
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| Used cars | Missouri's lemon law does not apply to used cars. The Attorney General's consumer guide says the lemon law applies only to new vehicles, demonstrators and lease-purchase vehicles with a warranty; that most used cars are sold "as is"; and that dealers must display the federal Buyers Guide showing whether the car comes with a warranty or is sold "as is -- no warranty." The guide also says there is no state law allowing a buyer to return a car for a full or partial refund. |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Written notice: before using the lemon law, the consumer (or a representative) must give the manufacturer written notice of the need to repair the defect so the manufacturer has an opportunity to fix it. 2) Final repair attempt: the manufacturer must immediately tell the consumer of a reasonably accessible repair facility of a franchised new-vehicle dealer, and then has 10 calendar days after the consumer delivers the vehicle there to fix it. If the consumer then tells the manufacturer the vehicle still is not fixed, the manufacturer must say whether it has an informal dispute program (unless it already gave that notice). 3) Arbitration: Missouri has no state-run lemon law arbitration program. If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that fully 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 it. 4) Deadline: a lawsuit must be started within six months after the express warranty expires or within 18 months after original delivery, whichever is earlier; if the consumer used the manufacturer's dispute program, within 90 days after the program panel's final action. Dispute program rule: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=407.575. A consumer who prevails in court after following these steps recovers costs and attorney's fees, but a consumer whose final recovery is not at least 10% more than a pre-suit settlement offer, or whose claim was in bad faith, must pay the manufacturer's costs and fees (§ 407.577). The statute does not mention a fee for the manufacturer's program. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | File a consumer complaint with the Attorney General online, by mail using the PDF complaint form, or in person; there is no fee. Include copies (not originals) of contracts, receipts and other records. The office sends the complaint to the business and asks for a response, and a complaint advocate tries to resolve it through mediation; consumers can expect a first response within about 30 days. The Consumer Protection Hotline is 800-392-8222. The Attorney General cannot act as your private lawyer. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Missouri Bar offers LawyerSearch, a directory of lawyers who have chosen to be listed, searchable by area of practice or Missouri county, with optional language-assistance filters; it is not described as a referral service, and "Inclusion on this list does not constitute an endorsement by The Missouri Bar of particular attorneys." In the St. Louis area, the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis sponsors a Lawyer Referral and Information Service (bamsl.org). Missouri Bar phone: (573) 635-4128. BAMSL LRIS described at https://www.moept.uscourts.gov/lawyer-referral-and-information-service |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about Missouri lawyers go to the Office of Chief Disciplinary Counsel (OCDC) in writing, using the online form, a printed or fillable PDF form, or a letter, one complaint per attorney (OCDC cannot investigate law firms). Mail: OCDC, 3327 American Ave, Jefferson City, MO 65109; phone 573-635-7400. Include the lawyer's name and address, the legal matter, any court and case caption, a detailed statement of facts, and documents such as fee agreements and proof of payment. There is no cost. Staff Counsel reviews complaints in order and tries to respond in writing within about four weeks; if a file is opened, the lawyer is usually notified and may respond, and you may reply. OCDC cannot give legal advice or recover money for you. A list of public discipline imposed since January 1, 2006 is posted by the Missouri courts. Public discipline list: https://www.courts.mo.gov/page.jsp?id=109856 ; disciplinary certificates: https://mochiefcounsel.org/obtaining-disciplinary-certificates/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Missouri's LSC-funded legal aid organizations give free civil legal help to eligible low-income people by region: Legal Aid of Western Missouri, Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, Legal Services of Southern Missouri and Mid-Missouri Legal Services Corporation. |
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All legal help in Missouri · 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.