Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in New Hampshire
The New Hampshire 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 New Hampshire: fee rules
| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The New Hampshire Bar Association's Dispute Resolution Committee tries to resolve disputes between NH attorneys and clients that fall short of an ethics violation, including fee questions. The service is free and voluntary; if the attorney declines, the committee cannot proceed. It does not handle fees set by statute, agency rule or court order, or disputes in pending litigation. Send a written notice (names, the attorney's role, whether a case is pending, the facts, the resolution you want and your contact details) to NH Bar Association, Dispute Resolution Committee, 2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301, or email NHBA.DRC@nhbar.org. |
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| If a lawyer takes your money | The Public Protection Fund, administered by the New Hampshire Bar Association under Supreme Court Rule 55, reimburses money or property lost through theft or misappropriation by a New Hampshire attorney in New Hampshire, within a client-attorney relationship or while the attorney served as a fiduciary (such as trustee, guardian or conservator), for thefts after June 1, 1998. File within three years of when you discovered (or reasonably should have discovered) the theft, and never more than one year after the attorney is suspended, disbarred, dies or is judged incompetent. The Fund is a last resort: you must show reasonable efforts to collect from the attorney's assets, insurance and sureties, the law firm, and other liable third parties. Send the Statement of Claim form to the NH Bar Association, 2 Pillsbury Street, Suite 300, Concord, NH 03301, Attn: Public Protection Fund Committee; phone 603-715-3289. |
New Hampshire rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | New Hampshire's lemon law covers new passenger vehicles, other four-wheel vehicles and motorcycles under 11,000 pounds gross weight, plus off-highway recreational vehicles and snowmobiles, while still under the manufacturer's express warranty. Purchasers and lessees are covered; government buyers are not. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety and must be reported during the warranty term. It is presumed the manufacturer had a reasonable number of tries if the same defect was repaired at least 3 times and still exists, or the vehicle was out of service for a total of 30 or more business days during the warranty. The manufacturer gets one final chance to repair. Disputes go to the state's New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, which must hold a hearing within 40 days of receiving a complaint. At the consumer's choice, the remedy is a comparable replacement vehicle or a refund of the full purchase price, minus an allowance for the consumer's use of the vehicle. Refunds are due within 30 days of a decision of the board. |
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| Used cars | The lemon law does not cover used-car dealers. Under the state's used-vehicle law, a dealer must do a safety inspection if the customer asks (and may charge a reasonable fee), and must give the buyer a written statement saying whether the vehicle meets state equipment requirements, listing defects, or saying no inspection was done. A dealer may sell an unsafe vehicle only with a written notice saying it is unsafe for highway use and listing the defects, and must notify the buyer of these rights in advance and get a written acknowledgment. Violations are unfair or deceptive practices under the Consumer Protection Act. Under New Hampshire's version of the Uniform Commercial Code, for goods bought for personal, family or household use, a merchant's disclaimer of implied warranties does not limit its liability unless the buyer signs, before or at the sale, a conspicuous writing that says in plain language the goods are sold "as is" or "with all faults," that the buyer bears the entire risk of quality and performance, and that the buyer pays for all repairs if the goods prove defective. UCC text: https://gc.nh.gov/rsa/html/XXXIV-A/382-A/382-A-2-316.htm |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the problem during the warranty term and keep the written repair orders (the dealer must give one each visit). 2) Written notice and election: after the third repair attempt, or after the vehicle has been out of service 30 or more business days, the consumer notifies the manufacturer (and lessor, if leased) in writing on the form the manufacturer must provide at delivery. In that notice the consumer chooses either the manufacturer's dispute settlement program or the state's New Hampshire New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board; choosing one rules out the other. 3) Final repair attempt: within the 40-day arbitration period, the manufacturer gets one final chance to repair the defect; if the consumer is satisfied, the arbitration ends. 4) Arbitration: the hearing must be held within 40 days after the notice is received, unless an extension of up to 30 more days is granted for good cause. The state board (attached to the Department of Safety) charges the consumer a $50 filing fee; the manufacturer pays $250. The board decides within 30 days after the hearing. Its decision is final unless appealed to superior court within 30 days, on limited grounds such as fraud, partiality or the board exceeding its powers. 5) Deadline: any proceeding under the lemon law must be started within one year after the later of the express warranty's expiration or the manufacturer's final repair attempt. If the consumer picks the manufacturer's program and it does not hold the arbitration within 40 days without good cause, the consumer is entitled to the relief requested (§ 357-D:4, IV). A consumer who has stopped finance or lease payments generally cannot pursue the remedy (§ 357-D:4, II). |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The New Hampshire Bar Association's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) helps people find a qualified, conveniently located attorney. Call 603-229-0002 and a referral specialist will help clarify your legal issue and refer you to an attorney who handles that type of issue, or use the online referral. LRS charges a nonrefundable $25 administrative fee. The page also links to reduced-fee services. |
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| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The New Hampshire Supreme Court's Attorney Discipline Office (4 Chenell Drive, Suite 102, Concord, NH 03301; 603-224-5828) handles misconduct complaints and can tell you whether complaints have been filed against a lawyer. A grievance is a letter giving the attorney's name and address, a description of the legal matter, a detailed factual account with dates, relevant documents and the proof you would offer (including witnesses). It must be signed under oath: sign the Oath Form before a notary public or justice of the peace, complete the Certification of Copies Form, attach both, and send a copy of the letter and enclosures to the attorney. Grievances cannot be filed by email or fax because they need original signatures. Public disciplinary decisions can be searched on the Attorney Discipline System site. Office address and phone as listed by the NH Bar Association: https://www.nhbar.org/dispute-with-an-attorney/ |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | 603 Legal Aid generally helps people with low incomes with civil legal problems. Apply online (24/7) or by phone at (603) 224-3333 (intake calls Monday-Wednesday, 9:00 am-12:30 pm; no intake calls Thursday or Friday). After you apply, 603 Legal Aid may schedule a phone appointment for free legal advice, and you may be able to get free legal help. The Legal Services Corporation (LSC) lists 603 Legal Aid as the LSC-funded grantee in the state. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in New Hampshire · 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.