Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in North Dakota
The North Dakota 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 North Dakota: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under North Dakota Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c), a contingent fee agreement must be in a writing signed by the client stating how the fee is determined, including the percentage(s) for settlement, trial or appeal, litigation and other expenses deducted from the recovery, and whether expenses are deducted before or after the fee is calculated; it must identify expenses the client owes whether or not the client prevails. At the end, the lawyer must give a written statement of the outcome and, if there is a recovery, the remittance and how it was determined, including an itemization of expenses. Rule 1.5(d) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of alimony, support or property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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North Dakota rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | North Dakota's lemon law covers new passenger motor vehicles and trucks with a registered gross weight of 10,000 pounds or less, bought or leased mainly for personal, family or household use (motor homes are excluded). If the consumer reports a defect during the express warranty or within one year of delivery, whichever ends first, the manufacturer must repair it. If a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use and market value cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including collateral charges, minus a use allowance of no more than 10 cents per mile or 10% of the price, whichever is less. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed when the same defect has been subject to repair more than three times, or the vehicle has been out of service for at least 30 business days, within the warranty term or one year (whichever is less); the manufacturer must first get direct notice and a chance to fix it. If the manufacturer has a qualifying informal dispute program, the consumer must use it first. A lawsuit must be filed within six months after the earlier of the warranty's expiration or 18 months after delivery. |
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| Used cars | The Attorney General states that North Dakota's lemon law applies only to new cars, not to used cars or other motorized vehicles. When you buy a used car, you buy it "as is" unless a warranty is included in the purchase, and you are responsible for repair costs after you buy it. |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the problem to the manufacturer, its agent or an authorized dealer during the express warranty term or within one year after original delivery, whichever ends first. 2) Direct notice: the presumption that the manufacturer had a reasonable number of repair attempts does not apply unless the manufacturer received prior direct notice from or on behalf of the consumer and an opportunity to fix the defect. 3) Arbitration: if the manufacturer has or takes part in an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. part 703), or a consumer-and-industry appeals, arbitration or mediation board whose decisions bind the manufacturer, the consumer must use it first before the refund-or-replacement remedy is available. If the consumer asks for an oral presentation, the hearing must be held in the consumer's home state. On application, the Attorney General decides whether a program qualifies. The law does not create a state-run arbitration program or set a consumer fee. 4) Deadline to sue: a lawsuit must be filed within six months after the earlier of (a) the end of the express warranty term or (b) 18 months after original delivery. A consumer who chooses to proceed under the lemon law gives up other remedies arising from the same facts. Wording of the filing deadline follows § 51-07-21 as written; no date has been calculated. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | North Dakota residents, and people elsewhere with a dispute involving a North Dakota business, can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division online or by mailing a printed form. Anonymous complaints are not accepted. If the complaint is within its authority, the division will try to mediate a resolution, and if that fails it may refer the consumer to a private attorney. Consumer Protection: (701) 328-3404 or 1-800-472-2600 (in North Dakota). |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The State Bar Association of North Dakota's Lawyer Referral Service matches paying clients with lawyers. A referral includes a lawyer's name, phone number and up to a 30-minute consultation with a lawyer in the area of law and town or county you choose. The charge for a referral is $30. Phone: (866) 450-9579. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The North Dakota Court System (Supreme Court) publishes a lawyer search on its website that can be browsed by last initial, license status, city or state, plus a seniority list of currently licensed lawyers by bar admission date. The Disciplinary Board page links to it. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The North Dakota Disciplinary Board, through the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, handles complaints about unethical conduct by lawyers licensed in North Dakota. Send a written, signed and dated complaint describing the conduct, with witness names and copies of relevant documents, to the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, 125 Slate Dr., Ste. 2, P.O. Box 2297, Bismarck, ND 58502-2297 (701-328-3925); you do not need a lawyer. Complaints without indications of misconduct are dismissed; others are investigated and referred to a district inquiry committee, which can dismiss, admonish, agree to probation or start formal proceedings that may go to a hearing panel and the Supreme Court. The process may take several months, and you get written notice of the outcome. A complaint does not change the outcome of a case and is not a claim for damages. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Legal Services of North Dakota is a nonprofit that provides free legal assistance to North Dakota residents in a variety of matters based on income, and can check eligibility for the low-cost Volunteer Lawyers program. Call (800) 634-5263 if under age 60 or (866) 621-9886 if 60 or older (9 am-3 pm Central), or apply online. Dakota Plains Legal Services also provides free legal help to low-income people, older Americans and veterans in North and South Dakota, including tribal court matters. LSC lists Legal Services of North Dakota as its North Dakota grantee. LSND: https://lsnd.org/; LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in North Dakota · 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.