Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Oregon
The Oregon 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 Oregon: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Oregon Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5 prohibits illegal or clearly excessive fees, listing whether a fee is fixed or contingent among the reasonableness factors. Rule 1.5(c) bars fees in domestic relations matters contingent on securing a divorce or on the amount of spousal or child support or a property settlement, and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Oregon State Bar's Board of Governors voted to sunset its Fee Dispute Resolution Program effective September 25, 2026, so the program is no longer available. The bar points to its Client Security Fund for losses caused by dishonest conduct and notes that small claims court may be an option for fee disputes of $10,000 or less. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The Oregon State Bar's Client Security Fund may reimburse money or property taken through dishonest conduct by an Oregon lawyer or licensed paralegal while providing legal services or acting as a fiduciary. It does not cover negligence or malpractice, business or investment dealings (including loans), interest, or losses paid by insurance or bonds. Generally the lawyer must have been convicted of a crime or be subject to a civil judgment (for losses of $5,000 or less, disbarment, suspension, reprimand or resignation also qualifies), and you must have tried unsuccessfully to recover; awards are discretionary. The maximum award is $100,000 for misconduct on or after January 1, 2022 ($50,000 for earlier conduct), and no more than the fees paid or money received. Claims must be filed within two years of the latest of the conviction, judgment, discipline or resignation, or when you knew or should have known of the loss, and never more than six years after the loss. Apply online or mail the signed application to Oregon State Bar, PO Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281; a lawyer is not required. |
Oregon rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Oregon's lemon law covers new passenger motor vehicles bought or leased in Oregon (or bought elsewhere and registered in Oregon) for personal, family or household use, including motorcycles and motor homes (but not their living-quarters components). The consumer must report each defect during the first two years or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first, and the manufacturer must receive direct written notice and a chance to fix it. If a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, market value or safety is not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or take it back and refund the full purchase or lease price and collateral charges, minus a use allowance. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed, within the two-year/24,000-mile period, if the same defect was repaired three or more times and continues, the vehicle was out of service 30 or more calendar days (60 for a motor home), or a defect likely to cause death or serious injury was subject to repair at least once plus a final attempt. If the manufacturer has a qualifying informal dispute program, the consumer must use it first; its decision binds the manufacturer but not the consumer. A court may award attorney fees and, if the manufacturer did not act in good faith, up to three times damages (capped at $50,000 above the refund or replacement). |
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| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report each defect to the manufacturer, its agent or an authorized dealer for repair within two years after original delivery or before the odometer reaches 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. 2) Written notice: the remedy is available only if the manufacturer has received direct written notice from or on behalf of the consumer and had an opportunity to correct the defect. A request for the manufacturer's informal dispute procedure counts as notice. For a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, the repair presumption can apply after one repair plus a final repair attempt by the manufacturer. 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) and has the consumer notified of it, the consumer must use it first before the refund-or-replacement remedy applies. A decision from that procedure binds the manufacturer but not the consumer. The Oregon Department of Justice may review the manufacturer's case records. 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 one year after the earliest of: the date the mileage reaches 24,000 miles, the end of the two-year period after original delivery, or the end of any extension for war, strike or natural disaster. The court may award attorney fees, expert fees and costs to a consumer who wins (ORS 646A.412). |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | Consumers can file a complaint online with the Oregon Department of Justice or call the Attorney General's Consumer Hotline at 1-877-877-9392, which is staffed by volunteers. The Department also offers a searchable Consumer Complaints Database showing previous complaints against companies. Online complaint form: https://justice.oregon.gov/consumercomplaints/ |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The Oregon State Bar's Legal Referral Service refers you to a lawyer near you (or near where help is needed) who may be able to help. Use the online referral request form or call 503-684-3763 (toll-free in Oregon 800-452-7636); staff work remotely and do not accept walk-ins. You must contact the lawyer within two business days to schedule an initial consultation of up to 30 minutes for a maximum fee of $50; additional fees are arranged directly with the lawyer. Participating attorneys charge for their services; the service does not offer free or pro bono attorneys. The bar's Modest Means Program offers reduced rates to eligible moderate-income Oregonians. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The Oregon State Bar's Licensee Directory can be searched by last name, first name, bar number or city (including previous names). The bar describes it as a convenience for finding licensees' contact information, not a complete listing; the Client Assistance Office says it also includes disciplinary history. A Good Standing Certificate can be ordered from the bar. Help: (503) 620-0222 x0, (800) 452-8260 x0 or info@osbar.org. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The Oregon State Bar's Client Assistance Office (CAO) reviews all complaints about lawyer and licensed paralegal conduct. Submit online with the ethics complaint form or mail a written complaint (no particular form required; send copies, not originals, on one side of each page) to Oregon State Bar, PO Box 231935, Tigard, OR 97281. The CAO sends a copy to the lawyer and gives you a copy of any written response; it dismisses complaints without enough basis or refers them to Disciplinary Counsel's Office for investigation, after which the State Professional Responsibility Board may dismiss, admonish or authorize formal charges. All documents the bar receives are considered public records. Disciplinary history is shown in the Licensee Directory, and records can be requested through the bar's public records portal. Phone: (503) 620-0222 or (800) 452-8260. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | The Oregon Judicial Department's Get Help page points people to Oregon Law Help for free legal information and help finding free or low-cost lawyers, and notes that many courts have family law facilitators who give free information and assistance to self-represented people in family law cases. LSC lists Legal Aid Services of Oregon as its Oregon grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Oregon · 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.