Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in Rhode Island
The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under Rhode Island Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) (Supreme Court Rules, Article V), 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 clearly notify the client of expenses owed whether or not the client prevails, and 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. 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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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The Rhode Island Bar Association's Fee Arbitration program hears fee disputes between clients and attorneys (and between attorneys). It does not handle disputes over fees under $1,000; disputes of $1,000 to $1,500 are decided by one arbitrator on written submissions only. Both parties must agree in advance to be bound by the arbitration panel's decision; if the other side will not agree, no panel is appointed. Submit the signed, dated Arbitration of Fee Disputes Agreement & Petition in triplicate with original signatures to the Executive Director, 41 Sharpe Dr., Cranston, RI 02920; phone 401-421-5740. |
| If a lawyer takes your money | If a complaint involves alleged misappropriation of funds by a lawyer, you may file a statement of claim with the Rhode Island Bar Association's Client Reimbursement Fund; the Disciplinary Board itself cannot recover money. |
Rhode Island rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | Rhode Island's lemon law covers automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and vans with a registered gross vehicle weight under 10,000 pounds (not motorized campers), bought or leased. The "term of protection" is one year or 15,000 miles from delivery, whichever comes first. If a defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's use, market value or safety is reported during that term, the manufacturer must repair it even after the term ends. If it is not fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must take the vehicle back and, at the consumer's choice, refund the full contract or lease price (including trade-in credit) minus a use allowance, or replace it with a comparable new vehicle; refunds also cover sales tax, registration, finance charges and certain towing and rental costs. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed if the same defect was repaired four or more times, or the vehicle was out of service 30 or more calendar days, during the term of protection, with one final repair opportunity of up to seven days for the manufacturer. If the manufacturer has a qualifying informal dispute program it must be used first, but the consumer can still go to court. A winning consumer is awarded reasonable attorney's fees. A lawsuit must be filed within three years of delivery or two years after the vehicle reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier. Definitions and term of protection: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-5.2/31-5.2-1.htm ; presumption: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-5.2/31-5.2-5.htm |
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| Used cars | A dealer may not sell a used vehicle to a consumer without a written warranty covering major parts (engine, transmission, drive axle, brakes, radiator, steering, alternator, generator, starter and ignition). The minimum term is 60 days or 3,000 miles (whichever first) for vehicles with 36,000 miles or less, and 30 days or 1,000 miles for vehicles with more than 36,000 but not more than 100,000 miles. If the dealer cannot fix a covered defect that substantially impairs the vehicle's value within a reasonable time, the dealer must take it back and refund the purchase price, with certain adjustments. A dealer may sell a vehicle "as is" only by posting a large "NO WARRANTY AS TO CONDITION — SOLD AS IS" notice on the windshield and printing the waiver prominently on the bill of sale, initialed by both parties. The law does not apply to used vehicles sold for less than $1,500 or to registered classic cars. As-is notice rules: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-5.4/31-5.4-4.htm |
| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the problem to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer or lessor during the term of protection (one year or 15,000 miles from original delivery, whichever comes first). The law does not require a separate written notice from the consumer. 2) Final repair chance: after four repair attempts or 30 calendar days out of service, the manufacturer gets one more opportunity, of no more than seven calendar days, to fix the defect. 3) Arbitration: the consumer may choose either (a) the manufacturer's informal dispute program, if it complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. part 703) or is approved by the FTC or the Attorney General, or (b) the state Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board run by the Attorney General's office. If the manufacturer gave clear written notice of its program at delivery, the consumer must use one of these before the refund-or-replacement remedy applies. For the state board, the consumer files the Attorney General's complaint form with a nonrefundable $20 fee; the manufacturer pays $50. The board decides within 90 days after the dispute is found eligible, and the consumer has five days to accept or reject the decision. A manufacturer that loses must comply within 30 days or appeal to superior court with a bond. A decision from the manufacturer's program binds the manufacturer only if the consumer accepts it, and using it does not bar a lawsuit. 4) Deadline to sue: within three years after original delivery or within two years after the odometer reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier. That deadline is paused from the start of a dispute settlement procedure until 30 days after its final decision. A consumer who wins in court is awarded reasonable attorney's fees. Related sections read: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-5.2/31-5.2-7.htm and https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE31/31-5.2/31-5.2-12.htm. |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | Consumers can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Unit using the online form, or by calling 401-274-4400 (prompt 1). Complaints are handled in the order received; an investigator will contact the consumer, and complaints within another agency's jurisdiction are referred. The office says it helps resolve complaints against businesses, from small overcharges to amounts in the thousands of dollars, but cannot act as a consumer's private attorney. Overview: https://riag.ri.gov/what-we-do/protect-rhode-island-consumers |
Find and check a lawyer
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | The Rhode Island Supreme Court's Disciplinary Board and Office of Disciplinary Counsel handle complaints about attorney misconduct, and filing costs nothing. Call (401) 823-5710 to request a complaint form, or write a letter with your name, address and phone, the attorney's name, address and phone, and a description of the complaint, and send it to the Chief Disciplinary Counsel, Philip W. Noel Judicial Complex, 222 Quaker Lane, Room 1083, Warwick, RI 02886. Disciplinary Counsel checks whether the complaint is within the Board's authority, asks the attorney for a written response (you get a copy), investigates if warranted, and the Board authorizes formal charges or dismisses; for serious misconduct the Supreme Court may impose censure, suspension or disbarment. The Board cannot recover fees or damages. |
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Free legal help
| Free legal aid | Rhode Island Legal Services provides legal assistance and representation to low-income individuals and eligible client groups in Rhode Island. Apply online or call 401-274-2652 (Providence office) or 401-846-2264 (Newport office); the site also lists 800-662-5034; submitting an application does not guarantee help, and if you appear to qualify RILS will contact you to verify the information and decide whether it can assist. LSC lists Rhode Island Legal Services as its Rhode Island grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in Rhode Island · 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.