Hiring a Lemon Law Lawyer in South Carolina
The South Carolina 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 South Carolina: fee rules
| Rules on contingency fees | Under South Carolina Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5(c) (Rule 407, SCACR), 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 any expenses the client will be expected to pay, 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 (though a contingency fee may be charged to collect past-due alimony or child support), and contingent fees for defending a criminal case. |
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| If you disagree with a lawyer's bill | The South Carolina Bar's Resolution of Fee Disputes Board (created by Rule 416, SCACR) resolves fee, cost and disbursement disputes between clients and Bar members. It will not take disputes of $50,000 or more or fees that must be approved by a court or other tribunal, and a dispute cannot be filed more than three years after it arose. Apply with the Bar's Application for Resolution of Disputed Fee, attaching copies (not originals) of supporting documents. For low-level misunderstandings not involving ethics violations, the Bar's Client Assistance Program can help. Rule 416 limits: https://www.sccourts.org/resources/judicial-community/court-rules/appellate/rule-416/rule-2/ |
| If a lawyer takes your money | The South Carolina Bar's Lawyers' Fund for Client Protection (Rule 411, SCACR) reimburses losses caused by a Bar member's dishonest conduct when the lawyer has died, been disbarred or suspended, resigned, been declared incompetent, gone bankrupt, left the state or cannot be found, or become a judgment debtor for that conduct. Payments are a matter of grace, not right, up to $40,000 per claim and $200,000 total per attorney. The application must reach the Bar within three years after you discovered (or should have discovered) the dishonest conduct, and no application is considered more than six years after the conduct. Application: https://www.scbar.org/for-the-public/quicklinks/help-with-your-attorney/ |
South Carolina rules to know first
| Lemon law for new cars | South Carolina's lemon law covers new private passenger vehicles and motorcycles (including three-wheel motorcycles) sold and registered in the state for personal, family or household use, excluding the living portion of recreational vehicles and off-road vehicles. If a vehicle does not conform to its warranty within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first, and the consumer reports it during the warranty, the manufacturer must make the repairs at no cost. If a defect that substantially impairs use, market value or safety cannot be fixed after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or, at its option, refund the full purchase price including finance charges, taxes and government fees, minus a use allowance based on miles driven before the first report. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed if the same defect was repaired three or more times, or the vehicle was out of service 30 or more calendar days during the warranty. Before using the law, the consumer must give the manufacturer written notice (by registered, certified or express mail) and a final repair opportunity of up to 10 business days, if the manufacturer disclosed this requirement at sale. If the manufacturer has a qualifying dispute program, the consumer must use it first. A lawsuit must be filed within three years of delivery, and a winning consumer may recover costs and attorney's fees. |
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| How to make a lemon law claim | 1) Report the problem to the manufacturer or its agent during the express warranty term; the defect must arise within the first 12 months or 12,000 miles, whichever comes first. 2) Written notice and final repair attempt: if the manufacturer clearly told the consumer about this requirement at the time of sale, the consumer must give the manufacturer written notice of the need for repair, sent by registered, certified or express mail, before using the lemon law. Within 10 business days the manufacturer must direct the consumer to a reasonably accessible franchised dealer's repair facility, and once the vehicle is delivered there, it gets a final repair period of no more than 10 business days. If that fails, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price. 3) Arbitration: after the consumer reports that the vehicle still is not fixed, the manufacturer must say whether it has an informal dispute settlement procedure. If it has one that substantially complies with federal rules (16 C.F.R. part 703), or takes part in a panel whose decisions bind it, the consumer must first use that procedure, or the alternate state procedure, before the refund-or-replacement remedy applies. The Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs may set up a state arbitration board for manufacturers without a qualifying program; its cost is paid by the manufacturer. 4) Deadline to sue: a lawsuit must be filed within three years after the vehicle was originally delivered to the consumer. A consumer who wins in court may be allowed to recover costs and attorney's fees (§ 56-28-50(D)). |
| Where to file a consumer complaint | The South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs (SCDCA) processes and mediates written consumer complaints and encourages consumers to contact the business first. Complaints can be filed through the online complaint portal or on a paper form mailed to PO Box 5757, Columbia, SC 29250. SCDCA refers complaints that belong to other agencies, and its online database lets the public search complaints filed since 2014. Staff can be reached at (800) 922-1594 (toll free in South Carolina) or 803-734-4200. |
Find and check a lawyer
| Lawyer referral service | The South Carolina Bar's Lawyer Referral Service (LRS) connects you with a lawyer by type of law and location. Call (803) 799-7100 (9 a.m.-noon and 1-5 p.m., Monday-Friday) or use the online referral service 24/7. Each participating lawyer agrees to charge no more than $50 for a 30-minute consultation; beyond that, or if you hire the lawyer, normal fees apply. LRS lawyers do not take pro bono cases. |
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| Check that the lawyer is licensed | The South Carolina Judicial Branch's attorney search lets you search for attorneys licensed to practice law in South Carolina by first name, last name or bar number; a successful search gives the attorney's name, phone number, address and email address. |
| Check discipline history or file a complaint | Complaints about South Carolina lawyers go to the Supreme Court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel (ODC); the South Carolina Bar does not license, investigate or discipline attorneys. A complaint must be in writing and signed by the person making it, fully identify the lawyer, describe what happened in detail with copies of supporting documents, and include your contact information; the ODC form is optional. File by mail to Office of Disciplinary Counsel, Post Office Box 12159, Columbia, SC 29211, or by hand delivery to 1220 Senate Street, Suite 201, Columbia, SC 29201. Email is not accepted. |
Free legal help
| Free legal aid | People who cannot afford a lawyer may qualify for help from South Carolina Legal Services, which offers an online intake form (through LawHelp.org/SC) to check eligibility for legal aid. The SC Bar also points to SC Free Legal Answers, a virtual clinic where qualifying users can post civil legal questions to volunteer lawyers. LSC lists South Carolina Legal Services as its South Carolina grantee. LSC grantee list: https://www.lsc.gov/about-lsc/our-grantees |
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All legal help in South Carolina · 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.