Organize Your Evidence for a Lemon Law Claim
Your car has been in the shop four times for the same problem. The dealer keeps saying it's fixed. The manufacturer won't return your calls. Now you need every repair order, every email, and every day-out-of-service record organized for an arbitrator or judge who has never seen your case before.
- The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. section 2301) allows consumers to sue for breach of warranty in federal court when the amount in controversy exceeds $50,000, or in state court with no minimum.
- California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civ. Code section 1793.2) presumes a vehicle is a lemon after 2 repair attempts for a safety defect, 4 attempts for the same non-safety defect, or 30 cumulative days out of service.
- Most state lemon laws require 3 or more repair attempts for the same substantial defect OR 30 or more cumulative days out of service during the warranty period.
- Repair orders are the single most important document in a lemon law case because they establish the number of attempts, the nature of the defect, and total days out of service.
- Many state lemon law programs include manufacturer-sponsored arbitration where consumers present evidence directly to an arbitrator without an attorney.
- ExhibitPrep processes all vehicle records, purchase agreements, and financial documents in the browser -- nothing is uploaded to any server.
- New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have separate used car lemon laws with their own repair attempt thresholds and mileage limits distinct from new vehicle protections.
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Lemon Law Evidence Types
Repair orders and invoices
- Service records showing each visit for the same defect
- Date, mileage at drop-off, and complaint description
- Dealer's diagnosis and what work was performed
- Pick-up date showing total days out of service
Dealer and manufacturer correspondence
- Emails and letters requesting repairs or buyback
- Manufacturer denial or delay responses
- Buyback or replacement offer letters
- Text messages with service advisors
Vehicle purchase documents
- Purchase or lease agreement with VIN
- Window sticker (Monroney label)
- Financing or loan documents
- Title and registration
Photos and videos of defects
- Photos of the defect with date and mileage visible
- Videos showing the problem occurring (printed as stills)
- Dashboard warning light photos
- Screenshots of diagnostic codes from OBD scanners
Warranty documents
- Original manufacturer warranty booklet
- Extended warranty or service contract
- Technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the defect
- Recall notices related to the vehicle
Timeline and mileage logs
- Chronological log of each repair attempt with dates
- Mileage at each drop-off and pick-up
- Running total of cumulative days out of service
- Rental car receipts showing transportation costs
For vehicle owners and for the attorneys who represent them
For vehicle owners
You've been back to the dealer three, four, five times. The same rattle, the same warning light, the same transmission problem. You need to show an arbitrator the pattern -- and that means getting your repair orders, emails, and photos in order.
- Turn repair orders and receipts into numbered exhibits
- Build a chronological repair history for the arbitrator
- Combine all documents into one binder with a table of contents
- Print copies for the arbitrator, the manufacturer, and yourself
For lemon law attorneys
Your clients walk in with a folder of repair orders, a phone full of photos, and emails they never printed. You need to get 20 to 50 documents exhibit-stamped and organized before arbitration. Fast.
- Batch stamp dozens of repair orders and correspondence at once
- Create combined binders with table of contents for arbitration
- Consistent formatting across multiple vehicle defect cases
- No server uploads -- client financial and vehicle records stay local
Your vehicle records and financial documents never leave your device
ExhibitPrep runs entirely in your browser. Purchase agreements, loan documents, repair invoices, warranty records -- none of it touches a server. No cloud upload, no third-party storage, no account required. Your VIN, financial details, and personal information stay on your device from upload through download.
When you might not need this
If your car had one problem and the dealer fixed it on the second try, that's not a lemon law case. But if you're on repair attempt number four for the same transmission shudder, with 45 days out of service and a stack of repair orders the manufacturer claims they never received, organized exhibits are how you prove the pattern. Arbitrators and judges decide lemon law cases on documentation, not stories.
Batch stamp lemon law exhibits
Watch how to stamp multiple documents -- repair orders, dealer emails, warranty records -- in a single session.
Get your lemon law exhibits ready
Upload your repair records and stamp them in minutes. $4.99 per session, no subscription required. Your files never leave your browser.
Lemon law claim FAQ
What qualifies as a lemon under federal and state law?
Under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. section 2301), a vehicle with a defect that the manufacturer cannot fix after a reasonable number of attempts may qualify for a refund or replacement. Most state lemon laws set specific thresholds: California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Civil Code section 1793.2) presumes a lemon after 2 or more repair attempts for a safety defect, 4 or more attempts for the same non-safety defect, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service during the warranty period.
What documents do I need for a lemon law claim?
A lemon law claim requires repair orders showing each visit for the same defect, the original purchase or lease agreement, warranty documents, correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer, photographs or videos of the defect, a mileage log showing days out of service, and any written buyback or replacement offers. The repair orders are the most important evidence because they document the number of attempts and the total time the vehicle spent in the shop.
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon?
The threshold varies by state. A common standard is 3 or more repair attempts for the same substantial defect, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service within the warranty period. California requires 2 attempts for safety defects or 4 for non-safety defects under Civil Code section 1793.2(d). Some states also have a catch-all provision if the vehicle has been out of service for a total of 30 days regardless of the number of visits.
Can I file a lemon law claim without an attorney?
Yes. Many state lemon law programs include manufacturer-sponsored arbitration that does not require an attorney. You present your repair records and correspondence to an arbitrator who decides whether the vehicle qualifies. ExhibitPrep stamps your documents with sequential exhibit numbers and can combine them into a single binder with a table of contents, which helps arbitrators follow your case without legal formatting experience.
Are my vehicle documents safe in ExhibitPrep?
Yes. ExhibitPrep processes all files in your browser. Repair orders, purchase agreements, warranty documents, and dealer correspondence are never uploaded to any server. Your files stay on your device from upload through download. This matters for lemon law cases where documents may contain personal financial information, VIN numbers, and loan details.
Does the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act cover used cars?
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. section 2301) covers any consumer product sold with a written warranty, including used vehicles with remaining manufacturer warranty or a dealer-issued warranty. Most state lemon laws apply only to new vehicles, but some states like New York, New Jersey, and Massachusetts have separate used car lemon laws with their own repair attempt thresholds and mileage limits.
Related resources
Lemon Law Exhibit Checklist
Free document checklist for lemon claims
Pro Se Lemon Law Guide
Prepare exhibits without an attorney
Insurance Claims Exhibits
Related insurance documentation
Small Claims Exhibit Guide
Evidence for small claims court
Batch Exhibit Stamping
Stamp multiple documents at once
Trial Binder Mode
Create binders with table of contents