A lemonlaw is a kind of law that protects users from getting vehicles with defects which are irreversible, against to the warranty. Back in 1972, when customers demanded for the protection of the law, it was found that nearly 1 million users were in the line to be paid for irreversible defects in their vehicles. Connecticut and California were the first states to adopt an automobile law, and other states were quick to follow. Today, with the high accountability demanded by the laws, that number has reduced to about 100,000 new cases a year.

Though every American state has a lemon law, the particulars of each law vary widely. As a general rule, you are a candidate for security under the law if you have a major problem (or, in some cases, a list of minor problems) that falls under your car warranty. Decrease in the value or usability is the criteria to make a decision whether the problem is serious or not. The usual type of defect, covered by the law, are brake failure, problem with gear shifting, and standard starting problems of the vehicles. But the law does not cover the small type of flaws like noise problems or fading away of paint etc.

Another important factor is the kind of vehicle you are driving under the automobile lemon law. In certain states, the law provides protection to both the rented as well as purchased vehicles. In some States vehicles bought for business purpose and motorbikes are excluded from the sphere of the law but it includes second hand vehicles that are within the warranty period.

To avoid the fear of the law specific unethical automotive makers try to include provisions in the sale contract, excluding the protection of the law but this does not have any effect, as this kind of clause is void from the beginning.

Before going for security and chatting to a lemon law attorney, it is important to give the automobile manufacturer a chance to solve the problem. In most cases, this is defined as a specific number of repair attempts (for example, four attempts to repair the same problem) or a certain period of time when the automobile is out of commission (for example, four weeks). A serious vehicular defect may require only one attempt to repair before falling under the law.

If all the requirements to file a claim, are fulfilled you can file the claim with a lemon law lawyer within the prescribed time. In a number of states, the case will then be brought for arbitration with the manufacturer. If the judgment is in your favor then you might get either a substitute vehicle or a refund deducting the charges for the period the automobile was used.