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Lemon Law Attorneys New Jersey
Work with the Top-Rated lemon law and consumer protection lawyers in New Jersey
How is a Lemon Vehicle Defined in New Jersey?
The lemon law in New Jersey specifies that a vehicle earns the “lemon” label if it has a significant defect. Under New Jersey’s lemon law, the defect has to impact the vehicle’s safety, value, or usability. In addition, the issue needs to remain unresolved after multiple repair attempts.
Specifically, New Jersey’s lemon law specifies that the defect must persist after three repair attempts by the manufacturer or dealer to fix it, or if the vehicle is out of commission for a total of 20 or more calendar days due to repairs.
Eligible Vehicles
The law covers new passenger vehicles purchased, leased, or registered in New Jersey, including cars, light trucks, motorhomes (excluding the living quarters), and motorcycles. If you’ve leased a vehicle, you’re just as protected as someone who bought outright.
Used vehicles fall under a separate New Jersey Used Car Lemon Law, and commercial vehicles or purely recreational parts of motorhomes don’t qualify for lemon law protection in New Jersey.
Time and Mileage Limits
To be eligible, you must notify the manufacturer or dealer of the defect within the first 24,000 miles or two years from the date you took delivery of the vehicle—whichever happens first.
Think you have a lemon, click here to fill out a 30 second form.
How to File a Lemon Law Claim in New Jersey
Steps to Take
Send a written notice to the manufacturer or dealer via certified mail after two repair attempts (or one attempt for a serious safety defect), giving them one last opportunity to fix the defect. If they fail, you can escalate the issue by filing through their dispute resolution program (if they offer one) or heading straight to court with your case. Your lemon law attorney in New Jersey can handle all of this for you.
Evidence You’ll Need
You’ll need solid proof to back up your claim, so collect every repair order, warranty document, and a detailed log of each repair attempt. Be sure to include dates, mileage, and what went wrong. Photos of the defect or correspondence with the dealer can also strengthen your case. Your attorney will help navigate this process.
Deadlines
Reporting Deadline: You must report the issue within the first 24 months of ownership or before the vehicle hits 24,000 miles, whichever comes first. This step is crucial because it starts the process and keeps your protections active.
Lawsuit Filing Deadline: If the manufacturer or dealer can’t fix the defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you may need to file a lawsuit. In New Jersey, you have six years to do this. This six-year clock doesn’t begin until after the manufacturer has had a fair chance to repair the vehicle and fails.
Remedies Under New Jersey’s Lemon Law
Your Options
If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the lemon law in New Jersey allows you to choose from: a full refund; a replacement vehicle of the same make and model; or sometimes a cash settlement.
What You Get
Refund: A refund covers the full purchase price, including taxes, registration fees, and any payments you’ve made on a loan, though the manufacturer might subtract a small amount for the miles you’ve driven.
Replacement: Opting for a replacement means you’ll typically receive a brand-new vehicle identical to the one you had, without any additional cost to you.
Manufacturer’s Role
The manufacturer bears the responsibility of providing your refund or replacement and can’t add extra fees. If you win your case, they’re also required to cover your attorney fees and legal costs.
For more information on arbitration and other frequently asked lemon law questions, click here
Unique Features of New Jersey’s Lemon Law
New Jersey’s Used Car Lemon Law protects buyers of used vehicles from a licensed dealer that are under seven years old and with fewer than 100,000 miles. The vehicle must be purchased for $3,000 or more. If you win your case, the manufacturer must pay the fees for your lemon law attorney in New Jersey.
The Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act can give your lemon law attorneys in New Jersey a broader window for pursuing your lemon law claim. Federal claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act are allowed up to 4 years from the date of purchase. Your lemon law lawyers in New Jersey will review your circumstances and determine if you can potentially gain compensation using this federal law instead of, or in addition to, your state’s lemon laws.
A key provision of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is that it requires manufacturers to pay successful claimants’ attorneys fees
Trust Allen Stewart, P.C. for Expert Lemon Law Representation
At Allen Stewart, P.C., we provide the expertise and experience you need to win your New Jersey lemon law case. Whether through settlement discussions, arbitration, or courtroom proceedings, we will fight to secure the compensation you’re entitled to.
Time is of the essence to help build a strong case for you and maximize your opportunity to gain just compensation. Thanks to federal law, our clients pay nothing out of pocket, so contact us now (866-440-2460) for a free consultation.
Navigating New Jersey’s Lemon Law
Resources
- State-Specific Resources: The New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs can answer your questions.
- Legal Representation: For a free consultation regarding your lemon law claim, contact Allen Stewart, P.C. (866-440-2460).
New Jersey Lemon Law FAQs
Will the manufacturer pay my legal fees under NJ Lemon Law? -
Yes, the manufacturer must pay your attorney’s fees and other fees, which might include towing, and expert witness fees.
How do I know if my Lemon Law lawyer is experienced with NJ-specific cases? +
Research their credentials regarding NJ cases. There’s a difference between a consumer lawyer and a lemon law attorney. For a lemon law claim, it’s important to hire an actual lemon law attorney.
Will a Lemon Law attorney negotiate directly with the manufacturer for me? +
Yes, the attorney will represent you and negotiate directly with the manufacturer and handle all correspondence.
Can a Lemon Law attorney in NJ also help with warranty breach or fraud cases? +
Your New Jersey lemon law attorney can help with a number of vehicle-related cases, including warranty breach and fraud, such as fraud regarding vehicle sales.
Can I use Lemon Law to get compensation for time lost without a working vehicle? +
Your lemon law attorney may be able to pursue this for you. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, may, depending on your situation, help you recover damages for loss of use, inconvenience, and more.
Are commercial vehicles eligible for Lemon Law protection in New Jersey? +
Only personal vehicles or motorcycles leased or purchased in New Jersey are covered. Commercial vehicles and the living sections of motor homes are excluded.
How does the New Jersey Used Car Lemon Law differ from the New Car Lemon Law? +
The new car lemon law in New Jersey states:
A new motor vehicle must exhibit a serious warranty defect that is unrepairable by the dealer or manufacturer. The New Jersey lemon law covers you through the first two years from the date of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever occurs first.
The New Jersey used car lemon law applies to used passenger cars, minivans, pick-up trucks, and SUVs purchased from a licensed New Jersey dealership. It covers vehicles that are:
- 7 years old or less at the time of purchase.
- Purchased for $3,000 or more.
- The vehicle should have less than 100,000 miles on it.
- The law doesn’t cover bikes, RVs, off-roaders, work trucks, rentals, or salvage vehicles.
- Dealers provide the warranty; unlike the new car law, which is based on the manufacturer’s warranty.
What happens if my vehicle’s defect occurs after the 24-month/24,000-mile period? +
Your lemon law attorney can potentially pursue your claim using the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act. It is not a federal lemon law but can potentially provide a remedy that may help you in these situations.
What types of defects qualify for a Lemon Law claim in New Jersey? +
Substantial defects that greatly affect the use, value or safety of your vehicle are the criteria for pursuing a lemon law claim.
Are there any proposed changes to New Jersey’s Lemon Law regulations? +
Legiscan.com does not return any search results on bills specifically amending the New Car Lemon Law or Used Car Lemon Law, within 2025, as of May 2025. The last three bills listed were from 2024, including two prohibiting certain used “as is” sales, and one regarding invalidation of contracts which require a waiver of right to file a consumer complaint.
Is there a push for a national Lemon Law to standardize protections across states? +
The idea of a federal Lemon Law to unify state-specific laws has been discussed sporadically over the years, driven by variations in state protections and consumer advocacy, but as of May 2025 there is no direct push for a federal law.
What are the key legal strategies used by Lemon Law attorneys to win cases? +
The first point your attorney will determine is if your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under New Jersey law. What the attorney will then pursue when protecting your rights under the lemon law is to satisfy the burden of proof, which includes proving through documentation, repair records, expert testimony, and more evidence that your claim of a substantial defect is valid.
How much does a New Jersey Lemon Law attorney cost? Is legal representation free? +
There is no upfront cost for a New Jersey lemon law attorney. Under New Jersey lemon law, if you win your case, the manufacturer is required to pay your attorney’s fees. This applies to both new and used car lemon law cases.
Can I file a Lemon Law claim if my vehicle has intermittent issues? +
Yes, you can file a claim for intermittent issues. New Jersey’s lemon law protects consumers against dealers who may claim that they can’t get the vehicle to demonstrate the problem at a specific time.
What happens if the manufacturer refuses to comply with a Lemon Law ruling? +
The New Jersey Commission of Consumer Affairs states: “If the manufacturer fails to comply with the final decision, you should notify the Division of Consumer Affairs’ Lemon Law Unit immediately. A manufacturer can be penalized $5,000 per day for each day it “unreasonably” fails to comply.”
Is a recall issue enough to trigger Lemon Law protections in NJ? +
A recall itself is not enough to trigger lemon law protections in New Jersey. A substantial defect that affects the vehicle’s use, value or safety must exist.
How are Lemon Law claims affected by supply chain delays or lack of replacement parts? +
Supply chain delays can cause lemon law claims to rise, even if it isn’t the dealer or manufacturer’s fault that parts are unavailable. It’s recommended that you consult a lemon law attorney to work out the details of a potential claim, depending on your circumstances.