Connecticut lemon law: when your car is a lemon and how to claim
In Connecticut, a new car counts as a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem, 2 for a serious safety defect or 30 calendar days in the shop within the first 24 months or 24,000 miles. First, send the manufacturer a written notice: the free letter below does it.
Checked against official sources: Oct 22, 2026
Your next 4 steps in Connecticut
Keep every repair order
Get a written repair order at every visit, with the date, mileage and days in the shop. In Connecticut, a car is presumed a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem, 2 for a serious safety defect or 30 calendar days in the shop.
Send the manufacturer a written notice
You must notify the manufacturer in writing only if the warranty or owner's manual clearly says written notice is required; the manufacturer must give you the address to use. Write your notice letter ↓
Let the manufacturer make its final repair attempt
If the manufacturer asks for one more repair after your notice, take the car in and get a repair order.
Ask for a refund or replacement, use arbitration, or call a lawyer
If your manufacturer has a dispute program that meets the state’s rules (check your warranty booklet), you may have to use it first. See the Arbitration section below. If you win, the court can make the manufacturer pay your lawyer (see What you can get), so many lemon law lawyers charge nothing up front.
When a car is a lemon in Connecticut
Within 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever ends first), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists; or (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. A defect likely to cause death or serious injury is presumed unfixable after 2 or more repair attempts within the warranty term or the first year (whichever ends first). The defect must substantially impair the car's use, safety, or value, and at least one repair attempt must have been made (or refused) before you can make a claim.
Period: 2 years from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends first. You must report the defect within this period; for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, the 2 repair attempts must happen within the express warranty term or 1 year from delivery, whichever ends first.
Is your car a lemon in Connecticut? A quick check
Notice to the manufacturer
You must notify the manufacturer in writing only if the warranty or owner's manual clearly says written notice is required; the manufacturer must give you the address to use. To use the state arbitration program, the Department of Consumer Protection requires you to notify the manufacturer by mail or email that you intend to file, and upload a copy of that letter. If you lease, you must also tell the leasing company by certified or registered mail.
Arbitration
Maybe — check your warranty booklet for an arbitration program (e.g. BBB AUTO LINE). Connecticut runs its own arbitration program: you apply online, pay a $50 fee (the manufacturer may have to reimburse it if you win), and an independent arbitrator hears the case online, usually within 60 days. The decision is binding on both sides, subject to limited court appeal. You do not have to use it before suing, unless your manufacturer has its own dispute program certified by the Attorney General, which you must try first to get a refund or replacement.
What you can get
A new replacement vehicle acceptable to you, or a refund of the full contract price (including undercoating, dealer prep, transportation, and installed options), all collateral charges (sales tax, license and registration fees, similar government charges), finance charges incurred after you first reported the defect, and incidental damages. The manufacturer may subtract a use allowance: total contract price × (miles driven before the manufacturer accepts the car's return ÷ 120,000).
Attorney fees: Yes, at the court's discretion. In a warranty lawsuit against the manufacturer or dealer, the court may award you costs and reasonable attorney fees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-180).
Free lemon law notice letter
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Fill this in, download the letter, sign it and mail it to the manufacturer. Keep a copy.
Send it by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof, and keep the receipt.
Who to contact
- Office
- Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection, Lemon Law Program
- Phone
- 800-538-2277
What the law covers
- New vehicles
- Yes
- Used vehicles
- No
- Leased vehicles
- Yes
- Which vehicles
- New vehicles registered as passenger cars, combination (passenger and commercial) vehicles, or motorcycles that are bought or leased in Connecticut.
- Who can claim
- The buyer (not someone buying to resell), the lessee, anyone the vehicle is transferred to while the express warranty is still in effect, and anyone else entitled to enforce the warranty.
Used cars in Connecticut
The lemon law does not cover used cars, but Connecticut's used-car warranty law requires dealers to give a written warranty on parts and labor: 30 days or 1,500 miles for cars priced $3,000 to $4,999, and 60 days or 3,000 miles for $5,000 or more. Cars under $3,000 or 7 or more model years old are exempt (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-221).
Good to know
- Bought-back lemons must have 'MANUFACTURER BUYBACK-LEMON' stamped on the title, and the fact must be disclosed on the vehicle and in the sales or lease contract.
- Motorcycles are covered.
- If you sell the car after applying for state arbitration, you must tell the buyer about the pending case before the sale and notify the Department within 5 days.
Questions about Connecticut's lemon law
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Connecticut?
Within 2 years or 24,000 miles (whichever ends first), your car is presumed a lemon if: (1) the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists; or (2) the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. A defect likely to cause death or serious injury is presumed unfixable after 2 or more repair attempts within the warranty term or the first year (whichever ends first). The defect must substantially impair the car's use, safety, or value, and at least one repair attempt must have been made (or refused) before you can make a claim.
How long does Connecticut's lemon law cover a car?
2 years from original delivery or the first 24,000 miles, whichever ends first. You must report the defect within this period; for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, the 2 repair attempts must happen within the express warranty term or 1 year from delivery, whichever ends first.
Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Connecticut?
You must notify the manufacturer in writing only if the warranty or owner's manual clearly says written notice is required; the manufacturer must give you the address to use. To use the state arbitration program, the Department of Consumer Protection requires you to notify the manufacturer by mail or email that you intend to file, and upload a copy of that letter. If you lease, you must also tell the leasing company by certified or registered mail.
Do I have to go to arbitration in Connecticut?
Connecticut runs its own arbitration program: you apply online, pay a $50 fee (the manufacturer may have to reimburse it if you win), and an independent arbitrator hears the case online, usually within 60 days. The decision is binding on both sides, subject to limited court appeal. You do not have to use it before suing, unless your manufacturer has its own dispute program certified by the Attorney General, which you must try first to get a refund or replacement.
What can I get under Connecticut's lemon law?
A new replacement vehicle acceptable to you, or a refund of the full contract price (including undercoating, dealer prep, transportation, and installed options), all collateral charges (sales tax, license and registration fees, similar government charges), finance charges incurred after you first reported the defect, and incidental damages. The manufacturer may subtract a use allowance: total contract price × (miles driven before the manufacturer accepts the car's return ÷ 120,000).
Does Connecticut's lemon law cover used cars?
The lemon law does not cover used cars, but Connecticut's used-car warranty law requires dealers to give a written warranty on parts and labor: 30 days or 1,500 miles for cars priced $3,000 to $4,999, and 60 days or 3,000 miles for $5,000 or more. Cars under $3,000 or 7 or more model years old are exempt (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 42-221).
Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.
Federal warranty lawSources
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 743b, §§ 42-179 to 42-190 (Connecticut General Assembly)
- Conn. Gen. Stat. Chapter 743f, § 42-221 used car warranties (Connecticut General Assembly)
- Connecticut DCP – Lemon Law Program
- Connecticut DCP – Lemon Law Program Guide (PDF)
- Connecticut DCP – Lemon Law Application Materials
- Connecticut DCP – Requirements for Lemon Law Arbitration
Last checked: Oct 22, 2026.
Law: Connecticut Lemon Law (New Automobile Warranties Act), Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-179 to 42-190