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Maryland lemon law: when your car is a lemon and how to claim

In Maryland, a new car counts as a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem, 1 for a serious safety defect or 30 days in the shop within the first 24 months or 18,000 miles. First, send the manufacturer a written notice: the free letter below does it.

Checked against official sources: Oct 22, 2026

24 mo / 18,000 milemon law period
4 triesrepairs for the same problem
30 daysout of service
Optionalarbitration or state process before suing
3 years from deliverydeadline to sue or file
Get your letter ↓

Your next 4 steps in Maryland

  1. Keep every repair order

    Get a written repair order at every visit, with the date, mileage and days in the shop. In Maryland, a car is presumed a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem, 1 for a serious safety defect or 30 days in the shop.

  2. Send the manufacturer a written notice

    During the 24-month/18,000-mile period, you must report the defect to the manufacturer or factory branch in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and give it a chance to fix it. Write your notice letter ↓

  3. Let the manufacturer make its final repair attempt

    The manufacturer then has 30 days from receiving your letter to complete repairs.

  4. Ask for a refund or replacement, use arbitration, or call a lawyer

    Arbitration is optional in Maryland. 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 Maryland

Within 24 months or 18,000 miles, your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists; if the vehicle has been out of service for repairs of one or more defects for a total of 30 or more days; or if a brake or steering failure was repaired once, the manufacturer was notified and given a chance to fix it, and the vehicle still fails Maryland's safety inspection standards. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value. After you notify the manufacturer, it has 30 days to fix the problem.

Period: The first 24 months after original delivery to the consumer or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Is your car a lemon in Maryland? A quick check

Maryland: The first 24 months after original delivery to the consumer or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Fill in what you knowThe result updates as you type.

A rough guide to Maryland’s presumption, not legal advice. Even if your car falls short, you may still have a claim under your warranty or federal law.

Notice to the manufacturer

During the 24-month/18,000-mile period, you must report the defect to the manufacturer or factory branch in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and give it a chance to fix it. The manufacturer then has 30 days from receiving your letter to complete repairs. The Attorney General recommends writing as soon as you suspect a lemon and sending a copy with a complaint form to the Consumer Protection Division.

Write your notice letter below.

Arbitration

Optional. Maryland has no state-run lemon arbitration. If the manufacturer offers a federally compliant dispute program, using it is optional; its decision binds only the manufacturer, and you can still sue.

Deadline to sue or file in Maryland

You must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the original delivery of the vehicle to the consumer (Com. Law § 14-1502(k)).

Enter the delivery date to see the date.

What you can get

At your choice, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one acceptable to you, or take it back and refund the full purchase price including license fees, registration fees and similar government charges. It may deduct a reasonable use allowance of no more than 15% of the purchase price, plus an allowance for damage beyond normal wear (not damage caused by the defect). The excise (titling) tax you paid is refunded to you by the Motor Vehicle Administration (based on the purchase price refunded), or credited toward a replacement vehicle (Com. Law § 14-1503).

Attorney fees: A court may award reasonable attorney fees to a consumer who wins (Com. Law § 14-1502(l)).

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.

Maryland law says to send this notice by certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep the receipt.

On your registration, insurance card or the driver’s side of the dashboard. A VIN never uses I, O or Q.

Find it in your warranty booklet or owner's manual (look for 'Customer Assistance').

Other formats

Who to contact

Office
Maryland Office of the Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division
Phone
410-528-8662

Official page · Official lemon law guide

Forms

What the law covers

New vehicles
Yes
Used vehicles
No
Leased vehicles
Yes
Which vehicles
New vehicles registered in Maryland as passenger cars, motorcycles, multipurpose vehicles, or trucks with a manufacturer's rated capacity of 3/4 ton or less. Motor homes are not covered. Fleet purchases of 5 or more vehicles are not covered.
Who can claim
The buyer of a new vehicle (not for resale), anyone the vehicle is transferred to while the warranty still applies, and anyone else entitled to enforce the warranty. A later owner can claim if the vehicle is still within 24 months and 18,000 miles.

Used cars in Maryland

Maryland's lemon law covers only new vehicles, but a later owner gets the same rights while the vehicle is within 24 months and 18,000 miles of original delivery. A lemon buyback resold through a Maryland dealer must come with a written disclosure that it was returned and why.

Used car rules in every state

Good to know

  • If a manufacturer acted in bad faith, the court may award you up to $10,000 in extra damages (Com. Law § 14-1504(b)).
  • When the vehicle is returned, the Motor Vehicle Administration refunds the excise tax you paid, or credits it toward a replacement vehicle (Com. Law § 14-1503).
  • Dealers must notify the manufacturer by certified mail (copy to the MVA) when your vehicle comes in a fourth time for the same defect or has been out of service 20 days (Com. Law § 14-1502(f)).

Questions about Maryland's lemon law

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Maryland?

Within 24 months or 18,000 miles, your vehicle is presumed a lemon if the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists; if the vehicle has been out of service for repairs of one or more defects for a total of 30 or more days; or if a brake or steering failure was repaired once, the manufacturer was notified and given a chance to fix it, and the vehicle still fails Maryland's safety inspection standards. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value. After you notify the manufacturer, it has 30 days to fix the problem.

How long does Maryland's lemon law cover a car?

The first 24 months after original delivery to the consumer or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.

Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Maryland?

During the 24-month/18,000-mile period, you must report the defect to the manufacturer or factory branch in writing by certified mail, return receipt requested, and give it a chance to fix it. The manufacturer then has 30 days from receiving your letter to complete repairs. The Attorney General recommends writing as soon as you suspect a lemon and sending a copy with a complaint form to the Consumer Protection Division.

Do I have to go to arbitration in Maryland?

Maryland has no state-run lemon arbitration. If the manufacturer offers a federally compliant dispute program, using it is optional; its decision binds only the manufacturer, and you can still sue.

What can I get under Maryland's lemon law?

At your choice, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable one acceptable to you, or take it back and refund the full purchase price including license fees, registration fees and similar government charges. It may deduct a reasonable use allowance of no more than 15% of the purchase price, plus an allowance for damage beyond normal wear (not damage caused by the defect). The excise (titling) tax you paid is refunded to you by the Motor Vehicle Administration (based on the purchase price refunded), or credited toward a replacement vehicle (Com. Law § 14-1503).

Is there a deadline to file a lemon law claim in Maryland?

You must file a lawsuit within 3 years of the original delivery of the vehicle to the consumer (Com. Law § 14-1502(k)).

Does Maryland's lemon law cover used cars?

Maryland's lemon law covers only new vehicles, but a later owner gets the same rights while the vehicle is within 24 months and 18,000 miles of original delivery. A lemon buyback resold through a Maryland dealer must come with a written disclosure that it was returned and why.

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 law

Sources

Last checked: Oct 22, 2026.

Law: Maryland Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act (Maryland Lemon Law), Md. Code, Com. Law §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504

Other states