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

In Utah, a new car counts as a lemon after 4 repairs for the same problem or 30 business days in the shop within the first 12 months. First, send the manufacturer a written notice: the free letter below does it.

Checked against official sources: Oct 22, 2026

12 monthslemon law period
4 triesrepairs for the same problem
30 business daysout of service
Maybecheck your warranty booklet for an arbitration program (e.g. BBB AUTO LINE)
Get your letter ↓

Your next 4 steps in Utah

  1. Keep every repair order

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

  2. Send the manufacturer a written notice

    The statute does not require a special written notice. Write your notice letter ↓

  3. No extra final repair attempt

    Utah's statute does not give the manufacturer a separate final repair attempt.

  4. 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 Utah

Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery (whichever is earlier), the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, market value or safety. Utah's statute does not give the manufacturer a separate final repair attempt.

Period: The term of the manufacturer's express warranty or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. You must report the defect within that time.

Is your car a lemon in Utah? A quick check

Utah: The term of the manufacturer's express warranty or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. You must report the defect within that time.

Count only business days, as Utah’s law does.

Fill in what you knowThe result updates as you type.

A rough guide to Utah’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

The statute does not require a special written notice. You must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or a dealer within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery, whichever is earlier.

Write your notice letter below.

Arbitration

Maybe — check your warranty booklet for an arbitration program (e.g. BBB AUTO LINE). If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that meets federal rules (16 CFR Part 703), you must use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law. Before you sue, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection must investigate and evaluate your claim.

What you can get

The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable new one, or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use. The use allowance covers your use before you first reported the defect and any later time the vehicle was not out of service for repair. Refunds go to you and any lienholder or lessor as their interests appear.

Attorney fees: Yes, a court may award attorney fees to the prevailing party in a lawsuit you bring under the act (13-20-6(4)); note this can cut both ways.

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.

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
Utah Division of Consumer Protection
Phone
801-530-6601

Official page · Official lemon law guide

Forms

What the law covers

New vehicles
Yes
Used vehicles
No
Leased vehicles
Yes
Which vehicles
New cars and other motor vehicles sold in Utah, motorcycles built mainly for paved roads, and the self-propelled vehicle and chassis of a motor home. Not covered: the living quarters of a motor home, road or truck tractors, mobile homes, vehicles with a gross laden weight over 14,000 pounds (motor homes and farm tractors excepted), off-road motorcycles, e-bikes, mopeds and motor-assisted scooters. New recreational vehicle trailers get a separate mediation right (13-20-8).
Who can claim
An individual who buys or leases a new motor vehicle (not for resale or sublease), including someone the vehicle is transferred to during the lemon-law period.

Used cars in Utah

Utah's lemon law covers only new vehicles. The Division of Consumer Protection notes there is no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase, and returns are allowed only if the seller's own policy permits them.

Used car rules in every state

Good to know

  • You can sue under the lemon law only after the Division of Consumer Protection has investigated and evaluated your claim (13-20-6(1)).
  • Buyers of new travel trailers, camping trailers and fifth wheels with roof, subfloor or wall defects that persist after 4 repair attempts can demand free mediation paid for by the manufacturer (13-20-8).
  • Dealers are generally not liable under the act; the claim is against the manufacturer.

Questions about Utah's lemon law

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

Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery (whichever is earlier), the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and still exists, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use, market value or safety. Utah's statute does not give the manufacturer a separate final repair attempt.

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

The term of the manufacturer's express warranty or 1 year from original delivery, whichever ends first. You must report the defect within that time.

Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Utah?

The statute does not require a special written notice. You must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or a dealer within the warranty term or 1 year from delivery, whichever is earlier.

Do I have to go to arbitration in Utah?

If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that meets federal rules (16 CFR Part 703), you must use it before you can get a refund or replacement under the lemon law. Before you sue, the Utah Division of Consumer Protection must investigate and evaluate your claim.

What can I get under Utah's lemon law?

The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable new one, or take it back and refund the full purchase price, including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for your use. The use allowance covers your use before you first reported the defect and any later time the vehicle was not out of service for repair. Refunds go to you and any lienholder or lessor as their interests appear.

Does Utah's lemon law cover used cars?

Utah's lemon law covers only new vehicles. The Division of Consumer Protection notes there is no 3-day right to cancel a car purchase, and returns are allowed only if the seller's own policy permits them.

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: New Motor Vehicles Warranties Act (Utah Lemon Law), Utah Code §§ 13-20-1 to 13-20-8

Other states