Key takeaways
- Protection period: the express warranty term or one year from original delivery to the consumer, whichever is earlier.
- Repair attempts: same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period.
- Days out of service: cumulative total of 45 or more calendar days out of service by reason of repair.
- Deadline: suit must be filed within 3 years from the date of purchase or 1 year from the end of the warranty period, whichever is longer.
- The law is La. R.S. 51:1941 to 51:1948. Read it with your repair orders and your warranty in front of you.
On this page
Louisiana's lemon law is La. R.S. 51:1941 to 51:1948, the Louisiana Motor Vehicle Warranties law (Lemon Law), La. R.S. Title 51, Chapter 27. It gives owners a remedy when the manufacturer can't fix a warranty defect after a fair chance. This page sums up the main rules as written in the statute, with links to the official text. Use it to check your dates and your repair visits, then talk to a lawyer about your own records.
Louisiana lemon law at a glance
| Statute | La. R.S. 51:1941 to 51:1948 |
|---|---|
| Official name | Louisiana Motor Vehicle Warranties law (Lemon Law), La. R.S. Title 51, Chapter 27 |
| Vehicles covered | New passenger and passenger/commercial motor vehicles sold in Louisiana, plus personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles used exclusively for personal purposes. Excludes vehicles 10,000 GVW or above and vehicles used exclusively for commercial purposes. |
| Leased vehicles | Yes, leased vehicles are covered. |
| Protection period | The express warranty term or one year from original delivery to the consumer, whichever is earlier. |
| Repair attempts | Same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period. |
| Days out of service | Cumulative total of 45 or more calendar days out of service by reason of repair. |
| Notice to the manufacturer | Consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer or an authorized dealer and make the vehicle available for repair within the protection period. If the manufacturer fails to respond or repair within the statutory periods, it waives its right to a final attempt to cure (§ 51:1943(A)(2)); the chapter does not spell out a separate written-notice procedure. |
| Dispute programs | If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must first use it before the refund/replacement remedy applies. No state-run arbitration program in the statute. |
| Deadline to bring a claim | Suit must be filed within 3 years from the date of purchase or 1 year from the end of the warranty period, whichever is longer. |
| Remedies | Replacement with a comparable new vehicle or, at the manufacturer's option, refund of the full purchase price plus amounts paid at point of sale and collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use (use before first notice of the nonconformity and while not out of service for repair). Lessees: lease-related reimbursement with lessor's consent. |
| Attorney's fees | Yes. A consumer is entitled to reasonable attorney fees actually incurred if judgment is rendered in part or whole in their favor (§ 51:1947). |
| Used vehicles | No separate used-car lemon law. A person to whom a vehicle is transferred during the term of the express warranty is a 'consumer' under § 51:1941(2)(b). |
Does your vehicle qualify in Louisiana?
The law covers new passenger and passenger/commercial motor vehicles sold in Louisiana, plus personal watercraft and all-terrain vehicles used exclusively for personal purposes. Excludes vehicles 10,000 GVW or above and vehicles used exclusively for commercial purposes. The protection period is the express warranty term or one year from original delivery to the consumer, whichever is earlier. Inside that window, the statute presumes the manufacturer has had a fair chance to fix the problem when one of these is true:
- Repeated repairs: Same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period.
- Days out of service: Cumulative total of 45 or more calendar days out of service by reason of repair.
As with most lemon laws, the defect generally has to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty and serious enough to substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety; check the statute's exact wording. Count only visits for the same problem, and check each repair order for your complaint, the dates in and out, and the mileage. See what counts as a repair attempt.
Notice, dispute programs and deadlines
Consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer or an authorized dealer and make the vehicle available for repair within the protection period. If the manufacturer fails to respond or repair within the statutory periods, it waives its right to a final attempt to cure (§ 51:1943(A)(2)); the chapter does not spell out a separate written-notice procedure.
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must first use it before the refund/replacement remedy applies. No state-run arbitration program in the statute.
Deadline: Suit must be filed within 3 years from the date of purchase or 1 year from the end of the warranty period, whichever is longer.
State resource: Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission (consumer complaints).
Deadlines can run out before you expect, and contacting a lawyer does not stop them. Read more about lemon law deadlines and notice to the manufacturer.
Questions about your vehicle's repair history?
Tell us what has happened with your vehicle. A member of our team will look at your dates and repair orders with you. Reaching out does not create an attorney-client relationship.
What you can recover
Replacement with a comparable new vehicle or, at the manufacturer's option, refund of the full purchase price plus amounts paid at point of sale and collateral costs, less a reasonable allowance for use (use before first notice of the nonconformity and while not out of service for repair). Lessees: lease-related reimbursement with lessor's consent. Yes. A consumer is entitled to reasonable attorney fees actually incurred if judgment is rendered in part or whole in their favor (§ 51:1947). Many claims are also resolved by a negotiated settlement. See buyback and replacement.
Federal warranty law also applies
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2301–2312) applies in every state. It covers written and implied warranties on consumer products, including vehicles, and it can help when a vehicle falls outside Louisiana's lemon law, for example some used vehicles sold with a warranty or a service contract.
Talk to us about your Louisiana vehicle
SkyRidge Law P.C. reviews lemon law questions from owners in every state. Lawyers may practice only where they are licensed or otherwise authorized, so before you sign anything we tell you which lawyer would handle your case and where that lawyer is licensed. Send us your repair history and we will look at your dates with you.
Frequently asked questions
How many repair attempts make a car a lemon in Louisiana?
Under La. R.S. 51:1941 to 51:1948, the presumption is met when same nonconformity subject to repair 4 or more times within the protection period. The law also counts time in the shop: cumulative total of 45 or more calendar days out of service by reason of repair.
How long do I have to file a lemon law claim in Louisiana?
Suit must be filed within 3 years from the date of purchase or 1 year from the end of the warranty period, whichever is longer. Other deadlines, such as the protection period and any notice or dispute-program step, can run out first, so check your dates early. Contacting a lawyer does not stop the clock.
Does the Louisiana lemon law cover used cars?
No separate used-car lemon law. A person to whom a vehicle is transferred during the term of the express warranty is a 'consumer' under § 51:1941(2)(b). Even when the state lemon law does not apply, a used vehicle sold with a written warranty or a service contract may have rights under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act.
Does the Louisiana lemon law cover leased vehicles?
Yes, leased vehicles are covered. Lease buybacks usually involve both you and the leasing company, so keep your lease agreement with your repair orders.
Do I have to notify the manufacturer in Louisiana?
Consumer must report the nonconformity to the manufacturer or an authorized dealer and make the vehicle available for repair within the protection period. If the manufacturer fails to respond or repair within the statutory periods, it waives its right to a final attempt to cure (§ 51:1943(A)(2)); the chapter does not spell out a separate written-notice procedure. Keep a copy of anything you send and proof of delivery.
Do I have to go to arbitration in Louisiana?
If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, the consumer must first use it before the refund/replacement remedy applies. No state-run arbitration program in the statute.
Can I recover attorney's fees under the Louisiana lemon law?
Yes. A consumer is entitled to reasonable attorney fees actually incurred if judgment is rendered in part or whole in their favor (§ 51:1947). We explain exactly how fees work in your case before you sign anything.
Sources
- La. R.S. 51:1941 Definitions (Louisiana State Legislature)
- La. R.S. 51:1942 Manufacturer's duty to repair
- La. R.S. 51:1943 Express warranties; time limit to conform
- La. R.S. 51:1944 Motor vehicle replacement or refund
- La. R.S. 51:1947 Attorney fees
- La. R.S. 51:1948 Temporary replacement vehicle reimbursement
- Louisiana Motor Vehicle Commission - Consumer Protection Laws