Key takeaways
- Motorcycle coverage depends on your state. Florida's lemon law excludes motorcycles and mopeds, while Washington's includes new motorcycles of at least 750 cc (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(14); RCW 19.118.021(9), (12)).
- If your state's lemon law leaves bikes out, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act can still apply to a motorcycle sold with a written warranty (15 U.S.C. § 2310(d)).
- A manufacturer can't void your warranty just because you used another brand of oil or parts, unless it supplies the named brand without charge or gets an FTC waiver (15 U.S.C. § 2302(c)).
- Maintenance records matter. A warrantor doesn't owe full-warranty repairs for damage caused by unreasonable use, including skipped reasonable and necessary maintenance (15 U.S.C. § 2304(c)).
On this page
It depends on your state. Some state lemon laws cover new motorcycles, some leave them out, and at least one draws the line by engine size. If your state's law doesn't cover your bike, a warranty claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act may still be open to you.
Either way, the same habits help: keep every repair order, keep your maintenance receipts, and write down what the bike does and when.
Do lemon laws cover motorcycles?
Some do and some don't. Each state writes its own definition of a covered vehicle, and motorcycles are one of the places they split.
Two examples show the range:
| State | Motorcycles covered? | What the statute says |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | Yes, 750 cc and up | Covers "any new self-propelled vehicle, including a new motorcycle," and defines a motorcycle as one with an engine displacement of at least 750 cc (RCW 19.118.021(9), (12)) |
| Florida | No | The definition of motor vehicle "does not include" motorcycles or mopeds (Fla. Stat. § 681.102(14)) |
Other states use other wording. Find yours on the state lemon laws page, and read the definition section first.
Washington's law has one more motorcycle detail. It says a business that only sets up motorcycles as an agent of a dealer isn't a "manufacturer" unless it also builds or assembles motorcycles (RCW 19.118.021(8)). So the claim runs against the company that made the bike, not the shop that uncrated it.
What if my state's lemon law doesn't cover motorcycles?
You may still have a federal warranty claim. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2301-2312, covers "consumer products," which it defines as tangible personal property normally used for personal, family or household purposes (§ 2301(1)). A motorcycle you ride for yourself fits.
The Act gives you three useful tools:
- A right to sue. A consumer damaged by a warrantor's failure to honor a written or implied warranty can sue for damages and other relief (§ 2310(d)(1)).
- Refund or replacement under a full warranty. If the warranty is labeled "full" and the warrantor can't fix a defect after a reasonable number of attempts, you may choose a refund or replacement (§ 2304(a)(4)). Check the heading on your booklet to see which one you have.
- Attorney's fees. A court may award reasonable attorney's fees to a consumer who finally prevails, unless it decides an award would be inappropriate (§ 2310(d)(2)).
Before suing, you must give the warrantor a reasonable opportunity to cure the problem (§ 2310(e)). Our Magnuson-Moss page covers the rest.
How do motorcycle warranties work?
A new motorcycle usually comes with a written warranty from the manufacturer that covers defects in materials and workmanship for a set time. The terms, the length and what's left out come from the booklet, not from the law, so read yours.
Federal law sets some ground rules for any written warranty on a consumer product:
- It must be labeled. Every written warranty must be clearly marked "full" or "limited" (§ 2303(a)).
- Brand-name strings are limited. A warrantor can't make your coverage depend on using a part or service identified by brand name, unless it provides that item without charge under the warranty or the FTC grants a waiver (§ 2302(c)). Using another brand of oil, or doing your own oil change, doesn't on its own void the warranty.
- Maintenance still counts. Under a full warranty, the warrantor doesn't owe a repair for damage caused by unreasonable use, and the statute counts failing to provide reasonable and necessary maintenance as unreasonable use (§ 2304(c)).
Aftermarket parts sit between rules 2 and 3. The warrantor can't require you to use only its brand of parts. But if a part you added actually caused the failure, the manufacturer may refuse that repair. When a dealer blames a modification, ask for the reason in writing on the repair order.
What kind of defect counts on a motorcycle?
A defect usually has to be covered by the warranty and serious enough to substantially impair the bike's use, value or safety. That's the standard both example states use.
Washington defines a "nonconformity" as a defect, serious safety defect or condition that "substantially impairs the use, value, or safety" of the vehicle. Florida uses nearly the same words (RCW 19.118.021; Fla. Stat. § 681.102). Washington also defines a "serious safety defect" as a life-threatening malfunction that impedes your ability to control or operate the vehicle, or that creates a risk of fire or explosion.
On a bike, a stall in traffic, a brake or ABS fault, or a fuel leak can fit that description. A loose trim panel likely won't.
Both statutes carve out problems caused by owners. Washington excludes defects that result from abuse, neglect or unauthorized modification. Florida excludes defects from an accident, abuse, neglect, modification or alteration by anyone other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent. For riders who customize, that's the line to watch. Keep the bike stock until the defect is sorted out, or at least keep proof of what you changed and when.
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 records should motorcycle owners keep?
Keep the same records a car owner would, plus proof of maintenance. Bikes get serviced more often, and a missing oil-change receipt is an easy excuse to deny a claim.
At purchase
- The buyer's order or bill of sale, and any financing contract
- The warranty booklet and any extended service contract
- A photo of the VIN on the frame and the odometer at delivery
Every repair visit
- A repair order with the date in and out, the mileage, and your complaint in your words
- The technician's findings, even "could not duplicate"
- Any part numbers replaced and any software or ECU reflash
Between visits
- Maintenance receipts with date and mileage
- Short videos of the problem: a stall, a warning light, a noise. Have a passenger film, or pull over first. Don't film while riding.
- A simple log of each time the problem happens
Our guide on how to document repair visits includes a log table you can copy, and what to say at the dealership helps you get your complaint written down the right way.
Should I check for recalls on my bike?
Yes. A safety recall is separate from a lemon law claim, but the repair visits it creates still go in your file.
NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls lets you search by VIN, and it includes motorcycle manufacturers. Under federal law, when a manufacturer recalls a vehicle for a safety defect, it must remedy the defect without charge. That duty doesn't apply if the first purchaser bought the vehicle more than 15 calendar years before the recall notice (49 U.S.C. § 30120(a), (g)).
For how recalls and lemon laws fit together, read lemon law vs. recall. If the same defect keeps coming back after repairs, our page on repair attempts explains how many visits states tend to count.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a lemon law for motorcycles?
In some states, yes. Each state decides whether its lemon law covers motorcycles. Washington's law covers new motorcycles with an engine displacement of at least 750 cc. Florida's law goes the other way and lists motorcycles and mopeds among the vehicles it does not cover. Other states have their own wording, so check your state's page. If the lemon law doesn't reach your bike, a warranty claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act or state warranty law may still be available.
My state's lemon law excludes motorcycles. Do I have any options?
Possibly. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act covers consumer products, meaning tangible personal property normally used for personal, family or household purposes. A motorcycle you bought for your own riding fits that. Under 15 U.S.C. § 2310(d), a consumer damaged by a warrantor's failure to honor a written or implied warranty can sue for damages and other relief. The warrantor first gets a reasonable chance to fix the problem. A court may also award reasonable attorney's fees to a consumer who finally prevails.
Does adding aftermarket parts void my motorcycle warranty?
Not automatically. Under 15 U.S.C. § 2302(c), a warrantor can't make your warranty depend on using a product or service identified by brand name, unless it provides that item without charge under the warranty or the FTC grants a waiver. A manufacturer may still refuse to cover damage that an aftermarket part actually caused. So if you add an exhaust or a tuner, keep the receipts and installation records. If the dealer blames the part, ask them to explain in writing how it caused the defect.
Can the dealer deny a warranty repair because I did my own oil changes?
Not just for that. Federal law bars a warrantor from tying your warranty to a brand-name service unless it's provided without charge (15 U.S.C. § 2302(c)). But under a full warranty, the warrantor doesn't owe a repair for damage caused by unreasonable use, which includes failing to do reasonable and necessary maintenance (15 U.S.C. § 2304(c)). So do the maintenance on schedule and prove it. Keep receipts for oil, filters and parts, and log the date and mileage of each service.
How does engine size affect lemon law coverage?
In some states it decides it. Washington's law defines a covered motorcycle as one with an engine displacement of at least 750 cubic centimeters (RCW 19.118.021(9)). A smaller bike falls outside that state's lemon law, though warranty law may still apply. Other states may have no size rule or may exclude motorcycles altogether. Your title or registration and the manufacturer's spec sheet show the displacement. Check your state's page for its own definition.
What problems do motorcycle lemon law claims usually involve?
Any warranty defect that keeps coming back can matter, but the most serious ones affect safety or the ability to ride. Think of engines that stall or won't start, electrical faults, charging problems, ABS or traction control warnings, oil leaks, and transmission or clutch failures. Lemon laws generally require that the defect be covered by the manufacturer's warranty and that it substantially impair the bike's use, value or safety. How a state measures that comes from its own statute.
Should I check for recalls on my motorcycle?
Yes. NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls includes motorcycle manufacturers. Enter your 17-character VIN, which is stamped on the frame and printed on your title and registration. Under federal law, a manufacturer that issues a safety recall must remedy the defect without charge for vehicles bought by the first purchaser within the past 15 calendar years (49 U.S.C. § 30120). A recall repair is still a repair visit, so keep that repair order with the rest of your records.
Sources
- Fla. Stat. § 681.102 (definition of motor vehicle; motorcycle and moped exclusion)
- RCW 19.118.021 (Washington definitions: motorcycle, manufacturer, new motor vehicle)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2301 (Magnuson-Moss definitions)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2302 (rules governing written warranties; tie-in prohibition)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2303 (full or limited warranty designation)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2304 (federal minimum standards for full warranties)
- 15 U.S.C. § 2310 (remedies in consumer disputes)
- 49 U.S.C. § 30120 (recall remedies without charge; 15-year limit)
- NHTSA, Safety Issues and Recalls (VIN lookup)