Texas Lemon Law

The Texas lemon law was put into effect by thedefect (usually four attempts to fix the defect with
Texas legislature in 1983. The Texas Department ofno result warrants further action). You must send the
Transportation's Motor Vehicle Division and its Motormanufacturer of the vehicle written notification about
Vehicle Board administer it. The Texas lemon law isthe defect. The defect must be one that continues
an automobile law that helps consumers who buy orto impair the vehicle's use, value, or safety. And,
lease new vehicles and have repeated problems getfinally, you must file a lemon law complaint and pay
their vehicles properly repaired, repurchased, orany filing fees. The first thing to do if you believe
replaced. The lemon law applies to cars, trucks,your vehicle falls under the Texas lemon law is to
SUVs, vans, motorcycles, motor homes, all-terraintake it to the dealership where you purchased it. If
vehicles and tow-able recreational vehicles. It doesthey cannot fix the defect after a fair amount of
not apply to used, program cars, or repossessedtime, you should send a letter of notification to the
vehicles.manufacturer. Simply let the manufacturer know
The Texas lemon law does not cover any problemsabout the defect and offer them a chance to repair
caused by the owner's neglect, abuse oryour vehicle before filing an automobile lemon law
unauthorized changes to the vehicle. The automobilecomplaint.
lemon law also does not cover any problems that doMake sure you keep a copy of your letter and any
not have a considerable effect on the use or marketresponse, including repair invoices. If you decide to file
value of the vehicle. So, how do you know if youran automobile lemon law complaint, you will need to
car is a lemon? Your vehicle may be a lemon if yousend all of these documents to your lawyer, or if
purchased or leased a new vehicle from a licensedfiling yourself, to the Texas Department of
dealer in Texas.Transportation. If you wish to file a complaint, you
Additionally your car must have a serious defectmust send the written complaint to the Department
covered by the manufacturer's warranty. You mustof Transportation along with a filing fee. You will be
report the defect within a reasonable timeframe, orreimbursed for the fee if you win your case at the
before the warranty expires. You must give theTexas lemon law hearing. If you only want your
dealer or manufacturer a reasonable time to fix thevehicle repaired, there is no filing fee involved.