What is the Florida Lemon Law?
This is a consumer protection law that is administered by the Florida Office of the Attorney General that impacts only NEW or DEMO vehicles sold or leased in the state. Each new or demo vehicle sold needs to be sold with a document that details the law as it relates to Lemon vehicles. This guide is called the ‘Consumer Guide to Florida Lemon Law’. In the event the consumer should end up with a lemon, the guide will explain exactly the required procedures to remedy the situation and claim protection under this state law.
The law protects the consumer against defects that affect the use, value and safety of the vehicle and this protection exists for a period of 24 months from the date of DELIVERY of the vehicle. In essence, the law forces the manufacturer to buy back the vehicle in the event that they cannot repair the defects after a specific number of attempts.
This law will not protect a consumer if the use, value or safety of the vehicle was impacted by the negligence of the owner. In the state of Florida, the vehicle needs to go back to the dealer for the same repair problem 3 times before the law can be relied upon, provided all other formalities have been complied with in the statute.
The law will also protect someone when the vehicle has been in and out of a repair shop for one or more issues for a cumulative period of 15 or more days. The manufacturer must be notified in writing and have the opportunity to inspect or repair the vehicle. The individual will then become eligible for a full refund or replacement if the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative of 30 days or more.
