States
District of Columbia lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510 asks before a manufacturer must repurchase or replace a car, the steps on the way and the last day to act.
Does your car meet the District of Columbia lemon law tests?
District of Columbia, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
Not yet: one more repair attempt
| Protection period | 2 years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first: until January 5, 2028 or 18,000 miles. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Not met: needs 4, you have 3 |
| Serious safety defect | Not met: needs 1 attempt, you have no safety defect |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 days, you have 12 |
| Also | The 1-attempt test is for a safety-related defect, which the Attorney General describes as a risk of fire or explosion, or otherwise life-threatening. The 30 days count all defects that significantly impair the car, not one defect. |
| Notice | Report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer during the period. A dealer or agent must forward written notice to the manufacturer within 7 days by certified mail (§ 50-502). |
| Dispute step | You must first bring the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration before asking a court for a refund or replacement (§ 50-502). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510 · Office of the Attorney General for DC
The District of Columbia lemon law in detailThe District of Columbia’s lemon law, sections 50-501 to 50-510 of the D.C. Code, protects a new motor vehicle sold or registered in the District for two years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Section 50-502 presumes a reasonable number of attempts after four repairs of the same defect, after one repair of a safety-related defect, or when the car has been out of service for a cumulative 30 days or more. Before a court can order a refund or replacement, the owner must bring the claim to the District’s Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration. A refund may be reduced by up to ten cents a mile for use beyond the first 12,000 miles, and for damage beyond normal wear. Used cars, motorcycles, motor homes and recreational vehicles are excluded, as the Attorney General’s page explains. We read section 50-502 and that page on November 1, 2026; the other sections were not read.
What notice does your state ask for?
District of Columbia
Written notice
| Rule: Report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer during the period. A dealer or agent must forward written notice to the manufacturer within 7 days by certified mail (§ 50-502). | |
| Law | D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510 |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
The District’s claims board
The Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration is a District body, not a manufacturer program. Using it first is a condition of going to court, which makes it the real first step of every D.C. lemon claim.
Thirty days, counted across defects
The section speaks of 30 days, without saying calendar or business days, so this site says 30 days. The count covers repairs of any defects that significantly impair the car, not one defect alone. It is extended for periods when repair services are not available because of events such as a strike, a fire or a flood.
Reporting is simple: tell the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer during the period. A dealer or agent who hears from you must forward written notice by certified mail within seven days. The first 12,000 miles cost nothing in a buyback.
The District of Columbia lemon law at a glance
| Law | D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510 |
| Protection period | 2 years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | 4 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | 1 attempt for a serious safety defect |
| Days out of service | 30 days |
| Also | The 1-attempt test is for a safety-related defect, which the Attorney General describes as a risk of fire or explosion, or otherwise life-threatening. The 30 days count all defects that significantly impair the car, not one defect. |
| Written notice | Report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer during the period. A dealer or agent must forward written notice to the manufacturer within 7 days by certified mail (§ 50-502). |
| Dispute step | State-run program. You must first bring the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration before asking a court for a refund or replacement (§ 50-502). |
| Deadline | Not set in the text we read |
| Use offset in a buyback | Up to 10 cents a mile for use beyond the first 12,000 miles, plus damage beyond normal wear. |
| Vehicles covered | New motor vehicles sold or registered in the District; defects that significantly impair the car. |
| Used cars | Used cars, motorcycles, motor homes and recreational vehicles are excluded (Office of the Attorney General). |
| State page | Office of the Attorney General for DC |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Section 50-502 on the council’s code site and the Attorney General’s page, read on November 1, 2026. Sections 50-501 and 50-503 to 50-510 were not read. |
From written notice to a decision
Certified mail, return receipt requested.
Earliest decisionbetween Oct 16, 2026 and Nov 25, 2026
1. Done · milestone
Written notice reaches the manufacturer
Oct 16, 2026
Report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent or its dealer during the period. A dealer or agent must forward written notice to the manufacturer within 7 days by certified mail (§ 50-502).
D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-5102. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the District of Columbia text we read.
3. In progress · 0 day – 6 weeks
Dispute program decides
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
A program that follows 16 CFR Part 703 must decide within 40 days of receiving your dispute. You must first bring the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration before asking a court for a refund or replacement (§ 50-502).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
If you refuse the decision, the next step is the state program or a court.