States
Maine lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1161 to 1169 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 Maine lemon law tests?
Maine, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | 3 years or 18,000 miles or the warranty term, whichever ends first: until January 5, 2029 or 18,000 miles. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Met: needs 3, you have 3 |
| Serious safety defect | Not met: needs 1 attempt, you have no safety defect |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 15 business days, you have 12 |
| Also | The 1-attempt test is for a serious failure of the brakes or the steering. The 18,000 miles are read on the odometer. |
| Notice | Written notice for a final repair opportunity of 7 business days, which may go to the dealer, and is not required if the requirement was not disclosed to you (§ 1163). |
| Dispute step | State Lemon Law Arbitration Program run by the Attorney General; free for the consumer (a $1 fee is collected at the sale of each new car). |
| Request arbitration by January 5, 2029 (792 days left) | State arbitration within 3 years of delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier (§ 1169). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1161 to 1169 · Maine Attorney General
The Maine lemon law in detailMaine’s lemon law, sections 1161 to 1169 of title 10 of the Maine Revised Statutes, gives the owner of a vehicle bought or leased in Maine one of the longest protection periods: three years or 18,000 miles, or the express warranty if it ends sooner. A reasonable number of attempts is presumed after three repairs of the same defect, after one repair of a serious failure of the brakes or the steering, or after 15 business days out of service. The owner gives written notice and a final repair opportunity of seven business days; the notice may go to the dealer and is not required if the rule was not disclosed. The State Lemon Law Arbitration Program, run by the Attorney General, is free for the consumer. We read sections 1161 to 1163 and 1169, with the Attorney General’s page, on November 1, 2026. The Attorney General also says the law reaches used vehicles still under warranty.
When is the last day to act?
Request arbitration, Maine
September 5, 2028
| Days from today | 670 left |
| Rule: State arbitration within 3 years of delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier (§ 1169). | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Free arbitration in Maine
The owner pays nothing to file; a one-dollar fee collected at each new car sale funds the program. The application must come within three years of delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier.
The 15 business days of Maine are about half of what most states ask. A car that spends three weeks at the dealer within the period has met the test.
A cap on the deduction
The deduction cannot exceed the lesser of two figures: one third of the IRS business mileage rate, times the miles on the application plus miles beyond 20,000, or 10 percent of the price. The calculator on this site applies the 10 percent cap and labels the rest an example. A vehicle in commercial use at 8,500 pounds or more is outside the law, and a business that registers three or more vehicles is not a consumer under it.
The Maine lemon law at a glance
| Law | Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1161 to 1169 |
| Protection period | 3 years or 18,000 miles or the warranty term, whichever ends first |
| Repair attempts | 3 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | 1 attempt for a serious safety defect |
| Days out of service | 15 business days |
| Also | The 1-attempt test is for a serious failure of the brakes or the steering. The 18,000 miles are read on the odometer. |
| Written notice | Written notice for a final repair opportunity of 7 business days, which may go to the dealer, and is not required if the requirement was not disclosed to you (§ 1163). |
| Dispute step | State-run program. State Lemon Law Arbitration Program run by the Attorney General; free for the consumer (a $1 fee is collected at the sale of each new car). |
| Deadline | State arbitration within 3 years of delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier (§ 1169). |
| Use offset in a buyback | At most the lesser of 1/3 of the IRS mileage rate × (miles on the application + miles beyond 20,000) or 10% of the price (§ 1161). |
| Vehicles covered | Vehicles bought or leased in Maine under an express warranty. Not vehicles of 8,500 lb or more in commercial use; a business that registers 3 or more vehicles is not a consumer. |
| Used cars | Covered while still under the express warranty: the Attorney General says the law applies to new or used vehicles. |
| State page | Maine Attorney General |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Title 10, §§ 1161 to 1163 and 1169 on the legislature’s site, and the Attorney General’s page, read on November 1, 2026. |
From written notice to a decision
Certified mail, return receipt requested.
Earliest decisionbetween Oct 25, 2026 and Dec 4, 2026
1. Done · milestone
Written notice reaches the manufacturer
Oct 16, 2026
Written notice for a final repair opportunity of 7 business days, which may go to the dealer, and is not required if the requirement was not disclosed to you (§ 1163).
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1161 to 11692. Done · 9 days
Final repair window
Oct 25, 2026
7 business days for a final repair opportunity (Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, § 1163).
Me. Rev. Stat. tit. 10, §§ 1161 to 11693. In progress · 0 day – 6 weeks
Dispute program decides
Oct 25, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026
A program that follows 16 CFR Part 703 must decide within 40 days of receiving your dispute. State Lemon Law Arbitration Program run by the Attorney General; free for the consumer (a $1 fee is collected at the sale of each new car).
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 25, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026
State arbitration within 3 years of delivery or the term of the express warranty, whichever is earlier (§ 1169).