States
Massachusetts lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ (new) and § 7N¼ (used) 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 Massachusetts lemon law tests?
Massachusetts, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | 1 year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first: until January 5, 2027 or 15,000 miles. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Met: needs 3, you have 3 |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 15 business days, you have 12 |
| Notice | No direct letter is required before arbitration: the extra opportunity of up to 7 business days starts when the manufacturer learns of the problem. The state guide recommends a letter. |
| Dispute step | State-certified arbitration program of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. |
| Request arbitration by July 5, 2027 (242 days left) | Request state arbitration within 18 months of the original delivery. |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ (new) and § 7N¼ (used) · Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs
The Massachusetts lemon law in detailMassachusetts protects new and leased cars under section 7N½ of chapter 90 of the General Laws. A new car, motorcycle, van or truck bought or leased in Massachusetts for personal use qualifies when the same defect survives three repair attempts, or when it is out of service for 15 business days, within one year or 15,000 miles from delivery, whichever comes first. The manufacturer then gets one more opportunity of up to seven business days, which starts when it learns of the problem, so no direct letter is needed before arbitration, though the state’s guide recommends one. The state-certified arbitration program hears the claim, which must be filed within 18 months of the original delivery. We read section 7N½ in an archived copy of March 18, 2025, and the guide in an archived copy of October 23, 2026; the legislature’s site did not open directly.
When is the last day to act?
Request arbitration, Massachusetts
March 5, 2027
| Days from today | 120 left |
| Rule: Request state arbitration within 18 months of the original delivery. | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Massachusetts covers used cars too
Section 7N¼ gives a buyer of a used car from a dealer a warranty that depends on the mileage at sale, and a remedy when repairs fail. It is separate from the new car law and has its own tests, which this page does not model.
The new car numbers
The 15 business days and the three attempts are among the lowest thresholds in the country. The 18-month filing window is counted from the original delivery, so an owner who reaches the test in month eleven still has seven months to file.
The deduction is the price times the miles up to the return, divided by 100,000, or 25,000 for a motorcycle. Leases must run at least a year. Auto homes, off-road vehicles and vehicles used for business are outside the section.
The Massachusetts lemon law at a glance
| Law | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ (new) and § 7N¼ (used) |
| Protection period | 1 year or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | 3 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | no separate test |
| Days out of service | 15 business days |
| Written notice | No direct letter is required before arbitration: the extra opportunity of up to 7 business days starts when the manufacturer learns of the problem. The state guide recommends a letter. |
| Dispute step | State-run program. State-certified arbitration program of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation. |
| Deadline | Request state arbitration within 18 months of the original delivery. |
| Use offset in a buyback | Price × miles up to the return ÷ 100,000 (÷ 25,000 for a motorcycle) (§ 7N½). |
| Vehicles covered | New cars, motorcycles, vans and trucks bought or leased in Massachusetts (leases of at least 1 year) for personal use. Not auto homes, off-road vehicles or business use. |
| Used cars | Massachusetts also has a used-vehicle warranty law (§ 7N¼). |
| State page | Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | Section 7N½ in an archived copy of March 18, 2025, and the state guide in an archived copy of October 23, 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
No direct letter is required before arbitration: the extra opportunity of up to 7 business days starts when the manufacturer learns of the problem. The state guide recommends a letter.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ (new) and § 7N¼ (used)2. Done · 9 days
Final repair window
Oct 25, 2026
Up to 7 business days of further repair, from the time the manufacturer knows (ch. 90, § 7N½).
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90, § 7N½ (new) and § 7N¼ (used)3. 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-certified arbitration program of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation.
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 25, 2026 – Dec 4, 2026
Request state arbitration within 18 months of the original delivery.