States
New Hampshire lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What N.H. Rev. Stat. ch. 357-D 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 New Hampshire lemon law tests?
New Hampshire, November 5, 2026 read in the statute
The presumption appears to be met
| Protection period | the manufacturer’s express warranty term: until January 5, 2029 or 36,000 miles. You are inside it. |
| Repair attempts, same defect | Met: needs 3, you have 3 |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 business days, you have 12 |
| Notice | Notify the manufacturer on its forms and choose the state board or the manufacturer’s program. Each attempt must be backed by a written repair order, at the same dealer unless there is good reason. |
| Dispute step | New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board ($50 filing fee; the manufacturer pays $250), or the manufacturer’s program: you choose one. The board hears the case within 40 days, and the manufacturer’s last attempt falls in those days. |
| File a lawsuit by January 5, 2030 (1,157 days left) | Within 1 year after the warranty ends or after the last repair, whichever is later (RSA 357-D:11). The date shown counts from the end of the warranty. |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. N.H. Rev. Stat. ch. 357-D · New Hampshire DMV
The New Hampshire lemon law in detailNew Hampshire’s lemon law, chapter 357-D of the Revised Statutes, covers vehicles during the manufacturer’s express warranty, and it follows a vehicle transferred during that warranty. The chapter presumes a reasonable number of attempts after three repairs of the same defect, each backed by a written repair order, or after 30 business days out of service. The New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board hears claims for a $50 filing fee, while the manufacturer pays $250; the owner chooses between the board and the manufacturer’s program. The board hears a case within 40 days, and the manufacturer’s last attempt falls in those days. An action must come within one year after the warranty ends or the last repair, whichever is later. We read the chapter in an archived copy of March 9, 2025, and the state’s page in an archived copy of July 31, 2025.
When is the last day to act?
File a lawsuit, New Hampshire
September 5, 2029
| Days from today | 1,035 left |
| Rule: Within 1 year after the warranty ends or after the last repair, whichever is later (RSA 357-D:11). The date shown counts from the end of the warranty. | |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Board or program, but not both
New Hampshire owners pick a forum on the manufacturer’s forms: the state board or the manufacturer’s program. Its decision can order a refund or a replacement.
Each attempt counts only with a written repair order, and the attempts should be at the same dealer unless there is a good reason. An owner who is told no problem was found should still ask for the order.
More than cars
The chapter covers vehicles up to 11,000 pounds, motorcycles, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles, and leases of at least two years. The deduction is price times miles before the first attempt, divided by 100,000, with lower divisors for the smaller vehicles: 20,000 at 250 cc or less, and 40,000 above. Mopeds, tractors and government vehicles are outside it. The calculator shows the ordinary divisor, so work it out by hand for a motorcycle.
The New Hampshire lemon law at a glance
| Law | N.H. Rev. Stat. ch. 357-D |
| Protection period | the manufacturer’s express warranty term |
| Repair attempts | 3 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | no separate test |
| Days out of service | 30 business days |
| Written notice | Notify the manufacturer on its forms and choose the state board or the manufacturer’s program. Each attempt must be backed by a written repair order, at the same dealer unless there is good reason. |
| Dispute step | State-run program. New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board ($50 filing fee; the manufacturer pays $250), or the manufacturer’s program: you choose one. The board hears the case within 40 days, and the manufacturer’s last attempt falls in those days. |
| Deadline | Within 1 year after the warranty ends or after the last repair, whichever is later (RSA 357-D:11). The date shown counts from the end of the warranty. |
| Use offset in a buyback | Price × miles before the first attempt ÷ 100,000 (÷ 20,000 for motorcycles, snowmobiles and off-highway vehicles of 250 cc or less, ÷ 40,000 above). |
| Vehicles covered | Vehicles up to 11,000 lb, motorcycles, off-highway vehicles and snowmobiles; leases of at least 2 years. Not mopeds, tractors or government vehicles. |
| Used cars | Any vehicle still under the express warranty, including when transferred. |
| State page | New Hampshire DMV |
| Level of reading | read in the statute |
| What we read | RSA 357-D in an archived copy of March 9, 2025, and the DMV page in an archived copy of July 31, 2025. |
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
Notify the manufacturer on its forms and choose the state board or the manufacturer’s program. Each attempt must be backed by a written repair order, at the same dealer unless there is good reason.
N.H. Rev. Stat. ch. 357-D2. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the New Hampshire 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. New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board ($50 filing fee; the manufacturer pays $250), or the manufacturer’s program: you choose one. The board hears the case within 40 days, and the manufacturer’s last attempt falls in those days.
16 CFR 703.5(d)4. Upcoming · milestone
Accept, refuse or go further
Oct 16, 2026 – Nov 25, 2026
Within 1 year after the warranty ends or after the last repair, whichever is later (RSA 357-D:11). The date shown counts from the end of the warranty.