States
New York lemon law: when a new car is a lemon
What N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a (new) and § 198-b (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 New York lemon law tests?
New York, November 5, 2026 read on the official state page
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 |
| Days out of service | Not met: needs 30 calendar days, you have 12 |
| Notice | Report each defect to the manufacturer or its dealer; a dealer must notify the manufacturer in writing within 7 days. |
| Dispute step | Attorney General’s Lemon Law Arbitration Program (requests to the Lemon Law Unit). |
Tests as written in the law; a court or arbitrator decides. N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a (new) and § 198-b (used) · New York Attorney General
The New York lemon law in detailNew York’s new car lemon law, section 198-a of the General Business Law, covers cars bought, leased or transferred within the first 18,000 miles or two years from delivery, whichever comes first. As the Attorney General’s fact sheet explains, the presumption applies when the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times, or when the car has been out of service for a cumulative 30 days or more, in that period. Each defect must be reported to the manufacturer or its dealer, and a dealer must notify the manufacturer in writing within seven days. The Attorney General runs a Lemon Law Arbitration Program, administered by an independent dispute resolution organization, which owners can use instead of the manufacturer’s program or a court. New York has a separate used car lemon law, section 198-b.
What notice does your state ask for?
New York
Written notice
| Rule: Report each defect to the manufacturer or its dealer; a dealer must notify the manufacturer in writing within 7 days. | |
| Law: N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a (new) and § 198-b (used) |
State laws read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
New York’s used car law
Section 198-b requires dealers to give a written warranty on used cars that cost at least a set amount, with a duration that depends on the mileage at sale, and it lets buyers claim a refund when the dealer cannot fix a covered defect after repeated attempts. It is one of the strongest used car laws in the country and is separate from the new car rules on this page.
The state program is the practical route for most owners: the Attorney General’s Lemon Law Unit receives the request and checks eligibility, then an arbitrator hears the case. The fact sheet linked below lists the fees and the forms.
The New York lemon law at a glance
| Law | N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a (new) and § 198-b (used) |
| Protection period | 2 years or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | 4 attempts on the same defect |
| Serious safety defect | no separate test |
| Days out of service | 30 calendar days |
| Written notice | Report each defect to the manufacturer or its dealer; a dealer must notify the manufacturer in writing within 7 days. |
| Dispute step | State-run program. Attorney General’s Lemon Law Arbitration Program (requests to the Lemon Law Unit). |
| Deadline | Not set in the text we read |
| Use offset in a buyback | No formula in the text we read |
| Vehicles covered | New cars bought, leased or transferred within 18,000 miles or 2 years of delivery. |
| Used cars | New York has a separate used-car lemon law (§ 198-b). |
| State page | New York Attorney General |
| Level of reading | read on the official state page |
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 each defect to the manufacturer or its dealer; a dealer must notify the manufacturer in writing within 7 days.
N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law § 198-a (new) and § 198-b (used)2. Done · milestone
Final repair attempt
Oct 16, 2026
No fixed number of days for this step in the New York 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. Attorney General’s Lemon Law Arbitration Program (requests to the Lemon Law Unit).
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.