Massachusetts lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-17.
What the official page says
Source: Guide to New and Leased Car Lemon Law (Mass.gov) (read 2026-10-17). This is a summary of that page, not the statute. Exact tests, exclusions and deadlines are on the official page and in the statute, and may have changed.
- The page says the covered vehicles are new cars, motorcycles, vans or trucks purchased or leased in Massachusetts from a dealer for personal or family purposes, within a term of protection of one year or 15,000 miles from original delivery, whichever is first.
- The page says you must allow a minimum of three repair attempts for the same defect, or the vehicle is out of service for 15 or more business days during repair attempts (the page's introduction says more than 15), and then give the manufacturer one final opportunity, not to exceed seven business days, before you may have a right to a refund or replacement.
- The page says to prove market-value impairment you must show the vehicle is worth at least 10 percent less than it would be without the defect.
- The 'Apply for Lemon Law Arbitration' page (https://www.mass.gov/how-to/apply-for-lemon-law-arbitration) says an application for a new or leased car must be received within 18 months of delivery, and within 6 months for a used car; there is no fee to apply, but the consumer pays $300 to the state-certified arbitrator once a hearing is scheduled, which is included in the repurchase award if the consumer wins.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Repair attempts (same defect) | 3 minimum |
| Out of service | 15 or more business days during repair attempts (intro says more than 15) |
| Final repair opportunity | Not to exceed 7 business days |
| Term of protection | 1 year or 15,000 miles, whichever is first |
| Arbitration application (new/leased) | Within 18 months of delivery |
Counting rules differ (calendar days vs. business days, what counts as a repair attempt). Use the repair log tool to organize dates, then confirm how your state counts.
Industry arbitration program summary (not a government source)
BBB National Programs, which runs the BBB AUTO LINE dispute program, publishes a state summary: BBB AUTO LINE: Massachusetts lemon law summary (link checked 2026-10-17). It is published by an industry-linked program, so treat it as a starting point and confirm against the state's own page or statute.
What to do first
- Keep every repair order and receipt. See the records checklist.
- Write down dates and mileage for each repair visit with the repair log tool (nothing is saved or sent).
- Read the federal warranty basics and arbitration pages.
- Consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state about deadlines. Many have free consultations, but we do not recommend any specific one.