The Georgia lemon law covers new vehicles purchased and licensed in the state of Georgia. Covered vehicles are new cars and trucks under 10,000 pounds purchased and used by individuals for their own personal use and by small businesses (three or fewer vehicles; ten or fewer employees.) Motorcycles, heavy trucks, and all terrain vehicles are not covered under the law. Used cars are not covered.

This defective vehicle regulation covers vehicles for a period of one year or 12,000 miles from the initial purchase of the vehicle, whichever comes first. The law protects consumers from a nonconformity that affects the safety, use or value of a new vehicle but excludes any problems that are determined to be the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modification of the vehicle.

The law authorizes branding a vehicle a lemon if any of the following conditions are met:

• One or more attempts to repair a problem that involves a serious defect in the braking or steering system.
• Two or more attempts to repair any other safety defect within the warranty period
• Three or more attempts to repair any other nonconformity during the warranty period.
• If the vehicle is out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more calendar days for repair of the same problem.

The above items constitute the state’s definition of a “reasonable” number of attempts to repair the vehicle.

Manufacturers are required to provide, in writing, the details of all procedures relating to any problems that may occur with the vehicle and how the consumer may get the vehicle repaired. No manufacturer may refuse to examine or repair a vehicle for purposes of avoiding the lemon law.

The law provides that the manufacturer, upon receiving a certified letter from the owner after the vehicle has qualified for lemon status, shall have 14 days to conform the vehicle to warranty specs. If this does not happen, the owner, at his or her discretion, may elect to receive a refund of the purchase price, taxes, fees, and licenses, less an allowance for use of the vehicle. Alternatively, the owner may elect to receive a comparable replacement vehicle in exchange for the defective one.

Georgia’s statute indicates that the state may elect to create an arbitration panel to hear cases in dispute regarding defective vehicles, but does not indicate whether such a panel exists or whether such arbitration, should it exist, requires mandatory participation on the part of the owner of the vehicle. A reading of the statute suggests that arbitration may be optional and invoked at the discretion of the owner of the vehicle, but this law has been amended several times since it was first passed and those provisions may have changed.  Anyone living in Georgia who has any questions should visit the state of Georgia’s lemon law page.

As always, anyone who owns a vehicle with problems should keep accurate records of all repairs on the vehicle, as well as records of all discussions and correspondence with the dealer and or manufacturer.

If you are having difficulties with your car, truck or van, you may find that you need an attorney. LegalMatch can help find an experienced attorney to help you where you live. Confidentiality is guaranteed, all lawyers are licensed, and the service is free.