Georgia Lemon Law (GA)

Qualifying Criteria in Georgia

Under Georgia's lemon law, your vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it meets the following criteria:

• Vehicle type: New and certain used motor vehicles purchased or leased in Georgia
• Defect type: A nonconformity that substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the vehicle and is covered under the manufacturer's warranty
• Coverage period: The defect must occur within 2 years of delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first
• Repair attempts: The manufacturer or authorized dealer must have attempted to repair the same defect at least 3 times, or the vehicle must have been out of service for a cumulative total of 30 or more days

Manufacturer Obligations

Must repair the nonconformity. If unable, must replace or repurchase the vehicle at consumer's election.

Available Remedies

If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Georgia law, you are entitled to:

• Replacement vehicle
• Full refund minus reasonable use allowance

The "reasonable use allowance" deduction is typically calculated based on the mileage you accumulated before the first repair attempt, proportional to the vehicle's expected lifetime mileage. This ensures the manufacturer is not paying for use you already received from the vehicle.

Step-by-Step Filing Process in Georgia

Follow these steps if you believe your vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Georgia law:

1. 1 Report the defect to the authorized dealer or manufacturer
2. 2 Allow at least 3 repair attempts for the same nonconformity, or 1 attempt for a defect that is life-threatening, or 30+ calendar days out of service
3. 3 Send written notice to the manufacturer if the defect persists
4. 4 Use the manufacturer's dispute resolution procedure if available
5. 5 File suit in superior court if unresolved

Arbitration in Georgia

Consumer must first use the manufacturer's informal dispute settlement procedure if one exists and complies with FTC rules.

Important: In Georgia, arbitration is a required step before you can file a lawsuit. This means you must exhaust the arbitration process first. The arbitration decision may or may not be binding depending on the specific program. If you are not satisfied with the outcome, you typically have the right to appeal or file a civil action in court.

Filing Deadline

Within the earlier of 24 months from delivery or 24,000 miles.

Missing the filing deadline can forfeit your rights under the lemon law. Keep detailed records of every repair visit, including dates, mileage, descriptions of the problem, and copies of all repair orders and receipts. This documentation will be critical for your claim.

Additional Notes

Georgia also has a used vehicle lemon law covering vehicles purchased from dealers with less than 36,000 miles. The used car warranty applies for 12 months or 12,000 miles. Covers new motor vehicles including motorcycles but excluding motor homes (living portion) and vehicles over 10,000 lbs GVWR.