Texas Lemon Law

Cars and the Texas Lemon Law


I just got a car and it's a lemon. What can I do?

The Texas Lemon Law is designed to help consumers who buy or lease new motor vehicles that turn out to be clunkers.

Not all vehicles are covered under the Lemon Law. Used cars, demos or program cars, repossessed vehicles, trailers, boats and farm equipment are not included in the law. In addition, the law doesn't help with problems caused by owner abuse, neglect or unauthorized changes. Minor problems, like rattles or stereo problems, are usually not considered serious under the provisions of the law.

The owner of a motor vehicle or the owner's designated agent may make a complaint concerning defects in a motor vehicle which are covered by a manufacturer's, converter's, or distributor's warranty agreement applicable to the vehicle. Any such complaint must be made in writing to the applicable dealer, manufacturer, converter, or distributor and must specify the defects in the vehicle which are covered by the warranty. The owner may also invoke the Board's jurisdiction by sending the Board a copy of the complaint. A hearing may be scheduled on all complaints arising under this subsection which are not privately resolved between the owner and the dealer, manufacturer, converter, or distributor.

The Texas Department of Transportation's Motor Vehicle Division has a lemon-law complaint process in place. For more information, contact the Motor Vehicle Division at (800) 622-8682.

For more information regarding Texas Lemon Law, see also: Lemon Law Information from TxDOT, the Texas Department of Transportation