If you’ve bought or leased a car that keeps breaking down, you need answers and a resolution. You want a vehicle that works, not one that spends most of its time in the shop. 

If this is happening to you, it might be time to take action. How long do California Lemon Law claims take? The honest answer is that it depends. Most claims take anywhere from three months to a year, but the exact timeline will vary.

Here is a look at what you can expect so that you can reduce some of the stress that comes with pursuing a Lemon Law claim.

Determining If Your Car Qualifies

Before a claim can proceed, your vehicle has to meet California’s Lemon Law requirements. The law covers cars that have serious defects affecting safety, use, or value while still under the manufacturer’s warranty.

Some of these factors center around:

• How many times the same issue has been repaired
• How much time the vehicle has been out of service due to repairs
• Whether the defect significantly impacted safety or usability

At this point, you will need to collect and keep all repair records and warranty information. This step can take just a few days to a couple of weeks.

Filing the Claim

Once it is clear that your car qualifies, the next step is notifying the manufacturer and requesting a repurchase, replacement, or reimbursement. During this time, manufacturers will review your repair history and warranty coverage.

Some respond quickly, while others may request additional documentation. They may even conduct a more detailed review. All that can add a few weeks to the process.

Negotiation Phase

Negotiation is where the most time is spent. If your evidence strongly supports the claim, many manufacturers prefer to settle rather than spend time in litigation. These settlement discussions may involve:

• Determining the buyback amount
• Reimbursement for payments
• Negotiating a replacement vehicle

The length of this stage depends on the manufacturer’s cooperation and the complexity of the claim. Some cases can get a resolution in a few weeks; others may continue for several months if there’s disagreement over compensation or liability.

Litigation

If these negotiations fail, you may need to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately, any type of legal action can extend the timeline. Sometimes, that can take 6 months or more. This stage involves: 

• Exchanging documents
• Reviewing repair logs
• Conducting depositions

Keep in mind that many Lemon Law cases still settle before reaching trial, even after a lawsuit is filed. With solid documentation and a record of repairs, this can make this process smoother and help reach a better outcome for you.

What Factors Affect Timing?

There are a few variables that can influence how long a claim may take. These include:

• Strength of documentation: Well-kept repair and service records can speed up the process.
• Manufacturer cooperation: Some companies respond quickly, while others may dispute claims more aggressively.
• Severity and clarity of the defect: Vehicles with clear, repeated safety issues usually move faster than those with intermittent or hard-to-diagnose problems.
• Court schedules: If litigation becomes necessary, backlogs can affect timing.

If you are worried about delays, you should reach out to an experienced California Lemon Law lawyer who can help as you proceed through the process. 

How to Help Avoid Delays

While some factors are outside your control, there are steps that can help keep the process moving in the right direction:

• Keep all repair invoices and service records organized
• Report vehicle issues promptly
• Follow the manufacturer’s recommended repair procedures
• Save copies of purchase agreements and warranty documents

Waiting for a Lemon Law claim to resolve can be frustrating, but the law exists to protect consumers from being stuck with a defective vehicle. While some claims move quickly, others take more time to reach a reasonable outcome. 

Patience Pays Off

How long do California Lemon Law claims take? Several factors can affect the timeline.

When you know what to expect, that can help make it easier to proceed through the process and get your vehicle issues resolved.  

At BLVD Law, we are ready to help you with a Lemon Law claim. No one should have to drive a defective or unsafe vehicle. Reach out to us today to schedule a consultation.