Indiana Lemon Law may help if your new car, SUV, van, or light truck has a serious problem covered by the warranty. The problem must significantly affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
You generally must report the problem within 18 months of delivery or before the vehicle reaches 18,000 miles—whichever happens first. You must also give the manufacturer a reasonable number of chances to fix it.
If the problem cannot be fixed, you may be able to get a refund or a similar replacement vehicle. Save all repair orders, receipts, and written notices. Below are the main deadlines, exceptions, and possible remedies.
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Key Takeaways
- Indiana’s Lemon Law may protect buyers of new vehicles that have a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty. The defect must seriously affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
- Tell the manufacturer or dealer about the problem within 18 months after delivery or before the vehicle reaches 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Keep copies of repair orders, invoices, and other records.
- In many cases, the manufacturer gets up to four chances to fix a major problem. A serious safety problem may require fewer repair attempts.
- Your vehicle may also qualify if it has been in the shop for warranty repairs for at least 30 business days.
- If the problem is not fixed, you may be entitled to a refund or a similar replacement vehicle. The final remedy may include deductions and must follow the required legal process.
Do You Qualify Under Indiana Lemon Law?
Do You Qualify Under Indiana Lemon Law?
You may qualify under Indiana’s Lemon Law if you bought or leased a new vehicle in Indiana and it has a problem that seriously affects how it works, its value, or its safety.
You must give the manufacturer a fair chance to fix the problem within the time allowed by law. Keep copies of all repair orders, invoices, emails, letters, and notes about when the vehicle was in the shop. Also keep records showing how the problem affects your ability to use the vehicle safely and reliably.
If the manufacturer can’t fix the problem after repeated repair attempts, or if your vehicle is out of service for repairs for too long, you may have the right to seek remedies under Indiana law. Pay close attention to notice requirements and deadlines.
Vehicles Covered by Indiana Lemon Law
Indiana’s Lemon Law generally covers new cars, SUVs, vans, and light trucks bought or leased for personal use.
To qualify, the problem usually must happen within the first 18 months after you receive the vehicle or before it reaches 18,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If your vehicle meets these requirements, you may be able to seek repairs, a replacement vehicle, or a refund.
Eligible Vehicle Types
Whether your vehicle qualifies under Indiana’s Lemon Law depends on the type of vehicle, its condition, and how you bought it.
In general, the law protects people who buy or lease a new vehicle mainly for personal, family, or household use. It may also apply to vehicles used partly for business, depending on who owns and registers the vehicle.
Cars, trucks, vans, and SUVs often qualify. The vehicle must generally be covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Used vehicles bought from private sellers usually don’t qualify.
Things like cosmetic preferences or insurance coverage don’t affect whether a vehicle qualifies under Indiana’s Lemon Law.
Coverage Time Limits
Timing matters. Indiana’s Lemon Law generally covers warranty problems that you report within the first 18 months after delivery or before the vehicle reaches 18,000 miles—whichever happens first.
Act quickly. Keep records of every problem, repair visit, work order, and mileage reading. Your rights usually depend on reporting the defect on time.
| Deadline | What to do |
|---|---|
| When you receive the vehicle | Save your purchase and delivery records |
| Before 18 months | Report warranty problems to the dealer or manufacturer |
| Before 18,000 miles | Keep track of the vehicle’s mileage |
| After each repair visit | Keep copies of repair orders and invoices |
If the law applies, ask the manufacturer or dealer to repair the problem under the warranty. Do not wait for the defect to get worse. Reporting a problem too late may prevent you from making a Lemon Law claim.
Defects That May Make a Vehicle a Lemon
A vehicle may qualify as a lemon if it has a defect that seriously affects how it works, its value, or its safety, and the manufacturer can’t fix it after the number of repair attempts allowed under Indiana law.
Examples of serious defects may include repeated engine problems, brake issues, steering problems, electrical failures, stalling, transmission trouble, or failed safety systems.
Indiana’s lemon law generally applies to major problems, not small annoyances. Minor cosmetic issues, such as small scratches or paint flaws, usually don’t qualify unless they significantly reduce the vehicle’s value or make it harder to use.
A defect doesn’t have to cause an accident before you can take action. Keep repair orders, receipts, and other records showing the problem and how it affects your vehicle.
Indiana Lemon Law Repair Attempt Rules
Once a serious problem appears, Indiana’s lemon law looks at how many reasonable chances the manufacturer had to fix it. Keep recordssof every visit, complaint, invoice, and repair order. These documents can show that the same problem was reported and not fixed.
Document every repair visit and complaint. Clear records help show the manufacturer had reasonable chances to fix the same serious defect.
- Safety defect: One failed repair attempt may be enough if the defect could cause serious injury or death.
- Other major defects: The manufacturer generally gets up to four repair attempts to fix the same substantial problem.
- Time out of service: Your vehicle may also qualify if it has been in the shop for repairs for a total of 30 business days.
Focus on how the defect affects the vehicle’s safety, use, or value. Ask the authorized dealer to clearly write down your exact complaint on every repair order.
Indiana Lemon Law Filing Deadline
Indiana’s lemon law has strict deadlines, so act quickly if your vehicle keeps having problems.
You generally must report the defect to the manufacturer or dealer within 18 months of delivery or before the vehicle reaches 18,000 miles, whichever happens first.
If you need to file a lawsuit, you generally must do so within two years of the vehicle’s delivery date.
| Deadline | What you need to do | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Within 18 months or 18,000 miles | Report the defect | Helps keep your claim covered by the lemon law |
| Within 2 years of delivery | File a lawsuit, if needed | Helps protect your legal claim |
Keep copies of all repair orders, receipts, written notices, and dates of each repair visit. Good records can help support your claim and show that you acted on time.
Safety Defects and Different Repair Rules
If your vehicle has a serious safety defect, Indiana’s lemon law may use different repair rules. In most cases, you must give the manufacturer a reasonable chance to fix the problem. The number of repair attempts needed may depend on the type of defect and how often it has been repaired.
If the problem is an emergency safety issue, you may be able to have it repaired somewhere else if you meet the requirements in the law.
Safety Defect Standards
When a defect creates a serious safety risk, Indiana’s Lemon Law may require fewer repair attempts than it does for ordinary problems. Focus on whether the problem makes your vehicle unsafe to drive.
- Write down warning lights, stalling, brake problems, steering problems, or airbag issues.
- Keep all repair orders showing what you reported and what the dealer found.
- Report ongoing safety problems right away and save evidence showing how the defect affects safe driving.
Indiana law may protect you if a defect makes your vehicle unsafe. Your records can help show that the problem is a safety issue, not just an inconvenience.
Repair Attempt Requirements
The number of repair attempts you need depends on the defect and the rule that applies to your vehicle. Under Indiana’s lemon law, you usually must give the manufacturer a fair chance to fix the problem during the required time period.
For many problems, four repair attempts may show that the defect hasn’t been fixed. But if the defect seriously affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety, fewer repair attempts may be required—especially for serious safety issues.
Keep copies of every repair order. Write down the date, mileage, and the problem you reported each time. A clear record of repeated repairs can help support your claim.
Emergency Repair Exceptions
Serious safety problems may qualify for different repair rules under Indiana’s lemon law. If a defect seriously affects your vehicle’s use, value, or safety, keep records of every repair visit and notify the manufacturer as soon as possible.
A safety recall may support your claim, but it doesn’t replace your legal rights. Don’t ignore repeated repair delays if the problem creates a serious safety risk.
- Save all repair orders, towing receipts, and recall notices.
- Report problems with brakes, steering, airbags, or fire risks immediately.
- Ask for written confirmation if the warranty is extended or renewed after repairs.
Indiana law may provide relief if the manufacturer can’t fix a qualifying defect after the required number of repair attempts. Act quickly and keep all evidence.
How to Document Lemon Law Repairs
Why does documentation matter under Indiana’s lemon law? Your records can help show that the same problem kept happening, how long your vehicle was in the shop, and whether the repairs happened during the legal coverage period.
Keep copies of every repair order, bill, diagnostic report, tow receipt, rental car record, and warranty document. Ask the dealer to clearly write down:
- The problem you reported
- What the technician found
- What repairs were made
- Which parts were replaced
Read each repair order before you sign it. If the description is vague or wrong, ask the dealer to correct it right away.
It also helps to keep your own dated log. Write down the symptoms, repair visits, mileage, days without the vehicle, and any time you couldn’t use it. Save regular maintenance records too, so it’s clear which visits were for routine service and which were for the defect.
Good records can also help if there’s later a dispute about whether your vehicle should be branded as a lemon.
Indiana Lemon Law Manufacturer Notice Requirements
Your repair records can support the written notice you may need to send the manufacturer under Indiana’s Lemon Law. Before asking for certain remedies, Indiana law requires you to notify the manufacturer in writing.
Repair records help support the written notice Indiana law may require before you seek certain remedies from the manufacturer.
Send the notice to the address in your warranty booklet. Keep a copy of the letter, proof of delivery, and copies of any documents you include.
In your notice:
- Identify your vehicle, including the VIN, purchase date, and current mileage.
- Clearly explain each problem and each repair visit.
- State the remedy you’re requesting under the law.
Keep the notice focused on problems that substantially affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. Be factual, send it on time, and avoid including unrelated issues.
Indiana Lemon Law Arbitration Options
Indiana’s Lemon Law may let you use an informal dispute program or arbitration after you notify the manufacturer and meet the law’s other requirements. Check your warranty booklet to see whether the manufacturer offers a dispute program and learn its filing deadlines and rules.
Arbitration gives you a formal way to show repair orders, emails, letters, and other proof of the problem. Keep your records organized. Include the dates of each repair visit, your vehicle’s mileage, the symptoms you reported, and what the dealer did.
Explain how the defect seriously affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety. Don’t assume the arbitrator’s decision ends all of your legal options. Review Indiana’s legal procedures and deadlines before you accept or challenge the decision.
Refunds Under Indiana Lemon Law
If arbitration or the manufacturer’s review doesn’t fix a covered problem, Indiana’s Lemon Law may require the manufacturer to buy back your vehicle instead of making more repair attempts.
Under Indiana Code 24-5-13, you may qualify if your vehicle has a defect that meets the law’s requirements and the manufacturer has had enough chances to repair it.
Indiana’s Lemon Law may apply when a qualifying defect remains after the manufacturer has had a reasonable number of repair opportunities.
A refund may include:
- Payments you made toward the vehicle
- Fees and taxes you paid
- Finance charges, in some cases
The manufacturer may subtract an amount for the miles you drove before the defect was first reported.
To protect your claim:
- Keep all repair orders, receipts, and written notices.
- Track the vehicle’s mileage from the date you received it through the repair period.
- Review the refund calculation carefully.
- Question any deduction that doesn’t seem correct.
Unrelated issues don’t determine whether you qualify. What matters is whether you meet the Lemon Law’s defect, repair, and notice requirements.
Replacement Vehicles Under Indiana Lemon Law
If your vehicle qualifies under Indiana’s Lemon Law, you may be able to choose a replacement vehicle instead of a refund. The manufacturer must provide a new vehicle that’s comparable to yours when the legal requirements are met.
Before accepting a replacement, compare it carefully with your current vehicle. Make sure it has similar value, features, options, and ability to meet your needs.
Eligibility for Replacement Vehicles
Eligibility for a Replacement Vehicle
If the manufacturer can’t fix a covered problem after the required number of repair attempts or days your vehicle has been out of service under Indiana’s Lemon Law, you may be able to request a replacement vehicle instead of a refund.
To qualify, your vehicle and the defect generally must meet these requirements:
- Your vehicle must be covered. You must own or lease a new vehicle that was purchased in Indiana.
- You must report the problem on time. The defect must be reported while the vehicle is still under warranty.
- The problem must be serious enough. It must substantially affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
- The manufacturer must have had enough chances to fix it. This may mean multiple repair attempts or a certain number of days when the vehicle couldn’t be used because of repairs.
- You need records. Keep repair orders, invoices, warranty documents, and any written notices you send or receive.
Having a problem unrelated to the vehicle’s defect or failing to provide supporting records usually won’t establish eligibility.
Manufacturer Replacement Obligations
If your vehicle qualifies under Indiana’s Lemon Law, you can choose the legal remedy you want: a comparable replacement vehicle or a refund. The manufacturer must provide that remedy. It cannot require you to keep bringing the vehicle in for more unsuccessful repairs instead.
You decide whether to request a replacement or refund. The manufacturer cannot avoid its legal responsibility by offering something different that does not meet the requirements of the law.
| Your right | Manufacturer’s responsibility | Your protection |
|---|---|---|
| Choose a replacement vehicle | Provide a comparable replacement promptly | You cannot be forced into more repairs |
| Ask for paperwork and details | Clearly explain the terms | Keep copies of all documents |
| Enforce your rights | Follow Indiana Lemon Law | You may seek legal help if necessary |
Do not sign an agreement that gives up your rights unless you understand it. Keep all repair orders, letters, emails, text messages, and notices. These records can help if the manufacturer delays or refuses to provide the remedy you selected.
Choosing a Comparable Vehicle
Choosing a Comparable Replacement Vehicle
Under Indiana Lemon Law, a replacement vehicle should be reasonably comparable to your lemon. That means it should have similar value, features, performance, and usefulness—not simply the vehicle the manufacturer wants to give you.
When reviewing a proposed replacement, compare:
- Trim level and drivetrain: Make sure the replacement has a similar trim, engine, transmission, and two-wheel, four-wheel, or all-wheel drive setup.
- Safety and convenience features: Check for items such as backup cameras, driver-assist systems, heated seats, navigation, towing packages, and other installed options.
- Passenger and cargo space: The replacement should meet the same family, work, hauling, or towing needs as your original vehicle.
- Price and specifications: Ask the manufacturer for the replacement vehicle’s full written specifications, window sticker, and pricing information.
- Overall usefulness: Don’t accept a substitute that has less capability, lower performance, fewer features, or reduced cargo, passenger, or towing capacity.
Keep copies of all emails, offers, vehicle specifications, and pricing documents. If you disagree with the manufacturer’s proposed replacement, consider getting legal advice before accepting the vehicle.
Loans and Leases After a Lemon Law Claim
An Indiana Lemon Law claim may affect your car loan or lease, but it doesn’t automatically cancel your payment duties while the claim is pending. Keep making your regular payments unless your lender tells you otherwise in writing.
If your vehicle qualifies under Indiana’s Lemon Law, the manufacturer may have to buy it back or replace it. This can affect the amount left on your loan or lease.
Save copies of your payment records, loan payoff amount, lease agreement, and all messages from the manufacturer. If the vehicle is bought back, make sure you understand how the payment will be applied to your loan or lease and whether you still owe any remaining amount.
Claims Excluded by Indiana Lemon Law
Indiana’s Lemon Law doesn’t cover every vehicle problem or every buyer. It generally applies to certain new vehicles with serious defects that substantially affect the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
Indiana’s Lemon Law generally protects buyers of certain new vehicles with serious defects affecting use, value, or safety.
You may not qualify for a lemon law claim if:
- The problem was caused by abuse, neglect, an accident, or unauthorized changes to the vehicle.
- The issue is normal wear and tear, routine maintenance, or a minor cosmetic problem.
- The vehicle is used, isn’t a type covered by the law, or the defect was reported after the legal deadline.
Problems with your loan, monthly payments, or insurance aren’t lemon law claims. Those issues may involve other laws or legal options.
When to Hire an Indiana Lemon Law Attorney
If you think your vehicle may qualify under Indiana’s Lemon Law, it may help to speak with an attorney early. You don’t have to wait until the problem gets worse or the manufacturer denies your claim.
An attorney can review your repair records, warranty, required notices, and filing deadlines. They can help you understand whether you may qualify for a refund, replacement vehicle, or other relief.
Legal help can be especially important if the dealer says the problem is minor, can’t find the issue, or keeps trying to repair the same defect. Keep copies of all repair orders, receipts, and communications with the dealer or manufacturer. Acting quickly can help protect your claim and preserve important evidence.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Indiana Lemon Law Cover Used Vehicles Purchased From Private Sellers?
Generally, no. Indiana’s Lemon Law usually does not cover used vehicles bought from private sellers. It mainly applies to new vehicles purchased or leased from licensed dealers.
If you bought a used vehicle from a private seller, check your sales agreement, any remaining manufacturer’s warranty, and whether the seller made false statements about the vehicle’s condition. Other consumer-protection or fraud laws may still apply in some situations.
Can I Pursue a Lemon Law Claim for a Motorcycle or RV?
Maybe. Lemon laws can cover new motorcycles, but the rules vary by state. RVs may also qualify, though coverage can depend on whether the problem involves the vehicle itself or a separate component, such as an appliance.
Review your warranty, repair records, and state filing deadlines to see whether you may have a claim.
Are Attorney Fees Recoverable in an Indiana Lemon Law Lawsuit?
Yes. If you win an Indiana Lemon Law claim, you may be able to recover reasonable attorney fees and court costs. Keep records of the vehicle problems, repair visits, receipts, and communications with the manufacturer or dealer. An attorney can review your situation and help you pursue the remedies available under Indiana law.
Does Moving Out of Indiana Affect My Lemon Law Claim?
Moving out of Indiana does not automatically end your lemon law claim. Your new address may affect which state’s law applies, but the purchase location, repair history, deadlines, and notice requirements are often more important.
Can a Dealership Charge Fees for Lemon Law-Related Inspections?
You generally should not have to pay inspection fees or dealer charges when the visit is to diagnose a defect covered by your warranty or related to a potential lemon law claim. Ask the dealership to explain any charge in writing, keep all receipts and repair records, and review your warranty terms. If you believe a fee is improper, you may be able to dispute it under your state’s consumer-protection or lemon law rules.
Conclusion
Indiana’s Lemon Law may help if your new vehicle has a serious problem that the dealer cannot fix after a reasonable number of repair attempts. Keep copies of repair orders, warranty documents, and all communication with the dealer or manufacturer. You may have deadlines to meet, so do not wait too long to act. If the manufacturer will not offer a refund or replacement, an Indiana Lemon Law attorney may be able to help you protect your rights.
