Consumer Protection · Lemon Law
Lemon Law in New Jersey
How many repair attempts and days out of service before New Jersey presumes your vehicle is a lemon — and whether used cars are covered.
presumption trigger (same defect)
Do I meet the New Jersey lemon presumption?
Enter your repairs and downtime. This checks the presumption — it is not a legal verdict.
This checklist is educational, not a legal verdict. Every state writes these numbers as a rebuttable presumption: hitting them shifts the burden to the manufacturer, and the manufacturer can still rebut it. Keep every repair order, send any required written notice, and consult a lawyer about your specific facts. This is legal information, not legal advice.
How the presumption works in New Jersey
The prongs that shift the burden to the manufacturer.
The out-of-service track is 20 calendar days (cumulative). New Jersey has no smaller safety-defect count. The used-car law is administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Every state — New Jersey included — writes these thresholds as a rebuttable presumption. Reaching them shifts the burden onto the manufacturer to prove your vehicle is not a lemon; it does not mean you automatically win. You may also qualify with fewer attempts if a "reasonable number" of repairs is shown some other way, and the manufacturer can rebut the presumption. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Used cars & leased vehicles
Which of the three coverage categories New Jersey falls in.
| Odometer at sale | Minimum dealer warranty |
|---|---|
| 24,000 miles or fewer | 90 days or 3,000 miles |
| 24,001 to 60,000 miles | 60 days or 2,000 miles |
| 60,001 to 100,000 miles | 30 days or 1,000 miles |
The full picture, with the source
Every figure, and where it comes from.
| Same-defect attempts | 3 |
| Serious-safety attempts | No separate safety count |
| Days out of service | 20 calendar days |
| Coverage window | 2 years or 24,000 miles from delivery (whichever comes first) |
| Used cars | Used-car lemon law |
| Leased vehicles | Covered |
| Statute | N.J.S.A. §56:12-29 et seq. (new vehicles) |
What New Jersey car buyers get wrong
New Jersey pairs a straightforward new-car rule with one of the country’s three genuine used-car lemon laws. For new vehicles, N.J.S.A. §56:12-29 presumes a lemon after 3 repair attempts on the same defect or 20 cumulative days out of service, within 2 years or 24,000 miles — presumption triggers that move the burden to the manufacturer, not automatic wins. The used-car statute, §56:8-67, is the standout: a used vehicle priced above $3,000, no more than 7 model-years old, and under 100,000 miles must come with a dealer warranty whose length tiers by mileage, from 90 days or 3,000 miles at the low end down to 30 days or 1,000 miles near 100,000 miles. The used-car track qualifies after 3 repair attempts or 20 days out of service, with a $50 deductible per repair, and it is administered by the Division of Consumer Affairs.
Common questions
How many repairs is a lemon in New Jersey?
New Jersey presumes a lemon after 3 attempts on the same defect or 20 cumulative days out of service, within 2 years or 24,000 miles. The threshold is a rebuttable presumption that shifts the burden to the manufacturer.
Does New Jersey have a used-car lemon law?
Yes. N.J.S.A. §56:8-67 covers used vehicles priced over $3,000, 7 model-years old or newer, and under 100,000 miles, with a mileage-tiered dealer warranty and a $50-per-repair deductible.
How long is the New Jersey used-car warranty?
It tiers by mileage: 90 days or 3,000 miles for cars with 24,000 miles or fewer; 60 days or 2,000 miles from 24,001 to 60,000 miles; and 30 days or 1,000 miles from 60,001 to 100,000 miles.
Are leased vehicles covered by New Jersey’s lemon law?
Yes. The new-car law applies to "newly purchased or leased" vehicles, so leases for personal use are covered.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.