Lemon Laws in CT
- Connecticut law does not cover recreational vehicles.rv image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
Connecticut was the first state to pass a lemon law statute in 1982. The state has since then continued to update the provisions contained in its lemon law statute. One of the interesting things about Connecticut law is that it does not cover used vehicles in the state. The Department of Consumer Protection oversees the state's lemon law program. - Connecticut lemon law statute covers both passenger and commercial vehicles. The state's lemon law protection also extends to motorcycles. You must have bought or leased your vehicle or motorcycle in the state in order to qualify for protection.
- In order to receive lemon law protection in the state, you must be an eligible consumer. You are an eligible consumer if you are the purchaser of the motor vehicle. However, if you purchased the vehicle for the purposes of resale, you are not eligible under this provision. The law also covers you if you leased a motor vehicle in the state.
Similarly, if a motor vehicle was transferred to you during the warranty period, you may qualify as an eligible consumer under this provision.
Notwithstanding these requirements, you may qualify as an eligible consumer if the terms and conditions of a vehicle's written warranty provide you with any specific rights. - As is the case in most states, in Connecticut, you must meet specific qualifying circumstances before receiving coverage under the lemon law statute. If you vehicle has a defect, you qualify under this provision if you have taken the vehicle in for repairs at least four times and the issue persists.
You may also qualify if you are without your vehicle for a total of 30 or more days because of the problem. However, the issue must have occurred within the first two years from the original delivery date, or within 24,000 miles on the vehicle, which ever ends first.
The issue or defect must be one that significantly affects the safety, use, or market value of your vehicle.
You must submit a written notice to the vehicle's manufacturer detailing the scope and nature of the problem you are experiencing. - The law may authorize the vehicle manufacturer to provide you with a replacement vehicle or a refund. Connecticut law requires you to first complete the manufacturer's certified arbitration program. Depending on the arbitrator's ruling, the manufacturer may be required to provide you with a replacement vehicle or refund.
If you are receiving a refund, the state's law requires that the miles you used before the vehicle's return be divided by 120,000 and then multiplied by the contract price.
