State lemon laws help consumers who buy or lease new motor vehicles and have repeated problems getting their vehicles properly repaired under the manufacturer’s original warranty.

Lemon laws can help a consumer get the vehicle repurchased, replaced, or repaired through a process that is less complicated and expensive than filing a lawsuit and going to court.

A car is a “lemon” when it is determined that the vehicle is defective beyond repair. Most states have some form of a lemon law to protect car buyers. These laws generally only apply to new cars purchased or leased by consumers and small businesses.

But a used car may also be covered if it is still covered by the manufacturer’s original warranty (not an extended service contract), or if the defect started and was reported to the dealer while under the manufacturer’s original warranty, and the defect continues to exist.

Lemon laws often do not cover repossessed vehicles, non-travel trailers, boats, or farm equipment.

Lemon laws only cover defects that substantially impair the use or market value of the vehicle—which does not include issues like minor rattles, noises, and car audio imperfections.

Each state has its own requirements, but common factors to qualify as a lemon include:

• The vehicle has a substantial manufacturing defect

• The defect is covered by a manufacturer’s written warranty

• The owner reports the defect to the dealer or manufacturer within the warranty term

• The owner gives the dealer a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defect or condition

• The owner gives the manufacturer written notice (preferably by certified mail) of the defect and at least one opportunity to fix the defect

• The defect persists and substantially impairs the vehicle’s use or market value or creates a serious safety hazard

Lemon laws are usually located in a state’s statutes and are often administered by the state’s department of motor vehicles or a specified consumer protection agency.

In Missouri, the lemon law is designed to protect consumers who purchase or lease new vehicles that turn out to be defective and cannot be repaired after a reasonable number of attempts. The Missouri lemon law applies to new vehicles that are still under the manufacturer's original warranty. It does not typically cover used cars unless the defect was reported and not remedied while the vehicle was still under the original warranty. The law does not apply to repossessed vehicles, non-travel trailers, boats, or farm equipment, and it only covers substantial defects that significantly impair the use or market value of the vehicle, excluding minor issues. To qualify for lemon law protection in Missouri, the vehicle must have a substantial manufacturing defect covered by the warranty, the defect must be reported within the warranty term, the dealer must be given a reasonable number of attempts to repair the defect, and the manufacturer must be notified in writing of the defect and given at least one opportunity to fix it. If the defect persists and substantially impairs the vehicle's use, market value, or creates a serious safety hazard, the consumer may be entitled to a replacement, repurchase, or repair of the vehicle. The Missouri Department of Revenue is responsible for administering the lemon law in the state.