Rhode Island Lemon Laws

Created by FindLaw's team of legal writers and editors | Last reviewed June 20, 2016

Automobiles are one of the biggest purchases people make, and they also require a certain amount of regular maintenance. But a newly purchased vehicle with major problems -- to the extent that the manufacturer and dealer are unable to fix it -- is referred to as a "lemon." State lemon laws are intended provide consumers with assurances when they buy a car, requiring manufacturers to provide a refund or replacement vehicle if a lemon cannot be fixed to warranty standards within a statutory period of time (usually one year).

Rhode Island Lemon Law at a Glance

According to Rhode Island statute, the state's lemon law protects car buyers for up to one year from delivery or 15,000 miles, whichever comes first. Eligible consumers invoking the lemon law may choose either a comparable replacement vehicle or a full refund (minus a "reasonable allowance" for use).

Additional details of Rhode Island lemon law are listed below. See FindLaw's Lemon Law section for additional articles.

Code Section	31-5.2-1, et seq.
Title of Act	Not specified
Definition of Defects	Nonconformity to applicable express warranties or implied warranties that substantially impairs use, value, or safety
Time Limit for Manufacturer Repair	Term of protection equals 1 year or 15,000 miles from date of original delivery, whichever comes first
Time Allowed for Correction of Nonconformity	A reasonable number of attempts shall be presumed to have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to any applicable express or implied warranties if: The same nonconformity has been subject to repair four (4) or more times by the manufacturer or its agents or authorized dealers or lessors within the term of protection, but the nonconformity continues to exist or the nonconformity has recurred within the term of protection, or The vehicle is out of service by reason of the repair of any nonconformity for a cumulative total of thirty (30) or more calendar days during the term of protection
Remedies	Consumer's option: replace with comparable new vehicle in good working condition or accept return and refund full contract price of vehicle including all credits and allowances for any trade-in vehicle, less a reasonable allowance for use

Note: State laws may change at any time through a number of means, including the enactment of newly signed legislation and decisions from higher courts. You should contact a Rhode Island lemon law attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

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