Miami-Dade County, Florida
Your Miami-Dade County home is most likely the only purchase you will ever make that is more significant than your vehicle. Investing tens of thousands of dollars in a new car, truck, or SUV is the choice most people make to ensure they have years of trouble-free ownership and longevity, which justifies the cost of today’s vehicles. In most cases, the choice is wise, and the car requires little more than routine maintenance for the first several years of ownership. However, there are cases where the new vehicle owner quickly discovers they have purchased a lemon vehicle that is becoming nothing but trouble.
The issues could begin with a warning light on the dashboard illuminating or a grinding sound from the engine or transmission. In a perfect world, one trip back to the dealership would be all that is needed to resolve the issue. But for some, that trip is just the first of many that rapidly consume their time and patience. Even with that frustration, the vehicle owner often feels they have no other option but to keep trying to get the car fixed because they have invested $ 30,000, $ 40,000, or more in it and need to have reliable transportation.
Please know that after weeks or months of this back-and-forth endeavor with the dealership and manufacturer, you have one other choice. Grab the phone and call Jonathan Schwartz, the leader in Miami-Dade County Lemon Law cases. He has decades of experience resolving these cases for clients, ensuring they are not forced to sell their unreliable vehicles at a loss and face lengthy financial repercussions. When you contact the office, you will speak with a person at the firm, never a call center. The person taking your call will explain your free consultation and the no-obligation case evaluation offered to each potential client. And if you choose to pursue a Florida Lemon Law Claim, there are never upfront payments that you have to make to get the process started.
What Are The Florida Lemon Law Vehicle Criteria?
When you are done trying to work with the dealership and manufacturer of your new vehicle that is clearly sub-par quality, please know that in Florida, your vehicle will need to meet specific criteria to be classified as a lemon. The questions you need to ask yourself are:
- Is the vehicle less than 24 months old and has fewer than 24,000 miles in addition to the mileage at the time of the purchase or lease?
- Was the vehicle sold to you in Florida as a new or demo model?
- Are the issues or defects of the car impacting its value, safety, or function?
- Have you taken the car back to the dealership’s service department or a factory-authorized repair center three or more times for the same issue that is still unresolved?
- Has the car been unusable, out of service, or in the repair shop for a total of 30 days or more?
If you were able to respond to each question with a ‘yes,’ then please contact Jonathan Schwartz today to schedule your free consultation and case evaluation to proceed with classifying the vehicle as a lemon.
Get help with your lemon roadmap to compensation
Step 1: Start with a Free Case Review
Send us your vehicle details like the make, model, year, and what problems you’ve been dealing with. We’ll review everything and let you know if it qualifies under the Lemon Law.
Step 2: We Handle the Legal Work
If your vehicle qualifies, we take it from there. Our team prepares the paperwork, files the claim, and deals directly with the manufacturer. You don’t pay us. The manufacturer does.
Step 3: Turn in Your Lemon and Get Compensated
Once the case is approved, you’ll return your defective vehicle and get a refund, a replacement, or a cash settlement. We’ll help you figure out the best option for you.
30 Seconds Lemon Quiz
Are All New Vehicles Subject To The Florida Lemon Law?
Many consumers want to know if the Florida Lemon Law covers all new vehicles. What you will learn is that most passenger vehicles are included under the protection of this consumer law. However, some off-road vehicles, heavy-duty trucks weighing more than 10,000 pounds, and motorcycles are not always subject to this law. Additionally, the vehicle must be in the possession of the original buyer, who purchased it in Florida. Finally, the issues with your car cannot be caused by abuse, neglect, a vehicle accident, or a modification that was not completed by a dealership service department or factory-authorized service center.
When You Are Ready To Eliminate The Lemon In Your Life
When you are done trying to get your new car, truck, or SUV repaired because it is a lemon, please know that Jonathan Schwartz and his team of expert Miami-Dade County Lemon Law Lawyers are here to help you get the justice and compensation you deserve. Don’t hesitate to contact our team promptly to ensure you receive the results you want and need, knowing that you and your loved ones will be in a safe and reliable vehicle very soon.
Florida Lemon Law Basics
Florida’s Lemon Law, officially known as the Florida Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, protects consumers who buy or lease new vehicles with significant defects. If a vehicle has a recurring issue that the manufacturer fails to fix after a “reasonable number” of repair attempts, the consumer may be entitled to a refund or a replacement.
Before taking legal action, consumers are required to try resolving the matter through the manufacturer’s informal dispute resolution process (usually arbitration). This involves submitting documentation and giving the manufacturer a final chance to repair the issue. If the dispute isn’t resolved in arbitration, the consumer can take the case to court.
The law covers new vehicles and some motor vehicles like RVs (but not their living facilities). Salvage vehicles and cars without warranty are not covered.
Florida’s state Lemon Law only applies to new vehicles. However, used cars can still be protected under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, as long as the defect is reported during the vehicle’s warranty period.
So if you buy a used car and it still has a valid manufacturer or dealer warranty, and a defect appears during that time, you may still have a case. This federal law doesn’t care whether the vehicle is new or used — it focuses on whether the warranty is active and whether the defect was properly reported.
If your vehicle qualifies and the manufacturer fails to fix the defect after multiple repair attempts, you need to:
-
Step 1: Send a written notice to the manufacturer via certified or express mail.
-
Step 2: Allow the manufacturer one final repair attempt.
-
Step 3: If the issue persists, submit a Request for Arbitration with Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs along with supporting documents.
-
Step 4: Attend arbitration. If the outcome isn’t favorable, you may file a lawsuit.
An attorney can help handle these steps and increase your chances of a successful outcome.
Yes, leased vehicles are covered under Florida’s Lemon Law — as long as the defect appears during the lease and meets the same conditions as a purchased vehicle.
However, keep in mind: if you’re leasing, your refund is limited to the amount you’ve paid into the lease. You won’t be refunded for the full vehicle value since you don’t own the car.
Hiring a Lemon Law attorney gives you a big advantage. Manufacturers have deep pockets and legal teams — going up against them alone can be difficult. An experienced attorney knows how to handle the process, file correctly, and present your case with strong documentation.
Also, Florida’s Lemon Law (and the federal one) includes a fee-shifting provision, which means if you win, the manufacturer has to pay your attorney fees. Most firms, like Krohn & Moss, won’t even charge you unless they win your case — so there’s no out-of-pocket risk.
Serving All Florida Counties
Vehicle Manufacturers With the Most Lemons
