West Palm Beach, Florida
Purchasing a new vehicle to enjoy as you drive around town in West Palm Beach should be an enjoyable and gratifying experience. Most people make the choice to invest in a new vehicle to ensure they have no costly repair issues or must endure the stress of trips to the dealership for auto repairs for years after making the purchase. So, when you are out enjoying your new car, truck, or SUV around town or maybe on a road trip across the state, you are sure to be shocked and upset when you discover an issue, such as an unusual sound or rattle in the car, the engine suddenly loses power, or your backup camera is temperamental and only works randomly. But you reassure yourself that all will be well again once you get to the dealership for a quick fix.
After the second or third trip to the dealership service department to fix that same annoying issue or new and equally disheartening issues that keep occurring, you begin to lose faith in the new vehicle you purchased and become angry about the hassle it has become. This is when you need to know that you could have inadvertently purchased what is known as a Florida Lemon Vehicle. And the best way to understand what this means to you is a fast call to Jonathan Schwartz, the premier West Palm Beach Lemon Law Lawyer. What you also need to understand is that there are critical time and mileage limits on determining if the vehicle is a lemon, so you should reach out today to book your free case evaluation to fully understand your options before it is too late.
What Makes A Vehicle A Florida Lemon?
When you pay $50K or more for a new vehicle, you expect it to function perfectly from day one. Even if you have invested $30K or less in a new car, you have that same expectation for a vehicle that is brand new to function correctly and be safe to drive. If you are experiencing continual issues with a new car, truck, or SUV you purchased in Florida, and it meets these criteria, you could be entitled to a new vehicle or a manufacturer buyback because you have a lemon:
- The vehicle was sold as new or a demo model in Florida
- The defects or issues you have discovered must impact the value, use, or safety of the vehicle
- You have owned the car for less than 24 months, and it has less than 24,000 miles, less than those documented on the purchase paperwork
- The car was unusable or was in the shop for repairs for a total of 30 days or more
- The vehicle was returned to the dealership or a manufacturer-authorized repair center three or more times, and the issue was never corrected
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
What Prevents You From Filing A Florida Lemon Law Claim?
The issues you are experiencing with the vehicle must be due to manufacturer defects or problems and cannot be caused by an accident, neglect, abuse, or any medication done to the car that was not completed by a manufacturer-authorized service center. You must also be the original owner of the vehicle that purchased it from a Florida dealership. In addition, if the vehicle is designed to be run off-road, is a heavy-duty truck in excess of 10,000 pounds, or is a motorcycle, the Florida Lemon Law might not cover it.
Who Can I Trust To Resolve My West Palm Beach Lemon Issues?
When you need to know if the new vehicle you purchased can be considered a Florida Lemon, Jonathan Schwartz is the expert to trust for help. As the leading West Palm Beach Lemon Lawyer, he has the experience and knowledge you need to get your lemon vehicle issues resolved quickly and to your complete satisfaction. Reach out to his office today to schedule your free case evaluation to get the information and answers you need to resolve this legal matter.
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:
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Step 1: Send a written notice to the manufacturer via certified or express mail.
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Step 2: Allow the manufacturer one final repair attempt.
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Step 3: If the issue persists, submit a Request for Arbitration with Florida’s Department of Legal Affairs along with supporting documents.
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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
