Georgia's lemon law and your rights as a buyer

What the lemon law protects, what it doesn't, and what rights you keep when you buy used. With the state's exact deadlines.

This guide summarizes the recorded scope for Georgia (O.C.G.A. §§ 10-1-780 a 10-1-798 (Georgia Lemon Law)). Eligibility, deadlines and notice requirements depend on the law and applicable coverage; read the state conditions below, including used-vehicle conditions where relevant.

What it covers

The Georgia Attorney General’s eligibility guidance addresses new vehicles bought, leased or registered in Georgia by the original consumer, with the title still in that person’s name, for personal/family/household use or qualifying businesses that purchase or lease 10 or fewer new vehicles yearly, excluding limousine rental services. A warranty or substantial use/value/safety problem and timely authorized repair attempts are required; confirm eligibility with the Consumer Protection Division.

Rights period: 24 months from delivery or 24,000 miles, whichever comes first (the "Lemon Law rights period"). If a repair is under way when it expires, the period extends until that repair is done.

When it is presumed a lemon

A serious safety defect repaired once without success; or the same defect repaired 3 times without success; or 30 cumulative days out of service (§ 10-1-784(a)(1)). Then notice to the manufacturer by return-receipt mail or overnight delivery; the manufacturer has 28 days for a final attempt.

The presumption does not replace the other requirements. Check the official conditions and procedure for your situation.

The process

1) Register with the Consumer Protection Division (online or 404-458-3827) and keep every repair order. 2) Written notice to the manufacturer and the 28-day final attempt. 3) If the manufacturer has a state-recognized informal dispute program, that first (decision within 40 days). 4) Free state arbitration before the Attorney General: apply up to one year after the rights period ends, or 60 days after the informal program concludes, whichever is later (§ 10-1-786(a)); hearing in about 40 days; appeal to superior court within 30 days.

Who handles it: Georgia Attorney General — Consumer Protection Division (State-Operated Arbitration).

Hotline: 404-458-3827 (registro Lemon Law) · 800-869-1123 (en Georgia) · 404-651-8600.

What you get if you win

Replacement or repurchase, your choice: purchase price, collateral charges and incidental costs, minus a use offset = price × miles / 120,000, or / 90,000 for a motor home (§ 10-1-782(23)). The manufacturer has 20 days from your written notice to repurchase or replace. If it does not appeal an award, it has 40 days from entry of the decision to comply; if it does not, the Attorney General may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000 a day (§ 10-1-787(d)).

What it does not cover

The Attorney General’s guidance lists exclusions including motorcycles, mopeds, ATVs, boats, trucks over 12,000 lb GVWR and non-self-propelled trailers/campers. Motor-home living or work areas have special scope rules. Used-title vehicles and other vehicle types require checking the statutory definition and current agency eligibility; this summary is not an exhaustive eligibility decision.

I bought used: what do I have left

More than it seems, even if it isn't the lemon law:

• The Buyers Guide (FTC). The guide states the dealer warranty. "As Is" describes that warranty; it does not by itself resolve other state-law rights or remaining manufacturer coverage. The federal rule applies in 48 states (Maine and Wisconsin have their own equivalent rules). If the sale is conducted in Spanish, the dealer must post a Spanish-language Buyers Guide.
• Remaining manufacturer warranty. Check the warranty contract and its duration and transfer conditions; vehicle age does not guarantee coverage.
• In Georgia: Georgia's Lemon Law does not cover used cars. What protects you: the mandatory word "rebuilt" on the title and the car (§ 40-3-37); mandatory written disclosure of lemon-law buybacks with a 1-year/12,000-mile warranty (§ 10-1-790); the Fair Business Practices Act, which the Attorney General enforces against dealers for deceptive advertising and practices (consumer.georgia.gov); and the seller's "warranty of title" in the title assignment, which makes them civilly liable if they fail to deliver the title (§ 40-3-32).