Wyoming'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 Wyoming (W.S. 40-17-101). 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

New vehicles under 10,000 pounds unladen weight, sold or registered in Wyoming, with the manufacturer's written warranty. It also protects someone who receives the car while the warranty is still in effect. The defect must substantially impair use and market value.

Rights period: 1 year from the original delivery to the consumer. You must report the defect within that year; the repair must be made even if the year has ended.

When it is presumed a lemon

Within the first year: the same defect was repaired more than 3 times and continues, or the car was out of service for repair a cumulative 30 business days (W.S. 40-17-101(d)). The manufacturer must first get direct written notice and a reasonable chance to fix it (W.S. 40-17-101(h)). The period is extended by any time the car could not reasonably be repaired because of war, invasion, an act of terror, civil unrest, a strike, fire, flood or a natural disaster (W.S. 40-17-101(j)).

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

The process

There is no state arbitration. If the manufacturer has an informal dispute program that meets federal rules, you must use it first. Then you can sue in court and recover reasonable attorney's fees from the manufacturer.

Who handles it: Wyoming Attorney General — consumer-fraud complaints only / solo quejas por fraude; not lemon-law enforcement / no aplica la lemon law.

What you get if you win

Replacement with a new or comparable car of the same type and similarly equipped, or a refund of the full purchase price including all collateral charges, minus a reasonable allowance for use before the first report of the defect. The refund goes to the consumer and to any lienholder as their interest appears (W.S. 40-17-101(c)). Nothing in this law limits your other rights (W.S. 40-17-101(e)).

What it does not cover

Vehicles of 10,000 pounds or more; defects that do not substantially impair use and market value; defects from the consumer's abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications; used cars without a manufacturer's express warranty still in effect.

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 Wyoming: Wyoming has no used-car lemon law. You are protected by: mandatory brand disclosure on form MV-602 (W.S. 31-2-109); the Consumer Protection Act (W.S. 40-12-105), which bars deception such as calling a car new when it is used or damaged — complaints go in writing to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection and Antitrust Unit, 307-777-6397 or 307-777-8962, ag.consumer@wyo.gov, which investigates patterns of deception but cannot act as your lawyer; complaints about a licensed dealer, which go to WYDOT Compliance & Investigation, 307-777-3815; and the implied warranty of merchantability (W.S. 34.1-2-314), unless the seller excludes it with "as is" (W.S. 34.1-2-316).