Question 1

How do I know if my car is a lemon?

Accepted Answer

Every state defines a lemon differently, but the core test is the same: a substantial defect covered under the manufacturer's warranty that has not been fixed after a reasonable number of attempts. Most states set that at 2–4 repair attempts or 30+ days out of service within the first 18–24 months or 18,000–24,000 miles. LemonIQ checks your state's exact threshold and tells you where you stand.

Question 2

Does my warranty need to be active?

Accepted Answer

For most state statutes, yes — the defect must have first appeared while the vehicle was under the manufacturer's original warranty. Extended warranties and dealer warranties typically don't count for lemon law purposes. LemonIQ asks about warranty status during screening because some states (like California) treat warranty-covered and out-of-warranty cases differently.

Question 3

What types of defects qualify?

Accepted Answer

The defect must be 'substantial' — meaning it impairs the vehicle's use, value, or safety. Classic qualifying defects include transmission failures, brake system failures, engine issues, recurring electrical faults, and persistent safety warnings. Cosmetic defects (paint blemishes, minor rattles) typically don't qualify unless they affect resale value in a meaningful, documented way.

Question 4

Does lemon law only cover new cars?

Accepted Answer

Primarily, yes — but some states extend coverage to used cars still under the original manufacturer's warranty, and a few states (like New York) have separate used-car lemon laws. LemonIQ covers all 51 jurisdictions (50 states + D.C.) and will tell you whether your state's statute applies to your vehicle based on model year and purchase date.

Question 5

What is the time limit to file a lemon law claim?

Accepted Answer

Each state has its own window, measured from the original purchase date or the first repair attempt. California's window is 18 months from delivery. New York's is 2 years or 18,000 miles. Texas is 24 months or 24,000 miles. LemonIQ surfaces the exact window for your state so you can see how much time you have — but it will never state your personal deadline as a fact. That's a legal judgment.

Question 6

My car has been repaired multiple times but never fixed. Does that count?

Accepted Answer

Yes — that's exactly what lemon law is designed for. The key is documentation: repair orders showing the same complaint, the same system, and the date range. LemonIQ's screening asks for your repair attempt count and walks you through the statutory threshold for your state.

Question 7

What is a demand letter and why do I need one?

Accepted Answer

A demand letter is a formal written notice to the manufacturer asserting your rights under your state's lemon law and demanding a remedy — typically a refund or replacement. Many states require or strongly recommend a written demand before you can pursue arbitration or litigation. Sending a certified demand letter also starts the clock on the manufacturer's response window and creates a documented record.

Question 8

How is the LemonIQ demand letter different from a template I can download?

Accepted Answer

Templates don't know your state's statute. The LemonIQ letter is generated from your specific vehicle, defect category, repair history, and state law — and is reviewed against the statutory language. It cites the exact code section, the correct remedy language, and the applicable deadline. A template from a general legal website may reference the wrong state, the wrong threshold, or miss required statutory elements.

Question 9

How long does it take to send a demand letter?

Accepted Answer

About 5 minutes from the end of your case screening. You review the draft, e-sign, confirm your address, and LemonIQ handles the rest — generating the USPS certified mail piece via Lob.com and tracking delivery automatically.

Question 10

What happens after the manufacturer receives my letter?

Accepted Answer

The manufacturer typically has 30 days to respond (the window varies by state). In the best case, they offer a full refund or replacement. In many cases, they offer a partial settlement or ignore the letter entirely. Your LemonIQ portal shows the countdown and logs any response. If they offer less than your case is worth or go silent, the attorney marketplace activates.

Question 11

Can I cancel the demand letter after signing?

Accepted Answer

Once a demand letter has been transmitted to USPS/Lob for mailing, it cannot be recalled — certified mail is a physical process. If you change your mind before submission, you can cancel in the portal at no charge. After mail is queued, the $79 is non-refundable because the third-party mailing cost has already been incurred.

Question 12

Do I need an attorney to use LemonIQ?

Accepted Answer

No. LemonIQ is designed for consumers who want to assert their own rights first — what lawyers call 'pro se.' Steps 1–5 (screening, demand letter, OEM tracking) require no attorney. If the OEM ignores or lowballs you and you want legal representation to escalate, that's when the marketplace activates.

Question 13

How does the attorney marketplace work?

Accepted Answer

When your case enters the marketplace, law firms in the LemonIQ network can see your Case Score, state, defect category, and OEM response history — but not your personal information. Firms that want your case flag interest. If you choose to engage a firm, they'll contact you directly and explain their contingency terms. You're never automatically matched; you always choose.

Question 14

What does 'contingency' mean for me?

Accepted Answer

Contingency means the attorney collects a fee (typically 25–40% of your settlement) only if you win. They cover all filing fees, court costs, and expert costs during the case. If you lose, you owe them nothing. It's the standard model for consumer lemon law cases because most consumers can't afford hourly legal fees for what can be a multi-year fight.

Question 15

Why do law firms pay $495 to access my case?

Accepted Answer

Law firms pay a placement fee to access cases that have already been through the demand process — cases with a documented repair history, a certified demand on file, and a tracked OEM non-response. That's a much stronger starting position than a cold inquiry call. The $495 comes from firm operating costs, not your recovery. You keep 100% of whatever you and the firm agree on.

Question 16

What if no firm is interested in my case?

Accepted Answer

If no firm expresses interest after a reasonable period, LemonIQ will notify you. In that scenario, your options include small claims court (which doesn't require an attorney in most states), state-run arbitration programs, or a fresh demand attempt if your facts have changed. LemonIQ will surface the relevant self-help resources for your state.

Question 17

What is the total cost to use LemonIQ?

Accepted Answer

Case screening is always free. The only consumer cost is a flat $79 to send a certified demand letter. Attorney representation through the marketplace is free to you — firms pay $495 per placement. There are no subscriptions, no hidden fees, and no court filing costs at the demand stage.

Question 18

Is the $79 refundable?

Accepted Answer

The demand letter fee is non-refundable once mailing is queued because the physical mailing cost is incurred immediately. However, you review and approve the letter before paying, so you won't be surprised by content. If there's a platform error (letter not delivered due to a system failure, wrong address caused by a LemonIQ bug), we will reprocess at no charge.

Question 19

What if I'm not happy with the outcome?

Accepted Answer

The demand letter is a statutory tool, not a guaranteed outcome. LemonIQ gives you the best instrument available for a pro se consumer — attorney-reviewed, statute-specific, certified mail. The OEM's decision is outside our control. If the outcome is unsatisfactory, the attorney marketplace step is your next escalation at no additional consumer cost.

Question 20

What is LemonIQ's Lemon Risk Score?

Accepted Answer

The Lemon Risk Score (0–100) is a composite measure of how strongly a vehicle or case presents against lemon law thresholds. It combines defect severity, repair attempt count, warranty status, state-specific statutory thresholds, and historical complaint data for your make, model, and year. A score above 70 typically signals strong eligibility.

Question 21

How does LemonIQ classify defects?

Accepted Answer

LemonIQ uses an AI classifier to map your description of the problem to one of several defect categories: powertrain, electrical/software, safety systems, HVAC, structural, and other. This categorization helps match your case to law firms with relevant experience and feeds into outcome probability estimates.

Question 22

Where does LemonIQ get its data?

Accepted Answer

Primary sources: NHTSA's public complaints and recalls database (updated continuously), state lemon law statutes (maintained in-house, reviewed quarterly), and Citrus Engine platform data from processed cases. LemonIQ does not use or purchase third-party VIN history reports (CarFax, AutoCheck) for case screening — NHTSA data is sufficient for statutory eligibility checks.

Question 23

Is my personal information shared with law firms?

Accepted Answer

No. When your case enters the attorney marketplace, firms see only anonymized case data: state, defect category, OEM, Case Score, and demand status. Your name, email, VIN, and contact information are never shared unless you explicitly choose to engage with a specific firm.

Questions people actually ask.

Eligibility

The Demand Letter Process

Attorneys & The Marketplace

Pricing & Refunds

Platform & Technology

What happens after you send a demand

Letter Mailed

OEM Receives Your Demand

Response Window

OEM Responds or Goes Silent

Attorney Marketplace (If Needed)

Still have questions?