District of Columbia Lemon Law Refund Calculator

How the District of Columbia buyback is calculated

Under the Automobile Consumer Protection Act of 1984.

• You choose between a comparable replacement vehicle and a refund. The statute says the manufacturer acts "at the option of the consumer".
• The refund is the full purchase price, including all sales tax, license fees, registration fees and any similar governmental charges. The refund clause does not list finance charges or towing, rental and out-of-pocket costs, so the estimate does not add them; an arbitrator may also award "any relief available under any other law".
• The manufacturer may deduct a reasonable allowance for your use of the vehicle beyond the first 12,000 miles, not to exceed 10 cents per mile, and a reasonable allowance for damage not attributable to normal wear or to the defect. The use allowance is a ceiling on a reasonable amount, not a fixed rate, so the low and expected figures take off 10 cents for each mile over 12,000 and the high figure takes off none. You can enter damage you accept is not normal wear and it is deducted.
• Refunds go to you and to the lienholder, if any, as your interests may appear on the ownership records kept by the Department of Public Works.
• The District lemon law states no multiplied damages for the new-vehicle remedy, and the estimate adds no penalty.
• A lessee is a consumer under the law, but the chapter has no separate lease refund provision, so a lease figure here is an estimate of what you paid.

District of Columbia lemon law: frequently asked questions

How much can I recover under the District of Columbia lemon law?

A refund of the full purchase price including sales tax, license fees, registration fees and similar governmental charges. The manufacturer may deduct a reasonable allowance for use over the first 12,000 miles (not more than 10 cents per mile) and for damage not due to normal wear or the defect. The calculator takes up to 10 cents a mile over 12,000 off at the low and expected figures.

Is there a mileage deduction?

The manufacturer may deduct a reasonable allowance not to exceed 10 cents per mile for your use beyond the first 12,000 miles of operation. The first 12,000 miles carry no allowance. The Attorney General's guide adds that the allowance for use does not apply to a replacement.

Do I have to go to arbitration first?

Yes. To seek the refund or replacement you must first submit a claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration. You may go to court only if the Board rejects the case or you reject the arbitration decision.

Can the arbitrator award attorney fees?

Yes. The arbitrator or panel may award the relief provided by the chapter, any relief available under any other law, and reasonable attorneys' fees, and the defendant may be assessed the costs of arbitration. The chapter does not address fees in a court action.

Does the District lemon law add penalties or multiplied damages?

The chapter states no multiplied damages for the new-vehicle remedy. Civil fines, penalties and fees may be imposed as alternative sanctions for an infraction of the chapter.