Maryland Lemon Law: Do You Qualify?
Under the Md. Code Ann., Com. Law §§ 14-1501 to 14-1504 (Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act).
Maryland's lemon law (the Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act) covers new vehicles registered in Maryland, including motorcycles, for a warranty period of 24 months or 18,000 miles from original delivery, whichever comes first. A defect first reported inside that window stays covered even if later repairs happen after it closes. Maryland's impairment test is stricter than most (the defect must substantially impair both use and market value), but its remedies are solid and a special 1-attempt rule applies to braking and steering failures. If your car keeps going back for the same problem, you may qualify; the free checker below applies Maryland's rules to your answers in minutes.
Maryland lemon law at a glance
- Coverage window
- 24 months from original delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. Warranty-extension feature: a nonconformity first reported in-window keeps the manufacturer on the hook for that defect even after the window closes.
- Repair attempts
- 4 or more attempts for the same defect. A narrow 1-attempt path exists for a braking- or steering-system failure that was repaired at least once, after notice and opportunity to cure, where the vehicle still fails Maryland safety inspection after the repair.
- Days out of service
- 30 cumulative calendar days out of service, and the days may be aggregated across any combination of warranty defects (no same-defect linkage for this test).
- Written notice
- The consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the warranty period; the manufacturer then has a 30-day cure opportunity. Not having sent it yet is a curable step, not a disqualifier.
- Used vehicles
- Limited: a used vehicle can qualify only while still inside the 24-month / 18,000-mile window measured from original delivery and under the original manufacturer's warranty. Motorcycles are explicitly covered, a notable Maryland inclusion.
Check your Maryland eligibility now
Free, anonymous, and specific to Maryland. Answer a few questions about your vehicle and repair history to see whether you may qualify.
Maryland lemon law: frequently asked questions
- What qualifies as a lemon under the Maryland lemon law?
- A defect covered by the manufacturer's warranty that substantially impairs both the use and the market value of the vehicle, still unfixed after 4 repair attempts or 30 cumulative days out of service within 24 months or 18,000 miles of original delivery. Maryland's both-use-and-value test is more demanding than the use-value-or-safety wording most states use.
- What is Maryland's braking and steering 1-attempt rule?
- A narrow statutory path: if a braking- or steering-system failure was repaired at least once during the warranty period, the manufacturer was notified and given a chance to cure, and the vehicle still fails Maryland's safety inspection standards after the repair, a single attempt can be enough. It applies only to braking and steering, not to safety defects generally.
- Does the Maryland lemon law cover motorcycles or used cars?
- Motorcycles yes, explicitly, which distinguishes Maryland from New York, Florida, Illinois, and Pennsylvania. Used vehicles only in a limited way: the car must still be inside the 24-month / 18,000-mile window that started at original delivery and under the original manufacturer's warranty.
- Do I need to send a certified letter before making a Maryland claim?
- The statute calls for the consumer to report the nonconformity to the manufacturer by certified mail, return receipt requested, during the warranty period, after which the manufacturer gets a final 30-day cure opportunity. If you have not sent it yet, that is a fixable next step your attorney can handle, not a bar to your claim.
- What can I recover and how long do I have in Maryland?
- A qualifying consumer elects between a comparable replacement and a refund of the full purchase price plus collateral charges, minus a use allowance based on mileage when the defect was first reported. Attorney fees are recoverable, and lemon-law actions must be brought within 3 years of original delivery.
Think you qualify? Estimate your refund with the Maryland lemon law calculator →
Statutes cited on this page
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1502 (Maryland Automotive Warranty Enforcement Act: manufacturer duty to repair, refund, or replace)
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1501(e)(1) (Warranty period: 24 months from delivery or 18,000 miles, whichever earlier)
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1502(d) (Reasonable number of repair attempts: statutory presumption; 4-attempt (d)(1), 30-day cumulative (d)(2), braking-steering 1-attempt (d)(3))
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1502(d)(3) (1-attempt braking/steering presumption: post-repair safety-inspection failure)
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1502(b)(1) (Consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer by certified mail during the warranty period)
- Md. Code Ann., Com. Law § 14-1502(k) (Lemon Law 3-year limitations clause; consistent with Cts. & Jud. Proc. § 5-101)
This page summarizes the statute in plain language and is not legal advice. The linked official text controls.