Massachusetts Lemon Law Buyback Calculator

How the Massachusetts buyback is calculated

Under the Massachusetts Lemon Law.

• The Massachusetts lemon law lets you recover a refund (or replacement) when the manufacturer can't fix a covered defect after a reasonable number of attempts.
• The only deduction is a mileage offset for your use of the car. It is calculated as the miles on the odometer when the manufacturer accepts the car back, divided by 100,000, times the contract price. There is no free-mileage floor, so every mile counts and settling sooner means a smaller deduction.
• On a $35,000 car returned with 7,000 miles, the offset is (7,000 / 100,000) x $35,000 = $2,450, leaving roughly $32,550 before tax, fees, and other recoverable items are added back.
• Your refund starts from the contract price and adds back collateral charges: sales tax, registration fees, finance charges you paid, dealer-installed options, plus towing and rental costs you covered while the car was in the shop.
• If the manufacturer's conduct was willful or knowing, the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act (Chapter 93A) can raise your recovery to as much as three times your actual damages, with your attorney fees paid by the manufacturer on top.

Massachusetts lemon law: frequently asked questions

How much can I recover under the Massachusetts lemon law?

A buyback generally refunds the contract price plus collateral charges like sales tax, registration, finance charges, dealer-added options, and any towing or rental costs you paid, minus a mileage offset for your use of the car. If the manufacturer acted willfully, Chapter 93A can raise your recovery to as much as three times your actual damages, and your attorney fees are paid separately by the manufacturer. Run your numbers through our calculator to see a personalized estimate.

How does the mileage deduction work?

Massachusetts uses a single statutory formula: the miles on your odometer when the manufacturer accepts the car back, divided by 100,000, multiplied by the contract price. So a car returned at 7,000 miles loses 7 percent of its price to the offset. Unlike some states, there is no free-mileage allowance subtracted first, so every mile counts. That makes the mileage offset the main reason to resolve your claim sooner rather than later: the longer you drive the car, the larger the deduction grows.

Is there a state arbitration program I can use?

Yes. The Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation runs the Massachusetts New Car Arbitration Program, which is a low-cost way to press a buyback claim without going straight to court. A decision typically comes within about 45 days, and the result is binding on the manufacturer but not on you, so you can reject it and still sue if you're not satisfied. Many consumers use it as leverage in negotiation. Treat these timelines as general estimates, since each case differs.

Do I have to pay the attorney out of my recovery?

No. A prevailing consumer is awarded reasonable attorney fees and costs, and the manufacturer pays them separately, on top of your buyback. Chapter 93A also makes fees mandatory for willful violations. That is why most Massachusetts lemon law attorneys work on contingency: their fees do not come out of your refund, so your estimated recovery is what you keep.

How long does a Massachusetts lemon law claim take?

It varies with the strength of your repair records and how willing the manufacturer is to settle. State arbitration decisions often come within about 45 days, while negotiated settlements can take a few months and contested cases that head toward litigation can take a year or more. A well-documented repair history, with multiple attempts and long out-of-service stretches, tends to move a manufacturer to settle faster. These are general estimates, not guarantees for your case.