Nebraska Lemon Law Refund Calculator

How the Nebraska buyback is calculated

Under the Nebraska Lemon Law.

• The manufacturer shall replace the vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle or accept its return and refund the full purchase price. The statute does not say who chooses between the two.
• The refund includes all sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and any similar governmental charges. Refunds are made to you and any lienholder as their interests may appear.
• The refund is reduced by a reasonable allowance for your use: the amount directly attributable to use by you and any previous owner before your first report of the problem to the manufacturer, agent or dealer, and during any later period when the vehicle was not out of service for repair.
• The statute gives no per-mile or percentage formula for that allowance, so the calculator uses a rough proxy based on the miles on the odometer when the vehicle is returned (nearly all use counts, since the allowance runs on after your first report except while the vehicle is out of service for repair). Treat the figure as an estimate: the statute sets no formula and no cap.
• Finance charges, towing, rental and other incidental costs are not in the refund clause, and the act does not limit rights or remedies under any other law (§ 60-2708). The act has no penalty or multiplied damages, but the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to a prevailing consumer. The act does not address a lease refund, so a lease estimate is an approximation.

Nebraska lemon law: frequently asked questions

How much can I recover under the Nebraska lemon law?

The full purchase price including all sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and similar governmental charges, less a reasonable allowance for your use. Finance charges and incidental costs are not in the refund clause, the act does not limit other law (§ 60-2708), and it has no multiplied damages. Run your numbers through our calculator for a personalized estimate.

How is the allowance for my use figured in Nebraska?

The statute says it is the amount directly attributable to use by you and any previous owner before your first report of the problem, and during any later period when the vehicle is not out of service for repair. It gives no per-mile formula, so our calculator can only show an approximation.

Does the manufacturer have to replace the car or refund my money?

The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle or accept its return and refund the price. The text says "or" and does not say who chooses between the two.

Will the manufacturer pay my attorney?

In any action under the act, the court shall award reasonable attorney's fees to the prevailing party if the prevailing party is the consumer. The text provides no award to a prevailing manufacturer.

Do I have to use the manufacturer's dispute program first?

Only if the manufacturer has established or participates in a dispute settlement procedure certified by the Director of Motor Vehicles. In that case the refund or replacement section does not apply to a consumer who has not first resorted to it. Where the manufacturer has no certified procedure, the statute imposes no such requirement.