Nevada Lemon Law Refund Calculator

How the Nevada buyback is calculated

Under the Nevada Lemon Law.

• Under NRS 597.630(1), if after a reasonable number of attempts the manufacturer cannot conform the vehicle to its express warranty, and the defect substantially impairs the use and value of the vehicle to you and is not the result of abuse, neglect or unauthorized modifications, it must either replace the vehicle with a comparable one or accept the vehicle back and refund your money.
• The refund is the full purchase price including all sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and other similar governmental charges, less a reasonable allowance for your use.
• The allowance is the amount directly attributable to your use before you first reported the problem to the manufacturer, agent or dealer, and during any later period when the vehicle was not out of service for repairs.
• Nevada gives no per-mile formula, cap or odometer measure for that allowance, so this calculator does not subtract one. Treat the result as the refund before the allowance; the manufacturer may claim one.
• The refund is paid to you and your lienholder, if you have one, as your interests may appear. The refund clause does not list finance charges or incidental costs such as towing or rental cars, and the statute does not say how a lease refund is figured, so a lease estimate is an approximation. The act does not limit any other right or remedy you may have by law or by agreement (NRS 597.670).

Nevada lemon law: frequently asked questions

How much can I recover under the Nevada lemon law?

A refund of the full purchase price, including sales taxes, license fees, registration fees and similar governmental charges, less a reasonable allowance for your use (NRS 597.630(1)(b)). The statute does not give a formula for the allowance, and its refund clause does not list finance charges or incidental costs. Run your numbers through the calculator for a starting estimate.

How is the allowance for use worked out in Nevada?

The statute defines it as the amount directly attributable to your use before you first reported the problem to the manufacturer, agent or dealer, and during any later period when the vehicle was not out of service for repairs. After your first report, time in the shop does not count against you. There is no per-mile formula or cap in the sections we reviewed, so the figure is not fixed by statute.

Can I choose a replacement instead of a refund?

The statute lists the two options, replacement with a comparable vehicle or a refund, joined by "or", as what "the manufacturer shall" do, and does not say who chooses. A lawyer can tell you how to approach that.

Do I get attorney fees or extra damages under the Nevada lemon law?

The basic lemon law sections (NRS 597.600 to 597.630) do not provide for attorney fees or multiplied damages. Fees and punitive damages are available only for a violation of the sections on reselling returned vehicles (NRS 597.688). The act does not limit any other right or remedy you may have by law or by agreement (NRS 597.670).

Who gets the refund if I still owe money on the vehicle?

Refunds are made to the buyer and the lienholder, if any, as their interests may appear (NRS 597.630(1)(b)).