Louisiana Lemon Law Lemon law in the state of Louisiana is designed to help
consumers relieve themselves of defective yet new motor vehicles. Motor
vehicles are not the only consumer product that is eligible for lemon
compensation. Trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, computers,
and other named consumer products. Motor vehicles are, however, the
most commonly reported type of lemon.
When a motor vehicle is defective straight from the factory and still
under the manufacturer's express warranty the motor vehicle may be
eligible for compensation. A lot of paperwork is required in order to
report a lemon as well as to prove that a vehicle is a lemon. Proof of
attempted repairs will be required.
Eligibility Only certain vehicles are eligible to qualify for lemon
compensation. Such vehicles must have defects that impair the market
value of the automobile or impair the safety of the driver and
passengers. Such defects will often include seatbelt defects, break
defects, engine problems, and other similar impairments.
Louisiana law requires that a motor vehicle first undergo a reasonable
number of repair attempts before it can be reported in proper
documentation as a lemon. Such attempted repairs are required to be on
the same defect and normally includes three to four attempts. All
repair attempts must be made while the motor vehicle is still under
manufacturer warranty. If a motor vehicle is out of use for a total of
thirty days due to attempted repairs, the required number of repair
attempts will be waived.
If a motor vehicle is reported as a lemon following the expiration of
the express warranty, the manufacturer, agent, or dealer is not legally
required to attempt a repair. However, if the vehicle is reported as a
lemon while under the manufacturer's express warranty and the warranty
expires prior to an attempted repair by the manufacturer, agent, or
dealer, a repair is still required by law to take place through the
agent, dealer, or manufacturer.
Louisiana law states that the manufacturer, dealer, or agent is
required to restore the motor vehicle to its market value and factory
standard. If the motor vehicle cannot be fully restored to the factory
standard and market value then the consumer is eligible for
compensation.
Compensation Compensation for lemons comes in two forms. If the manufacturer,
dealer, or agent cannot repair the vehicle, it may be replaced. A
replacement vehicle is required to be of the same market value as the
lemon vehicle. A consumer may decline a replacement vehicle if he or
she wishes, in most cases. If no replacement is provided then the
consumer is eligible for refund compensation.
Refunds will include the full purchasing price of the motor vehicle as
well as registration fees, licensing fees, taxes, government fees, and
all other purchasing fees associated with motor vehicle purchase.
In both cases of refund and replacement the manufacturer, dealer, or
agent is not required to compensate for any cosmetic additions to the
lemon vehicle. Also if the lemon vehicle shows signs of neglect or
abuse the total amount may be subtracted from the lemon compensation
and refund.