Vehicle Types Covered

The Center for Auto Safety is the nation’s premier independent, member driven, non-profit consumer advocacy organization dedicated to improving vehicle safety, quality, and fuel economy on behalf of all drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

Vehicle Types Covered
This provision defines what vehicles are covered under the law. Some states arbitrarily restrict the coverage of the lemon law.  For example, Colorado is the worst by excluding vehicles that carry more than 10 passengers, motor homes and vehicles designed to travel with fewer than 4 wheels.  Massachusetts and New York have explicit used car lemon laws while others, including California, apply the new car lemon law to used cars which still are under the express factory warranty when sold.  Louisiana specifically covers all-terrain vehicles and water craft.   Some states exclude passenger vehicles used for business purposes.  Such provisions are open to dispute and may exclude people such as day care providers, real estate agents, rural mail carriers, nurses and other small business operators who can only afford a single vehicle.  Newer versions of lemon laws, such as California’s and Georgia’s, have extended the protection of the lemon law to small businesses.  Connecticut serves as a good example because it uses broad language to cover a wide range of vehicles.

 Connecticut General Statutes Annotated
42-179(a)

             (2) “motor vehicle” means a passenger motor vehicle, a passenger and commercial motor vehicle or a motorcycle, as defined in section 14-1, which is sold or leased in this state.