Montana · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
New Motor Vehicle Warranties -- Remedies (Montana lemon law) (Mont. Code Ann. §§ 61-4-501 to 61-4-533) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Montana, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, during the warranty period, the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and is still there, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days after you notified the manufacturer, its agent or the dealer. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value or safety. The presumption does not apply unless the manufacturer first got written notice from you and had a chance to fix the defect.
Period: 2 years from original delivery or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first
Notify the manufacturer (or its agent) in writing during the warranty period. The presumption does not apply against a manufacturer that has not received prior written notice and a chance to fix the defect. The manufacturer must state in the warranty or owner's manual that written notice is required and give the name and address to send it to. The statute does not require certified mail.
If the manufacturer has a dispute program certified by the state, you must use it first before you can claim a refund or replacement under the lemon law. If the manufacturer has no certified program, you can ask for state arbitration; you pay a $100 filing fee, the manufacturer pays $750, hearings are held in Montana, and the arbitrator must decide within 60 days. If a certified manufacturer program did not follow the rules, you can appeal its decision to a state arbitrator.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a new one of the same model and style and equal value (or comparable market value if that is not available). Or it may instead take the vehicle back and refund the full purchase price, plus collateral charges (sales tax, property tax, license and registration fees, fees in lieu of tax) and incidental damages. It may deduct a use allowance: total contract price x miles driven before the manufacturer accepted the return / 100,000. The refund is split between you and any lender.
Attorney fees: The lemon law has no general rule giving a winning consumer attorney fees; a court may award costs and attorney fees only against a party who appeals an arbitration award without good cause.
Montana's lemon law covers new vehicles only. A later owner can use it only if the vehicle is still within the original 2-year/18,000-mile period.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. Notify the manufacturer (or its agent) in writing during the warranty period. The presumption does not apply against a manufacturer that has not received prior written notice and a chance to fix the defect. The manufacturer must state in the warranty or owner's manual that written notice is required and give the name and address to send it to. The statute does not require certified mail. Fill this in, copy the letter, sign it and send it by certified mail with return receipt. Keep a copy. Nothing you type here is sent to us; the letter is made in your browser.
Your vehicle is presumed a lemon if, during the warranty period, the same defect has been repaired 4 or more times and is still there, or the vehicle has been out of service for repairs for a total of 30 or more business days after you notified the manufacturer, its agent or the dealer. The defect must substantially impair the vehicle's use and market value or safety. The presumption does not apply unless the manufacturer first got written notice from you and had a chance to fix the defect.
2 years from original delivery or the first 18,000 miles, whichever comes first
Notify the manufacturer (or its agent) in writing during the warranty period. The presumption does not apply against a manufacturer that has not received prior written notice and a chance to fix the defect. The manufacturer must state in the warranty or owner's manual that written notice is required and give the name and address to send it to. The statute does not require certified mail.
If the manufacturer has a dispute program certified by the state, you must use it first before you can claim a refund or replacement under the lemon law. If the manufacturer has no certified program, you can ask for state arbitration; you pay a $100 filing fee, the manufacturer pays $750, hearings are held in Montana, and the arbitrator must decide within 60 days. If a certified manufacturer program did not follow the rules, you can appeal its decision to a state arbitrator.
The manufacturer must replace the vehicle with a new one of the same model and style and equal value (or comparable market value if that is not available). Or it may instead take the vehicle back and refund the full purchase price, plus collateral charges (sales tax, property tax, license and registration fees, fees in lieu of tax) and incidental damages. It may deduct a use allowance: total contract price x miles driven before the manufacturer accepted the return / 100,000. The refund is split between you and any lender.
Montana's lemon law covers new vehicles only. A later owner can use it only if the vehicle is still within the original 2-year/18,000-mile period.
Car not covered, or the period has passed? Federal warranty law may still help, and small claims court can handle smaller repair bills.
Federal warranty lawLast checked: Oct 2026.