Rhode Island · Lemon law · Updated Oct 2026
Rhode Island Lemon Law (Consumer Enforcement of Motor Vehicle Warranties) (R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 31-5.2-1 to 31-5.2-14) protects buyers of new vehicles that can't be fixed. Here is what counts as a lemon in Rhode Island, the notice you must send and what you can get back.
Your car is presumed a lemon if, within the term of protection, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists or came back, or the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. The manufacturer then gets one more chance to fix it, lasting no more than 7 calendar days, starting when it knew or should have known the limit was reached.
Period: 1 year or 15,000 miles from original delivery, whichever comes first (the 'term of protection'). A replacement vehicle gets a new 1-year/15,000-mile term.
The statute does not require a specific written notice; you must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, dealer or lessor during the term of protection. Because the manufacturer gets a final 7-day chance once it knows the limit has been met, a written notice to the manufacturer helps start that clock.
If the manufacturer has an approved dispute program and told you about it in writing at delivery, you must first use either that program or the state's Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. The state board charges a $20 filing fee, must decide within 90 days, and you have 5 days to accept or reject; if you accept, the manufacturer must comply within 30 days or appeal to Superior Court with a bond.
Rhode Island Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board (Department of Attorney General)
At your choice, a refund or a comparable new replacement vehicle. A refund covers the full contract or lease price including trade-in credits, plus sales tax, registration fee, finance charges and dealer-added non-removable options; towing and rental costs are also covered if not provided free. If a replacement is not delivered within 30 days, you get the refund. The use deduction is the contract price times miles driven before your first report (plus miles driven later while the car was not in for repair), divided by 100,000. For a replacement, the manufacturer pays the registration transfer fees and sales tax.
Attorney fees: Yes. The court must award reasonable attorney fees to a consumer who wins (§ 31-5.2-11).
Deadline: You must sue within 3 years of original delivery, or within 2 years of the date the car reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier (§ 31-5.2-12). The deadline is paused while you are in a dispute program and for 30 days after its final decision (§ 31-5.2-7).
Rhode Island has a separate used-car warranty law (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-5.4): dealers must give a written warranty of at least 60 days/3,000 miles on cars with 36,000 miles or less, and 30 days/1,000 miles on cars with 36,001-100,000 miles, covering major parts like the engine, transmission, brakes and steering. If the dealer cannot fix a covered defect that substantially impairs the car's value, it must take the car back and refund the price.
Most states require you to tell the manufacturer in writing and give it a last chance to fix the car. The statute does not require a specific written notice; you must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, dealer or lessor during the term of protection. Because the manufacturer gets a final 7-day chance once it knows the limit has been met, a written notice to the manufacturer helps start that clock. 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 car is presumed a lemon if, within the term of protection, the same defect was repaired 4 or more times and still exists or came back, or the car was out of service for repairs a total of 30 or more calendar days. The manufacturer then gets one more chance to fix it, lasting no more than 7 calendar days, starting when it knew or should have known the limit was reached.
1 year or 15,000 miles from original delivery, whichever comes first (the 'term of protection'). A replacement vehicle gets a new 1-year/15,000-mile term.
The statute does not require a specific written notice; you must report the defect to the manufacturer, its agent, dealer or lessor during the term of protection. Because the manufacturer gets a final 7-day chance once it knows the limit has been met, a written notice to the manufacturer helps start that clock.
If the manufacturer has an approved dispute program and told you about it in writing at delivery, you must first use either that program or the state's Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. The state board charges a $20 filing fee, must decide within 90 days, and you have 5 days to accept or reject; if you accept, the manufacturer must comply within 30 days or appeal to Superior Court with a bond.
At your choice, a refund or a comparable new replacement vehicle. A refund covers the full contract or lease price including trade-in credits, plus sales tax, registration fee, finance charges and dealer-added non-removable options; towing and rental costs are also covered if not provided free. If a replacement is not delivered within 30 days, you get the refund. The use deduction is the contract price times miles driven before your first report (plus miles driven later while the car was not in for repair), divided by 100,000. For a replacement, the manufacturer pays the registration transfer fees and sales tax.
You must sue within 3 years of original delivery, or within 2 years of the date the car reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier (§ 31-5.2-12). The deadline is paused while you are in a dispute program and for 30 days after its final decision (§ 31-5.2-7).
Rhode Island has a separate used-car warranty law (R.I. Gen. Laws ch. 31-5.4): dealers must give a written warranty of at least 60 days/3,000 miles on cars with 36,000 miles or less, and 30 days/1,000 miles on cars with 36,001-100,000 miles, covering major parts like the engine, transmission, brakes and steering. If the dealer cannot fix a covered defect that substantially impairs the car's value, it must take the car back and refund the price.
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.