New Jersey used car lemon law
New Jersey has two lemon laws. The new-vehicle law runs against the manufacturer; the Used Car Lemon Law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 et seq., part of the Consumer Fraud Act) runs against the dealer who sold you the car — and it requires the dealer to hand you a written warranty with the sale. This page is the used law on its own. For the new-vehicle law, see the New Jersey filing guide. Last reviewed: October 2026.
⚡ Start here — three free tools
New Jersey lemon law quiz (3 minutes): compare your facts to the tests — pick "Used" when it asks.
Deadline calculator: the dates and windows on this page, from your delivery date.
Repair log: record each dealer visit as it happens — the warranty clock runs from the sale.
Who and what is covered
Per the Division of Consumer Affairs, the used law covers a vehicle that:
- was bought from a licensed dealer;
- is no more than seven model years old;
- has no more than 100,000 miles; and
- was sold for at least $3,000.
Private-party sales are not covered. Motorcycles, motor homes and off-road vehicles are excluded. If your sale falls outside those limits, this statute is not your route — other warranty law may still apply, and that is a question for a licensed New Jersey attorney.
The dealer’s written warranty
The dealer must give a written limited warranty with every covered sale. Its minimum length depends on the odometer mileage at sale:
| Mileage at sale | Minimum warranty |
|---|---|
| 24,000 miles or less | 90 days or 3,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| More than 24,000 but less than 60,000 | 60 days or 2,000 miles, whichever comes first |
| 60,000 miles or more | 30 days or 1,000 miles, whichever comes first |
Only in the highest-mileage tier may the consumer waive the warranty, and only in writing. Covered repairs carry a $50 deductible for each repair of a covered item, per the Division’s booklet. Keep the warranty document the dealer gave you — its dates and the sale odometer reading drive everything below.
The used-car tests
The Division’s booklet states the reasonable-attempt test for used cars: at least three attempts to repair the same material defect, and the material defect continues to exist — or the vehicle was out of service, waiting for the dealer to begin or complete repair of the material defect, for a cumulative total of 20 days or more during the warranty period. Note both tests are measured inside the short warranty window, not over the car’s life: a defect the dealer fixed, or one that first appears after the warranty ends, does not build this claim.
Where claims go, and the remedy
Used-car claims go to the same place as new-vehicle claims: the Lemon Law Unit of the Division of Consumer Affairs — and there is no filing fee for used-car Lemon Law applications. If the consumer prevails, the Division states that the dealer may be ordered to repurchase the used motor vehicle and provide a refund to the consumer. The claim runs against the dealer, not the manufacturer: name the selling dealer, and keep the manufacturer’s separate obligations (if any remain under a factory warranty) distinct.
The overlap with the new-vehicle law
A used purchase can sometimes fit the new-vehicle law instead: if the vehicle is still inside that law’s term of protection — under 24,000 miles and under two years from original delivery, with the defect reported in that window — the manufacturer claim described in the filing guide may be the stronger route. The two laws have different defendants, tests and documents; which one fits is a facts question worth care before you file anything.
What to do, step by step
- Pull the sale paperwork: the dealer’s written warranty, the sale date, and the odometer reading at sale. Confirm which warranty tier you are in and when it ends.
- Report the defect to the dealer in writing inside the warranty period, and keep dated proof.
- Log every repair visit (use the free repair log): dates in and out, what was attempted, whether the same material defect persists. The 3-attempt and 20-day tests are counted from these records.
- If a test is met and the dealer will not resolve it, apply to the Division’s Lemon Law Unit — no filing fee. The $29 packet’s New Jersey used-vehicle track drafts the claim narrative and a demand letter to the dealer.
Common questions
Does New Jersey have a lemon law for used cars?
Yes — a separate Used Car Lemon Law (N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 et seq.). It covers dealer-sold used vehicles no more than seven model years old, with no more than 100,000 miles, sold for at least $3,000, and it runs against the dealer, not the manufacturer.
What warranty must a New Jersey dealer give on a used car?
A written limited warranty whose minimum length depends on mileage at sale: 90 days / 3,000 miles at 24,000 miles or less; 60 days / 2,000 miles above 24,000 and under 60,000; 30 days / 1,000 miles at 60,000 or more. Only the top tier can be waived, and only in writing.
How many repair attempts does the New Jersey used car law allow?
The Division’s test: at least three attempts to repair the same material defect with the defect continuing, or 20 or more cumulative days out of service for that defect during the warranty period.
Is there a filing fee for a New Jersey used-car claim?
No. The Division of Consumer Affairs states there is no filing fee for used-car Lemon Law applications to its Lemon Law Unit.
Official sources: the Division of Consumer Affairs’ Lemon Law Unit — the unit that reviews used-car applications and states the coverage and tests summarized here — and the Used Car Lemon Law itself, N.J.S.A. 56:8-67 et seq. More primary sources are collected in the New Jersey filing guide, whose used-vehicle section this page expands.