Washington Lemon Law

D.C.'s Automobile Consumer Protection Act of 1984 (D.C. Code §§ 50-501 to 50-510) requires consumers to first submit their claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration within the D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (formerly DCRA). The Board reviews the claim within 5 business days to determine eligibility and issues a decision within 60 days of accepting the case. If the Board rejects the claim for arbitration, or if the consumer rejects the arbitration award, the consumer may then file a civil action in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia at 500 Indiana Avenue NW. Either party can petition for trial de novo within 20 days of the Board's decision.

D.C.'s Lemon Law covers new motor vehicles registered in the District that develop a material defect within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years following original delivery, whichever is earlier. That 18,000-mile cap is unusually low (Arkansas is 24,000, Maryland is 18,000 too, Virginia is 18 months) and means heavy D.C. commuters often hit the mileage cap well before the time cap. The defect must significantly impair use, value, or safety. Coverage extends to subsequent transferees during the warranty period and to lessees who lease new vehicles registered in D.C.

D.C. Code § 50-501 et seq. presumes a reasonable number of repair attempts when, within the first 18,000 miles or 2 years after original delivery (whichever is earlier), the same non-safety-related nonconformity has been subject to repair four or more times and continues to exist, or when the vehicle has been out of service for cumulative 30 or more calendar days. For safety-related defects likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, only one unsuccessful repair attempt is required. The manufacturer must have received notice and an opportunity to cure before you submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration.

Coverage generally follows the state of registration. If you bought your vehicle at a Maryland or Virginia dealer but registered it in D.C. and have D.C. plates, D.C.'s Lemon Law typically applies and your claim goes to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration. If you bought and registered in Maryland (Maryland's Lemon Law, Md. Code Comm. Law § 14-1501 et seq.) or Virginia (Virginia Motor Vehicle Warranty Enforcement Act, Va. Code § 59.1-207.9 et seq.), the buying-state law typically governs. Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims are available regardless of state and can be filed in Superior Court or the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

D.C. Code § 50-502 caps the manufacturer's deduction for consumer use at 10 cents per mile beyond 12,000 miles, plus an allowance for non-wear damage. That's one of the most consumer-friendly offset rules in the country. The first 12,000 miles of use are FREE for offset purposes (no deduction), and the deduction beyond that is capped at $0.10 per mile regardless of the vehicle's price. Compare that to Arkansas's (price x miles / 120,000) formula, which on a $50,000 vehicle yields an offset of roughly $0.42 per mile from mile one. The D.C. cap leaves more money in the consumer's refund.

Under D.C. Code § 50-502 the manufacturer must either replace the vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle or accept return and refund the full purchase price including D.C. sales tax, license fees, registration fees, and similar governmental charges. The deduction for consumer use is capped at 10 cents per mile beyond 12,000 miles plus an allowance for non-wear damage. A civil penalty of up to $1,500 is available against a manufacturer that violates the Act, plus actual damages, costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. Many consumers also pursue parallel claims under the D.C. Consumer Protection Procedures Act (D.C. Code § 28-3905(k)), which authorizes treble damages or up to $1,500 per violation, punitive damages, and attorney's fees in private actions for unlawful trade practices.

Yes. Under D.C. Code § 50-503, consumers must first submit the claim to the Board of Consumer Claims Arbitration within the D.C. Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. The Board determines within 5 business days whether the claim qualifies for arbitration and issues a decision within 60 days of acceptance. If the Board rejects the case for arbitration, or if you reject the arbitration award, you may then file in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Either party can petition the court for trial de novo within 20 days of the Board's decision. The 4-year statute of limitations under D.C. Code § 50-507 runs from the date of original delivery.