Rhode Island Lemon Law

Rhode Island actually has two lemon laws. The new-vehicle Lemon Law (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2) covers automobiles, trucks, motorcycles, and vans under 10,000 pounds registered weight that were sold, leased, or replaced after May 11, 1984, for personal, family, or household use. The Used Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.4) requires dealers to provide minimum written warranties on most used vehicles based on mileage at sale. Motorized campers are excluded from the new-vehicle law. The vehicle must be registered in Rhode Island, and the defect must substantially impair use, market value, or safety.

For new vehicles under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2, the presumption applies if the same defect has been subject to repair four or more times within one year or 15,000 miles (whichever ends first), OR the vehicle has been out of service for repair for a cumulative 30 or more days within that period. For used vehicles under § 31-5.4, the threshold is lower: three repair attempts for the same defect by the selling dealer within the warranty period, OR 15 cumulative days out of service for repair within the warranty period. Rhode Island's used-car standard is among the most consumer-friendly in the country.

Yes, Rhode Island is one of the few states with a robust used-car lemon law. Under the Used Motor Vehicle Warranties Act (R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.4), dealers must provide written warranties on most used vehicles. Warranty length depends on the odometer at sale: vehicles with under 36,000 miles get longer protection than higher-mileage cars. If the same defect persists after 3 repair attempts, or the vehicle is out of service for repair for 15+ cumulative days during the warranty period, the dealer must refund the purchase price (less reasonable use). Private-party sales and certain very-high-mileage vehicles are excluded.

Rhode Island runs a state Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board within the Office of the Attorney General that handles new-vehicle lemon law disputes (only). To use it, file a request for arbitration with the Board. The Board must issue a decision within 90 days of accepting jurisdiction. The decision is binding on the manufacturer but not on the consumer; consumers can appeal to Rhode Island Superior Court. Using the state Board is optional unless the manufacturer's qualifying private informal dispute settlement procedure has been disclosed and made available, in which case that procedure must be used first.

Under R.I. Gen. Laws § 31-5.2, any action must be commenced within three years of the date of original delivery, OR within two years after the date the odometer reached 15,000 miles, whichever is earlier. Time spent in arbitration tolls these deadlines. For used-vehicle claims under § 31-5.4, the action must typically be brought within the standard contract limitations period. Federal Magnuson-Moss claims generally borrow Rhode Island's four-year UCC limitations period. Because the new-vehicle deadline is shorter than many states, file early - waiting until the warranty ends can extinguish your claim.

For new vehicles, you may receive a comparable replacement vehicle or a refund of the full purchase price plus collateral charges (sales tax, registration, finance charges), minus a reasonable allowance for use as calculated by the Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board based on miles driven before the first repair. For used vehicles, the dealer must refund the purchase price less reasonable use. Both statutes shift reasonable attorney fees and costs to the prevailing consumer. Rhode Island also requires that vehicles returned to the manufacturer cannot be resold or re-leased in-state without clear written disclosure of the lemon law buyback to the next buyer.