Wondering what a California lemon law buyback might be worth? Use the calculator below for a rough estimate, then have your actual numbers reviewed at no cost.
Enter your numbers for a rough estimate of a California lemon law buyback. This is an educational estimate only, not a guarantee or legal advice.
When a manufacturer repurchases a lemon, California’s Song-Beverly Act generally requires it to refund what you paid toward the vehicle — your down payment, the monthly payments you have made, and the remaining loan payoff — minus a statutory usage offset for the miles you drove before the defect was first reported.
The usage offset is calculated with a set formula: the purchase price multiplied by the mileage at first repair, divided by 120,000. So the earlier in the vehicle’s life the problem appeared, the smaller the deduction. Only the mileage before your first repair attempt counts — not the miles you have driven since.
A real buyback often recovers more than the base estimate above. Depending on your case, you may also recover:
Because these can substantially change the total, the estimate here is a floor for a straightforward buyback, not a ceiling.
Every case turns on its documents — your purchase contract, repair orders, and warranty. The offset, the incidental costs, and whether a civil penalty applies all depend on the specific facts. For a real assessment, contact The Hashemi Law Firm for a no fee review, or learn more about a vehicle buyback and how the lemon law works.
The manufacturer refunds what you paid toward the vehicle — down payment, monthly payments, and remaining payoff — minus a statutory usage offset equal to the price times the mileage at first repair divided by 120,000.
It is a deduction for the use you got before the defect was first reported, calculated as purchase price × miles-at-first-repair ÷ 120,000. Miles driven after the first repair attempt are not counted.
Yes. A buyback generally refunds your down payment, the payments you have made, and pays off the remaining loan balance, subject to the usage offset.
Often yes. You may also recover incidental costs like towing and rental, and a civil penalty of up to two times actual damages if the manufacturer acted willfully. Attorney fees are paid by the manufacturer.
No. It is an educational estimate based on the standard buyback formula. Your actual recovery depends on your documents and the facts of your case. Contact us for a no fee review of your specific numbers.
An estimate is a starting point. We’ll review your actual contract and repair records at no cost.