Home / California Lemon Law Calculator
California Lemon Law Calculator
Reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq., founding attorney · Updated October 2026
Estimate your lemon law buyback in under a minute. Enter what you paid and when you first took the car in, and we will show the refund, the mileage offset, and what the manufacturer would pay off.
| Paid so far (down payment, payments, upfront fees) | |
| Out-of-pocket costs | |
| Minus mileage offset | |
| Loan or lease paid off by the manufacturer | |
| Civil penalty (up to 2x damages, only if the manufacturer acted willfully) |
Estimate only, not legal advice and not a guarantee of any result. Your contract and the facts of your case control the real number.
How a Lemon Law Buyback Is Calculated in California
Under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, when a manufacturer repurchases a lemon it must give back what you actually paid, not what the car is worth today. That includes your down payment, every monthly payment, and collateral charges like sales tax, license and registration fees. It also pays off whatever is left on your loan or lease, and covers incidental costs such as towing or rental cars (Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)).
The Mileage Offset, Explained
The manufacturer can subtract a usage offset for the miles you drove before you first brought the vehicle in for the defect:
Offset = (miles before the first repair visit / 120,000) x price paid
Example: you paid $50,000 and first took the car in for the problem at 6,000 miles. 6,000 / 120,000 = 0.05, and 0.05 x $50,000 = $2,500. Miles you drive after that first visit do not increase the offset. That is why the most common mistake we see is waiting too long to report a problem.
Buyback, Replacement or Cash and Keep?
- Buyback: you return the car and get the refund above, with the loan or lease paid off.
- Replacement: a comparable new vehicle; you may pay the offset.
- Cash and keep: you keep the car and receive a cash settlement, usually when the defect is less serious or you like the vehicle.
Leased Vehicles
Leases qualify too. The refund is based on what you paid under the lease (amount due at signing and monthly payments), minus the offset, and the manufacturer settles the remaining lease with the leasing company.
What Can Change Your Number
- Negative equity rolled in from a trade-in.
- Optional products such as service contracts, GAP or paint protection.
- Whether the manufacturer opted into the AB 1755 procedures that took effect in 2025.
- A civil penalty of up to two times damages if the manufacturer acted willfully.
Not sure your car qualifies? Read how the California lemon law works, or check your VIN for open recalls.
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Lemon Law Calculator FAQ
How is a California lemon law buyback calculated?
The manufacturer refunds what you paid toward the vehicle (down payment, monthly payments, and charges such as sales tax, registration and fees), pays off the remaining loan or lease balance, and adds incidental costs. It may then subtract a mileage offset for the miles you drove before you first brought the vehicle in for the problem (Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)).
How is the mileage offset calculated?
Miles driven before the first repair visit for the defect, divided by 120,000, multiplied by the price you paid for the vehicle. For example, 6,000 miles on a $50,000 vehicle is a $2,500 offset.
Does the offset start at the first repair visit even if the dealer could not find the problem?
In our cases, yes when the same problem is later confirmed. The offset is based on the first time you brought the vehicle in for that problem, which is why it pays to take the car in as soon as the problem shows up.
Can I get more than a refund?
If the manufacturer willfully failed to comply with the law, a court can award a civil penalty of up to two times your damages, in addition to the refund (Civil Code 1794(c)). Manufacturers often factor that risk into settlements.
How much does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Is this calculator exact?
No. It is an estimate. Your contract may include items that change the number, such as negative equity from a trade-in or optional add-on products, and rules can differ for manufacturers that opted into AB 1755. An attorney can calculate it from your actual contract for free.
Attorney advertising. This calculator gives an estimate for information only and is not legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.