Can I Get Reimbursed for Repairs, Towing and Rentals I Paid For?

Published October 19, 2026 · Updated October 19, 2026 · California lemon law

The Short Answer

Costs That Are Often Part of a Claim

• Towing to the dealer when the car would not run or was unsafe
• Rental cars while the car was in the shop for the defect
• Diagnostic or repair charges you paid for the defect
• Rideshare or transit costs while the car was unavailable, with receipts
• Parts you were charged for that should have been covered by warranty
• Registration fees paid while the defect was ongoing

What the Law Calls Incidental Damages

When a car is a lemon, the problem is rarely just the car. Owners pay for tows, rent cars, take rideshares to work, and sometimes pay for repairs that should have been covered. California law recognizes that these costs are part of the harm.

Under Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)(B), restitution in a lemon law buyback is the actual price paid or payable, including collateral charges like sales tax, license and registration fees, plus incidental damages. In plain terms, incidental damages include reasonable repair, towing and rental car costs. In a replacement, the manufacturer must also pay for incidental damages along with the new vehicle.

The word reasonable matters. A tow from the side of the freeway to the nearest dealer is reasonable. A luxury rental when a standard car would do may be questioned. A repair bill for a problem that has nothing to do with the defect is not an incidental cost of that defect. The closer the link between the expense and the warranty problem, the stronger the claim for it.

Civil Code 1794 also allows a buyer to recover damages caused by a warranty violation, and if the manufacturer's violation was willful, Civil Code 1794(c) allows a civil penalty of up to two times actual damages. Whether a penalty applies depends on the facts.

Towing Costs

Towing is one of the most common incidental costs in lemon law cases, especially with stalling, loss of power, electrical failures and transmission problems. If the car would not start, would not move, or was unsafe to drive, having it towed to an authorized dealer is the right move.

Many new car warranties include roadside assistance that covers towing to the nearest dealer. Use it when you can. It creates a record with the manufacturer and saves you money. If roadside assistance was not available or took too long, keep the tow company's invoice. It should show the date, the pickup location, the drop-off location and the amount.

Tow records do double duty. They support your reimbursement, and they show how serious the problem was. A car that had to be towed for a loss of power is strong evidence that the defect substantially impairs safety. Make sure the dealer's repair order also notes that the car arrived by tow.

If you were stranded far from home, you may also have paid for things like a hotel night or a ride back from the dealer. Keep those receipts too and note why they were needed. Whether a given cost is treated as reasonable depends on the facts, but you cannot claim what you cannot prove, so save first and sort it out with your attorney later.

Rental Cars and Other Ways to Get Around

When your car is in the shop for a warranty defect, you still need to get to work, school and appointments. Before you rent a car yourself, ask the dealer whether it offers a loaner or whether the warranty includes rental coverage during repairs. Some do, and using that coverage saves you the cost and creates a record.

If no loaner is available and you rent your own car, keep the rental agreement and the final receipt. Rent a vehicle similar to yours, not a big upgrade. The rental dates should line up with the dates on the repair order. If they do not, write a short note explaining why, such as waiting for a part.

Rideshare, taxi and transit costs while your car was unavailable may also be part of the claim. Save digital receipts and note which repair visit each one relates to. These costs are more often questioned than rentals, so documentation matters even more.

• Ask for a loaner or warranty rental coverage first
• Rent a comparable car, not an upgrade
• Match rental dates to the repair order dates
• Save rideshare and transit receipts with dates

Repairs You Paid For Yourself

Owners sometimes pay a dealer for a diagnosis or repair that should have been covered, especially when the dealer first blames something outside the warranty. If the problem later turns out to be the warranty defect, that payment can be part of your incidental damages. Keep the invoice and any notes the dealer gave you.

Independent shop repairs are more complicated. Repairs at an independent shop, or done yourself, do not count as repair attempts for lemon law purposes, because the manufacturer's authorized dealers need the chance to fix the defect. But the money you spent may still be claimable as an incidental cost if it was reasonable and tied to the defect. Your attorney will look at the facts.

The practical lesson is to use the authorized dealer for warranty problems whenever you can. If you had to use another shop, for example because you were stranded far from a dealer, keep the invoice and write down why. Do not let an independent repair become a substitute for the dealer visits that build your case.

Parts are another area to watch. If a dealer charged you for a part that should have been covered under warranty, or you paid a service contract deductible for a repair the factory warranty should have covered, keep that paperwork. These charges are easy to forget months later, but they can be part of what you paid because of the defect.

Example: Kevin's Folder of Receipts

This is a made-up example to show how costs are documented. It is not a real client, and it does not describe any result.

Kevin bought a new sedan that kept losing power steering assist. The first time, he was on his way to work and had it towed to the dealer, paying the tow company because he did not know about roadside assistance. The dealer kept the car for nine days and had no loaners, so he rented a compact car. On the second visit, the dealer first said the issue was outside the warranty and charged him a diagnostic fee, then later confirmed the warranty defect.

Kevin kept every receipt in one folder. On each one, he wrote the repair order number and a short note. He also saved two rideshare receipts from days when the rental was not ready. When his attorney prepared the claim, those receipts were listed as incidental damages next to the buyback figures.

The manufacturer questioned one of the rideshare trips because it did not line up with a repair date. Kevin's note explained it. The example shows how small habits make the reimbursement easier to prove.

Costs That Are Often Disputed

Not every expense connected to owning a lemon is reimbursed. Being honest about the gray areas helps you set expectations and focus on the costs that matter most. Every case is different, and an attorney can tell you how a particular cost is likely to be treated.

Routine maintenance, like oil changes and tire rotations, is part of owning any car and usually is not tied to the defect. Fuel for your normal driving is usually not an incidental cost. Upgrades and accessories you added after purchase are often handled separately from the buyback. Lost time from work and inconvenience are commonly argued about.

Out-of-pocket costs that are directly caused by the defect have the best chance. Think about each expense this way: would I have paid this if the car did not have the defect? If the honest answer is no, keep the receipt and tell your attorney about it.

A simple spreadsheet or notebook makes this easier. List each cost with the date, the vendor, the amount, the repair order it relates to, and a one-line reason. Attach the receipts in the same order. When your attorney prepares the claim, a clean list lets each item be reviewed quickly instead of being lost in a pile of papers. It also keeps you from forgetting small costs that add up over a year of repairs, such as repeat tows or short rentals.

How Reimbursement Fits Into the Larger Claim

Incidental damages are usually added to the larger claim, not pursued alone. In a buyback, they are listed with the price paid, the payoff and the mileage offset. In a cash-and-keep settlement, they are often considered as part of the overall amount. For a used car or a claim outside the lemon law, the same kinds of costs may be part of a warranty claim under other laws, including Magnuson-Moss, where a winning consumer can recover attorney fees (15 U.S.C. 2310(d)(2)).

If the only thing you want is reimbursement for a modest amount, small claims court may be an option. Individuals can sue for up to $12,500 in California small claims, and lawyers do not represent parties at the hearing. But if your car has a recurring defect, a lemon law claim may address the bigger problem too.

Civil Code 1794(d) requires the manufacturer to pay a winning buyer's attorney fees, costs and expenses. With our firm, you owe us nothing if we lose, and we never go after a client for fees.

How to Protect Your Reimbursement

1. Keep every receipt, invoice and credit card statement tied to the defect.
2. Write the date, the repair order number and the reason on each receipt.
3. Ask the dealer about a loaner or warranty rental coverage before you rent on your own.
4. Take warranty problems to an authorized dealer, even if you pay for a tow to get there.
5. Give your attorney a simple list of costs with the receipts attached.
6. Call 877-536-6620 for a free case review if you have paid for repairs or rentals on a car that keeps breaking.

Key Facts (as of October 2026)

• Restitution includes incidental damages such as reasonable repair, towing and rental car costs (Civil Code 1793.2(d)(2)(B)).
• Willful violation: civil penalty of up to two times actual damages (Civil Code 1794(c)).
• Small claims court in California: individuals can sue for up to $12,500; no lawyers represent parties at the hearing.

Talk to a Lemon Law Attorney Today

You speak directly with an attorney. Our attorneys, listed in firm order: #1 Jacob Shayesteh (founding attorney), #2 Armig Khodanian and #3 Kamau Edwards, will look at your repair history and tell you honestly whether you have a case. The review is free. You pay $0 out of pocket: the manufacturer pays the attorney fees when you win, and if we lose, you owe us nothing.

What Our Clients Say on Google

“He helped me obtain all of my repair records and purchase documents through the vehicle's app within the hour and officially started my California Lemon Law case the same day. The entire process was straightforward and stress-free, and I never had to deal directly with the manufacturer.”

Miki B. · Lemon law client · 5-star Google review

“My husband spoke with Jacob directly, and the process could not have been easier. He handled everything from start to finish and was able to secure a full buyback for the family.”

Jen B. · Family vehicle · 5-star Google review

“I was actually able to speak directly with an attorney and the owner of the law firm. He took the time to clearly explain the Lemon Law process, organized everything step by step, and made sure I fully understood my options.”

Brandon R. · Lemon law client · 5-star Google review

Read all 78 reviews on Google (5.0 stars, October 2026). Reviews describe past clients' experiences; every case is different.

FAQ

Will the manufacturer pay for my rental car?

Reasonable rental costs while the car was in the shop for the defect are often part of incidental damages. Ask the dealer about loaner or warranty rental coverage first, and save every receipt.

Can I get reimbursed for a repair at my own mechanic?

Possibly, if it was reasonable and tied to the defect, but independent shop repairs do not count as repair attempts. Use the authorized dealer for warranty problems.

What if I lost the receipt?

Check your credit card or bank statements and the vendor's records. Many tow, rental and rideshare companies can resend receipts.

Can I get paid for time off work?

Lost time is often disputed and depends on the facts. Write down the dates and hours and ask your attorney.

Sources and Official References

• California Civil Code section 1793.2 (California Legislature)
• California Civil Code section 1794 (California Legislature)
• California Courts, small claims
• 15 U.S.C. 2310, Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (Cornell Law School)

Laws change. This page reflects California law as of October 2026 and was reviewed by Jacob Shayesteh, Esq.

Related Guides

• Incidental damages under California lemon law
• Rental car during warranty repairs
• Do dealer repairs count for lemon law?
• How Much Does a Lemon Law Attorney Cost in California?
• Is It Worth Filing a Lemon Law Claim?
• The Manufacturer Offered Me a Buyback. Should I Take It?
• Can I Sue the Dealer for Selling Me a Lemon?
• How Much Will I Get Back in a California Lemon Law Buyback?
• Will I Get My Down Payment Back in a Lemon Law Buyback?
• See all lemon law questions

Attorney advertising. Wynn Law Group, APC, 10850 Wilshire Blvd, Suite 1010, Los Angeles, CA 90024. General information, not legal advice. Results vary. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.