Serving Berkeley, Alameda County · Song-Beverly Act · No Fee Unless You Win
If you purchased or leased a vehicle in Berkeley and have experienced repeated, unfixed defects, California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act may entitle you to a full repurchase or replacement at no cost to you. America’s Lemon Lawyer represents Berkeley residents throughout Alameda County — and the manufacturer pays all attorney fees when we prevail.
Berkeley is home to approximately 124,321 residents and is one of California’s active automotive markets. Vehicles purchased from dealerships along Telegraph Ave, Shattuck Ave, and surrounding corridors are fully covered under the Song-Beverly Act from the date of purchase.
Lemon law cases for Berkeley residents are handled at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon St.. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794, you are entitled to file in the county where the vehicle was purchased or where you reside — which for most Berkeley residents means Alameda County Superior Court.
In practice, the vast majority of California lemon law cases resolve through settlement before trial. Our attorneys handle all court filings, appearances, and negotiations on your behalf. You never need to appear in court unless you choose to.
Berkeley drivers travel major corridors including I-80, I-580, SR-13, SR-24, I-880 daily. Defects like transmission shuddering, electrical failures, brake issues, and powertrain problems often become apparent at highway speeds or during stop-and-go traffic on Telegraph Ave, Shattuck Ave, University Ave, San Pablo Ave.
Under the Song-Beverly Act, the location where you first noticed the defect does not matter — what matters is that the vehicle was purchased or leased in California and remains under the original manufacturer’s warranty when the defect first appeared. Defects discovered on Berkeley roads are fully covered.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §§ 1790–1795.8) is one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the country. It covers new and certified pre-owned vehicles purchased or leased anywhere in California, including Berkeley and throughout Alameda County.
Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22, the lemon law presumption is triggered when:
Once triggered, the burden shifts to the manufacturer to prove your vehicle is not a lemon. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), the manufacturer must pay your attorney’s fees if you prevail — so qualified lemon law representation in Berkeley costs you nothing out of pocket.
If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer may be required to:
Step 1: Document every repair visit. Keep all repair orders and dealer invoices. Each visit to an authorized dealer counts as a repair attempt, even if the dealer says nothing is wrong.
Step 2: Keep returning for repairs. You must give the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. Visit authorized dealers — including those near I-80 and throughout Alameda County.
Step 3: Contact America’s Lemon Lawyer. Once you believe the threshold has been met — 4 attempts, 2 for safety defects, or 30 days out of service — call 877-LEMON-20 for a free case evaluation. We serve all of Berkeley and Alameda County.
Step 4: Let us send the demand letter. We send the manufacturer a formal demand letter. Most California lemon law cases resolve through negotiation without going to trial.
Yes. Any vehicle purchased or leased in California — including Berkeley — is covered by the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act. It does not matter which dealership you bought from or which city you live in, as long as the vehicle was purchased in California and remains under the manufacturer’s original warranty.
Berkeley lemon law cases are typically filed at the Rene C. Davidson Courthouse, 1225 Fallon St.. However, because most cases settle before reaching trial, you will likely never need to appear in court at all.
You are not required to have an attorney, but having one significantly improves your outcome. Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(d), the manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees if you prevail — meaning representation is free to you if your case succeeds. America’s Lemon Lawyer serves all of Berkeley and Alameda County.
The deadline depends on whether your vehicle’s manufacturer has opted into California’s updated lemon law procedures under AB 1755. If your manufacturer opted in, you must file within one year after your express warranty expires, and no later than six years from the original date of vehicle delivery — whichever comes first. If your manufacturer has not opted in, the prior rule applies: you generally have four years from when you first discovered or should have discovered the defect. Because the deadline varies by manufacturer and circumstances can affect tolling, contact us promptly to preserve your rights.
Vehicles purchased or leased from dealerships serving Berkeley — including One Toyota of Oakland, Autobahn Motors, and El Cerrito Honda — are fully covered under California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act from the date of purchase. If you experienced repeated defects after buying or leasing from any Berkeley area dealer, you may be entitled to a full repurchase, replacement vehicle, or cash settlement at no cost to you.
We also represent lemon law clients in nearby California cities, including Albany Lemon Law Attorney, Emeryville Lemon Law Attorney, El Cerrito Lemon Law Attorney, Piedmont Lemon Law Attorney, Oakland Lemon Law Attorney, Orinda Lemon Law Attorney, and Richmond Lemon Law Attorney.
If your vehicle has had 2 or more repair attempts for the same defect, you may qualify for a full repurchase. Berkeley drivers pay nothing unless we win.
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