What Is The Procedure For Filing A Claim?
- Notify the Vermont Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board and the manufacturer by mailing the appropriate copies of the forms you received when your car was delivered.
- Arbitration of your claim by the Board must be held within 45 days of receipt of the notice. Either party may obtain an extension if good cause is shown. If the manufacturer requests the extension, they must provide you with free use of a vehicle if yours is out of service.
- The manufacturer has one final opportunity to repair the defect prior to the hearing, at no cost to you. If you are not satisfied with the repair, even if the defect appears to have been fixed, you may continue to hearing. If you are satisfied with the repair, the arbitration process ends. However, you have the right to renew the arbitration if the repair proves to be unsatisfactory before expiration of the manufacturer`s express warranty.
- You may not use this procedure if you have discontinued financing or lease payments due to the manufacturer`s alleged breach of warranty.
- You may not use this procedure if you elected to use the manufacturer`s dispute settlement mechanism as an alternative to filing with the Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board.
Other Vermont Lemon Law FAQs
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Q:
What Is A Lemon Under The Law?
A: The law defines a lemon as a motor vehicle that does not conform to the manufacturer`s express warranty* and that, after a reasonable number of attempts, cannot be … More -
Q:
What Is A Reasonable Number Of Attempts?
A: The law presumes that a reasonable number of attempts have been made if: the same defect has been subject to repair at least three times, with at least the first … More -
Q:
Is The Dealer Required To Give Me A Repair Order?
A: Yes. The dealer is required by law to give you an examination or repair order or other written summary each time you bring the vehicle in for repair. You should save … More -
Q:
Is It Possible To File With Fewer Than Three Repair Attempts Or 30 Days Out Of Service?
A: Yes, but with less than three repair attempts the defect must be safetyrelated. In either case, you must persuade the Board that the manufacturer had a reasonable … More -
Q:
What Vehicles Are Covered Under The Lemon Law?
A: The law applies to cars and trucks (trucks with a maximum gross vehicle weight of 10,000 pounds) registered in Vermont within 15 days of purchase or lease, regardless … More -
Q:
Does The Law Apply To All Defects?
A: The law applies to defects covered by the manufacturer`s express warranty that substantially impair the use, market value, or safety of the motor vehicle and are not … More -
Q:
Do The 30 Days Out Of Service Have To Be Consecutive?
A: No. They only need to accumulate to 30 days before the expiration of the manufacturer`s express warranty. -
Q:
Must The Defect Be Present When I File A Claim?
A: Yes, if you are filing under the three repair attempts provision; but the defect need not be present at the time of the hearing. -
Q:
What If The Board Determines That My Vehicle Is A Lemon?
A: You have the right to choose between the following: A new motor vehicle from the same manufacturer, of comparable worth to the same make and model with all options and … More -
Q:
What Am I Credited If I Am Leasing The Vehicle That Is Determined To Be A Lemon?
A: The manufacturer must return your deposit—including down payment and tradein allowance—and rental payments, plus any incidental and consequential … More
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