Lemon Law Calculator

California Lemon Law Calculator

Estimate your California lemon law buyback in minutes. This free calculator follows the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2) and the statutory mileage-offset formula California manufacturers must use, so you get a reliable starting number before you talk to an attorney.

Results are estimates only, not legal advice.

California Lemon Law

Estimate Your Buyback

See a rough estimate of what a manufacturer may owe you under California's Song-Beverly Act.

Vehicle purchase price

Total price including tax, license & fees (down payment + payments + amount financed).

Mileage at first repair attempt

Miles on the odometer when you first brought it in for the defect.

Out-of-pocket costs from the defect

Towing

Rental / rideshare

Other (registration, etc.)

Purchase price$0

Mileage usage offset-$0

Incidental costs$0

Estimated recovery

You pay us nothing out of pocket. Under California law, the auto manufacturer pays our attorney's fees — they are never deducted from the recovery we get you.

Get a free case review

This is solely an estimate, not a settlement offer or legal advice. Your actual recovery may be far more than this number — an experienced Pro Attorneys lawyer can often secure a higher buyback, a replacement vehicle (no mileage offset), civil penalties, and attorney's fees the manufacturer pays separately. This tool uses only the statutory mileage-offset formula (Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2(d)(2)(C)) and does not account for loan payoff, disputed repair dates, or case-specific facts. For an assessment of your situation, consult a licensed California lemon law attorney.

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How to Use Our California Lemon Law Calculator

Enter the total price of your vehicle including tax, license, and fees. Add the odometer reading from the first time you brought the car in for the defect, since that single number drives the entire mileage offset. Then enter any out-of-pocket costs the defect caused you, such as towing, rental or rideshare, and repairs you paid for yourself. The calculator subtracts the offset, adds your incidental costs, and shows your estimated recovery as you type.

Interpreting Your Results

The results show your estimated buyback: the purchase price, the mileage usage offset the manufacturer is allowed to deduct, your incidental costs, and the total. This is a guideline estimate, not a settlement offer. Your real recovery can be higher once civil penalties, a replacement vehicle, disputed repair dates, and skilled negotiation come into play. For an accurate assessment, speak with a Pro Attorneys lemon law attorney.

How a California Lemon Law Buyback Is Calculated

California uses a straightforward restitution model under the Song-Beverly Act. If your vehicle qualifies as a lemon, the manufacturer must refund nearly everything you paid or still owe, including your down payment, monthly payments, taxes, and registration fees, along with certain out-of-pocket costs caused by the defect.

From that total, the law allows the manufacturer exactly one deduction: the mileage offset. It accounts for the use you got out of the car before the defect first appeared. The formula is set by statute in Civil Code §1793.2(d)(2)(C): miles at your first repair visit divided by 120,000, multiplied by the purchase price. The 120,000 figure is the useful vehicle life California law presumes, and it does not change by make or model. Only miles driven before that first repair visit count. Every mile after it is irrelevant to the offset, even if the case takes years.

Buyback vs. Replacement Vehicle

If your vehicle qualifies, you can usually choose between a cash buyback and a comparable replacement vehicle. Which one makes sense depends on your loan balance, the car’s value, and your goals.

Cash Buyback

The manufacturer provides a comparable new vehicle instead of cash. The mileage offset generally does not apply to a replacement, which can make it a strong option in the right case. An attorney can tell you whether a buyback or replacement puts more value in your hands.

Replacement Vehicle

Does the Mileage Offset Always Reduce Your Refund?

Not always. The offset shrinks the earlier you reported the defect, and in some situations it barely moves the number at all. Your recovery can also grow well beyond the base estimate. Factors that change what you actually receive include:

A first repair visit at very low mileage, which makes the offset small or negligible
Choosing a replacement vehicle, which generally carries no mileage offset
A civil penalty of up to two times your damages if the manufacturer willfully violated the law
Disputes over the correct first-repair date, which an attorney can fight in your favor
Incidental and consequential costs the manufacturer may try to leave out

You Pay Nothing Out of Pocket

Under Civil Code §1794(d), the auto manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees and costs separately if your case succeeds. Those fees are never taken out of the recovery we secure for you. That means hiring an experienced lemon law attorney costs you nothing, and it often results in a larger buyback than the estimate above.

Contact Pro Attorneys, Experienced California Lemon Law Attorneys

We offer free, confidential lemon law evaluations. If we take on your case, you pay no attorney’s fees out of pocket. Under California Civil Code §1794(d), the auto manufacturer pays your attorney’s fees separately, so they never come out of the recovery we get you. It is a win-win: consumers who negotiate with the manufacturer on their own often accept a much smaller settlement than an experienced attorney can secure. Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a future outcome.

Call us today or visit our contact page to schedule your free review.