Indiana lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-18.
What the official page says
Source: Indiana Lemon Law (Indiana Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division) (read 2026-10-18). This is a summary of that page, not the statute. Exact tests, exclusions and deadlines are on the official page and in the statute, and may have changed.
- The brochure says Indiana's Lemon Law (the Motor Vehicle Protection Act) protects people who buy or lease a car or light truck for personal use from an Indiana dealer, within 18 months of the date the car initially left the dealership, with less than 18,000 miles.
- The brochure says to report the problem within 18 months of initial ownership or before 18,000 total miles, whichever comes first, and to allow a reasonable number of attempts to repair, meaning at least four repair attempts or at least 30 business days out of service with the problem still existing.
- The brochure says you may need to send written notice and copies of repair orders to the manufacturer at the address in the owner's manual or warranty, and that if the manufacturer has an informal dispute procedure certified by the attorney general you must follow it before filing a lawsuit.
- The brochure says the manufacturer has 30 days to accept return and, at your option, replace the vehicle or refund your money, and that a lawsuit must be filed within two years from the date you first reported the problem to the dealer.
- The brochure says the law does not permit the attorney general to represent consumers in seeking a refund or replacement, and that replaced or repurchased vehicles must carry a title brand "Manufacturer Buyback-Disclosure on File" with written notice and a 12-month or 12,000-mile warranty on first resale.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Report window | Within 18 months of initial ownership or before 18,000 total miles, whichever comes first |
| Repair attempts | At least four attempts, or 30 business days out of service |
| Manufacturer response | 30 days to accept return and replace or refund |
| Lawsuit deadline | Two years from the date the problem was first reported to the dealer |
Counting rules differ (calendar days vs. business days, what counts as a repair attempt). Use the repair log tool to organize dates, then confirm how your state counts.
Not covered or not confirmed in this summary
- The brochure is marked 2010. Whether Indiana Code 24-5-13 or the numbers have changed since was not checked.
Other official pages used
Industry arbitration program summary (not a government source)
BBB National Programs, which runs the BBB AUTO LINE dispute program, publishes a state summary: BBB AUTO LINE: Indiana lemon law summary (link checked 2026-10-18). It is published by an industry-linked program, so treat it as a starting point and confirm against the state's own page or statute.
What to do first
- Keep every repair order and receipt. See the records checklist.
- Write down dates and mileage for each repair visit with the repair log tool (nothing is saved or sent).
- Read the federal warranty basics and arbitration pages.
- Consider speaking with a licensed attorney in your state about deadlines. Many have free consultations, but we do not recommend any specific one.