South Carolina lemon law and warranty dispute resources
Status: Official page read; key points summarized. Last checked 2026-10-18.
What the official page says
Source: Lemon Law FAQ (South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs) (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 page says South Carolina's lemon law (the Enforcement of Motor Vehicle Express Warranty Act, S.C. Code Ann. 56-28-10 et seq.) took effect October 3, 1989 and was last amended April 21, 2016, and covers a new motor vehicle (passenger car, van, motorcycle or small truck) with a defect that impairs its use or lowers its market value substantially and that the manufacturer cannot repair within a reasonable time.
- The page says the law does not cover defects caused by abuse, neglect or unauthorized alteration, or defects that do not show within the first 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first, and that it covers demonstrator vehicles and leased new vehicles.
- The page says you must notify the manufacturer or its agent of the defect during the express warranty, that the law presumes a reasonable time to be three repair attempts for the same defect or thirty days out of service (not necessarily consecutive), and that the manufacturer then has one final opportunity to repair (10 business days after delivery to the shop it designates).
- The page says you must first participate in any informal dispute settlement procedure the manufacturer has set up (which must be free to the consumer and generally settle within 40 days, with decisions binding on the manufacturer), and that after arbitration you can file in court.
- The main Lemon Law page says South Carolina's lemon law applies only to new vehicles purchased and registered in South Carolina, that used vehicles are not covered, and that used-vehicle problems can be reported by filing a complaint with the department.
Numbers the page states
| Item | As stated on the official page |
|---|---|
| Coverage window | First 12,000 miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first |
| Repair attempts | Three for the same defect |
| Days out of service | Thirty (need not be consecutive) |
| Final repair opportunity | 10 business days after delivery to the manufacturer's shop |
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
- Only what the official page states is summarized. The statute text itself was not compared line by line.
Other official pages used
- Lemon Law (South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs)
- S.C. Code Title 56 Chapter 28 (SC Legislature)
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: South Carolina 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.