Masjedian Law Firm · Practice

Lemon Law Attorney in San Francisco

Song-Beverly Act representation for San Francisco-area drivers — buyback, replacement, and cash-and-keep, with the manufacturer paying the attorney’s fees when you prevail.

San Francisco, California

Lemon Law Representation for San Francisco and the City and County of San Francisco

In San Francisco and the wider Bay Area, where a reliable car is expensive and essential, a vehicle that keeps returning to the shop is a real burden. Cars purchased or leased in the city or on the Peninsula fall under California’s lemon law.

The law that governs your case — California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — is the same across the state. What differs locally in San Francisco is practical: the dealership and the service records behind your claim, and the county court (typically the San Francisco County Superior Court) that would hear a case that does not settle. The Masjedian Law Firm represents San Francisco clients and people throughout California, with free case reviews.

Do I have to live in San Francisco to bring a California lemon law claim here? No. California’s Song-Beverly Act applies statewide. If you bought or lease your vehicle in or around San Francisco, or you live in the area, your claim can generally proceed in the City and County of San Francisco — often through the San Francisco County Superior Court. The Masjedian Law Firm represents San Francisco-area drivers and clients throughout California.

Is the lemon law different in San Francisco than the rest of California? The law itself is the same statewide — the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act governs lemon claims across California. What changes locally is logistics: which county court hears the case and the local dealers and service records involved. The remedies (buyback, replacement, or cash-and-keep, plus manufacturer-paid fees) are the same.

Lemon Law — Serving California

Los Angeles · San Diego · San Francisco · Sacramento · Orange County

The Practice

Make the Manufacturer Honor the Warranty

If your vehicle has spent repeated trips in the shop for the same problem, you may have a lemon. California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act is one of the strongest consumer protection laws in the nation, and in many cases the manufacturer — not you — pays the attorney’s fees. The Masjedian Law Firm helps California drivers force manufacturers to honor their warranties.

When a vehicle may qualify. A vehicle may qualify when a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer or dealer has had a reasonable number of attempts to fix it — or the vehicle has been out of service for an extended period for repairs. This can apply to new and many used vehicles still under warranty, including cars, trucks, SUVs, and often leased vehicles.

What you may recover. Depending on the facts, remedies under the Song-Beverly Act can include a refund (buyback) of what you paid, a replacement vehicle, or cash compensation, and the statute provides for a civil penalty of up to two times your damages when a manufacturer acts willfully. Critically, the law generally requires the manufacturer to pay the consumer’s reasonable attorney fees and costs in a successful case — which is why representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket.

Keep your paperwork. Your case is built on the repair record. Keep every repair order, work order, and invoice — even visits where “no problem was found” — along with your purchase or lease agreement and warranty booklet.

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon? There is no single magic number; it turns on whether the manufacturer had a reasonable number of attempts for the same substantial defect, or kept the vehicle out of service for an extended time.

Does it cover used or leased vehicles? It can, particularly when the vehicle is still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Leased vehicles are often covered as well.

Written & reviewed by Brian Masjedian, Esq. Attorney at Law · California State Bar #357298 · The Masjedian Law Firm
Last reviewed June 2026 · Attorney Advertising. This information is general and not legal advice.

Frequently Asked

Questions, answered.

How many repair attempts make a car a lemon?

There is no single magic number; it turns on whether the manufacturer had a reasonable number of attempts for the same substantial defect, or kept the vehicle out of service for an extended time.

Does it cover used or leased vehicles?

It can, particularly when the vehicle is still covered by a manufacturer’s warranty. Leased vehicles are often covered as well.

What can I recover if my car is a lemon?

Depending on the facts, a successful Song-Beverly claim can result in a manufacturer buyback (a refund of what you paid, minus a mileage offset for use before the defect), a replacement vehicle, or a cash-and-keep settlement. A civil penalty of up to two times your damages may be available where a manufacturer acted willfully.

How much does a lemon law attorney cost in California?

For most clients, little or nothing out of pocket. California's lemon law shifts fees to the manufacturer, so in a successful claim the manufacturer is generally required to pay the consumer's reasonable attorney fees and costs separately from the recovery.

How long do I have to file a lemon law claim?

California lemon law claims are subject to a statute of limitations tied to the warranty period and when the defect first appeared. Waiting too long can forfeit the right to recover, so it is worth confirming your deadline early in a free review.

Lemon Law Attorney in San Francisco

Lemon Law Representation for San Francisco and the City and County of San Francisco

Make the Manufacturer Honor the Warranty

Questions, answered.

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