Indiana Lemon Law
Explained

Buying or leasing a newer vehicle should provide dependable transportation, not a cycle of warning lights, repeat repairs, missed work, and uncertainty about whether the vehicle will make it back to the dealership again. At HC Bradley LLC, we work with Indiana consumers who find themselves in exactly that position. Indiana’s Lemon Law provides important protections for qualifying vehicle buyers and lessees, but those protections depend on meeting specific legal requirements and documenting the repair history correctly.

In 2026, Indiana’s Motor Vehicle Protection Act remains found in Indiana Code Chapter 24-5-13. The Indiana Attorney General summarizes the basic eligibility requirements as involving a car or light truck that was bought or leased from an Indiana dealer, is within the first 18 months after purchase, and has fewer than 18,000 miles. Those thresholds make timing important. Consumers who continue driving and waiting for a dealership or manufacturer to solve a recurring problem may unknowingly make their claim more difficult.

Call HC Bradley LLC today at 317.564.5060 or fill out the form on this page and we will get back to you shortly.

What Does Indiana Lemon Law Protect?

Indiana Lemon Law is designed to address significant defects or conditions that are not properly corrected within the law’s protection period. Under the statute, a “nonconformity” can include a defect or condition that substantially impairs the vehicle’s use, market value, or safety, or causes the vehicle to fail to conform to applicable warranties.

Common problems that may justify closer legal review include:

• Repeated engine, transmission, or drivetrain failures
• Electrical problems, warning lights, or computer-related faults that return after repair
• Steering, braking, suspension, or other safety-related defects
• Persistent problems that substantially affect the vehicle’s operation, value, or reliability

Not every inconvenience makes a vehicle a lemon. The nature of the defect, how often it occurred, when it was first presented for repair, what the repair orders say, and whether the problem continues after repair attempts all matter. This is one reason we encourage consumers to preserve every service record instead of relying only on verbal conversations with dealership personnel.

How Many Repair Attempts Are Required?

Indiana law focuses on whether the manufacturer or its authorized repair network has been given a reasonable opportunity to correct the nonconformity. Under the current Indiana Code, a reasonable number of attempts is presumed in certain circumstances when the vehicle has been subject to repair at least four times and the nonconformity continues to exist. The law also provides a separate presumption involving a vehicle that has been out of service because of repair for a cumulative total of at least 30 business days.

Important records can include:

• Every repair order, even when the dealership says it “could not duplicate” the complaint
• Dates the vehicle entered and left the service department
• Mileage at each repair visit
• Emails, text messages, manufacturer case numbers, photographs, videos, and towing records

A repair order that accurately states the consumer’s complaint can be critical. If a vehicle repeatedly loses power but the paperwork only says “customer requests inspection,” the service history may not clearly demonstrate the recurring defect. We recommend reviewing repair paperwork before leaving the dealership and keeping a separate chronological file of every repair visit.

What Remedies May Be Available Under Indiana Lemon Law?

When a qualifying vehicle cannot be brought into conformity after the manufacturer has received the opportunity required by Indiana law, statutory remedies can include replacement of the vehicle or a refund calculated according to Indiana’s Lemon Law. The current statute contains specific provisions governing refunds and replacement vehicles, which is why the amount or remedy in an individual case should be evaluated based on the actual purchase, financing, leasing, mileage, and repair records.

A lemon law claim may involve:

• Evaluating whether the vehicle and defect satisfy Indiana’s statutory definitions
• Determining whether the repair history establishes the required reasonable opportunity to repair
• Calculating the potential refund or evaluating a proposed replacement
• Reviewing manufacturer dispute procedures, settlement offers, releases, and other documents before the consumer signs them

Call HC Bradley LLC today at 317.564.5060 or fill out the form on this page and we will get back to you shortly.

Why Should Vehicle Buyers Hire a Lemon Law Lawyer?

Vehicle manufacturers handle warranty and consumer claims every day. Most individual buyers do not. That imbalance matters. A manufacturer may have customer-care representatives, regional service personnel, technical specialists, claims administrators, and attorneys involved in deciding how a complaint will be handled. Hiring an Indiana Lemon Law lawyer gives the consumer someone who understands the statute, the documentation, and the legal strategy needed to present the claim effectively.

At HC Bradley LLC, our job is not simply to repeat what the repair orders say. We look at the full timeline. We determine when the defect appeared, how it was described, what repairs were attempted, whether the problem returned, how long the vehicle was unavailable, and what communications occurred with the dealer or manufacturer. That analysis can reveal strengths or weaknesses in a claim before the consumer agrees to a settlement or continues through additional repair cycles.

A lawyer can also help protect consumers from common mistakes, such as:

• Waiting too long to investigate whether the vehicle qualifies
• Losing or discarding repair documentation
• Signing a release or settlement without understanding what rights are being waived
• Accepting a manufacturer’s explanation that a defect is “normal” without examining the complete service history and applicable legal standards

The Indiana Attorney General can receive consumer complaints and enforce consumer-protection laws on behalf of the state, but the Attorney General’s office expressly states that it cannot act as an individual consumer’s private attorney or provide private legal advice. Indiana itself advises Hoosiers who need individualized legal advice or representation to consult a private attorney.

A Lemon Law Lawyer Can Deal Directly With the Manufacturer

One of the most important reasons to speak with a lemon law lawyer is that consumers should not have to determine the legal significance of every repair visit on their own. Manufacturers and dealerships may view a case through the narrow lens of warranty repair. We view the same history through the requirements of Indiana Lemon Law and applicable consumer-protection laws.

That distinction can be significant. A service department may focus on whether it can duplicate a problem during one particular appointment. We are interested in the entire pattern: when the defect began, whether it returned, how many repair opportunities occurred, whether multiple repairs were actually addressing the same underlying condition, and how the defect affects the vehicle’s use, value, or safety.

Legal representation also provides consumers with an advocate when communicating with the manufacturer, analyzing proposed resolutions, and determining whether a settlement actually addresses the consumer’s losses and legal rights.

Building a Strong Indiana Lemon Law Claim in 2026

The strongest claims usually start with organized documentation. Consumers should describe symptoms consistently, obtain written repair orders for every visit, save all manufacturer communications, and avoid minimizing a recurring problem simply because the vehicle temporarily operates normally after a repair.

We also recommend acting promptly. Indiana Lemon Law is built around specific mileage and time requirements. Waiting for one more repair, one more phone call, or one more promise from the manufacturer can consume valuable time. Early legal review gives us the opportunity to examine the claim while the service history is current and the relevant records are easier to obtain.

At HC Bradley LLC, we help Indiana vehicle buyers understand whether their circumstances may qualify under Indiana Lemon Law and what steps should come next. A defective vehicle can create financial pressure, transportation problems, and considerable frustration. Our role is to turn the repair history into a clear legal analysis, communicate with the appropriate parties, and pursue the remedy available under the law.

Call HC Bradley LLC today at 317.564.5060 or fill out the form on this page and we will get back to you shortly.