Washington State

Office of the Attorney General

Attorney General

Bob Ferguson

Manufacturer and Dealer Services

Manufacturer and Dealer Services

View or download copies of:

RCW 19.118 – The Motor Vehicle Warranties Act, generally known as the Lemon Law. 
WAC 44-10 – Lemon Law Administrative Rules, arbitration and the arbitration process.

 

  In This Section
 

Dealer Order Form For Lemon Law Notices of Consumer Rights

Dealer Services

Manufacturer and Dealer – Lemon Law Resale Directions:

 

 

Dealer Services

Dealer Duties and Obligations under RCW 19.118

  1. Collect a $3.00 fee from consumers upon sale or lease of a new motor vehicle — forward fee to DOL with title and registration fees.*
  2. Provide consumers with a Lemon Law Notice of Consumer Rights upon sale or lease of a new motor vehicle (Rights statements: form LL 219, are provided by the Lemon Law Administration; orders accepted by e-mail, phone or by returning the reorder postcard).*
  3. Provide consumers with an Owner’s Manual and the written manufacturer’s warranties which must be supplied to a dealer by the manufacturer.*
  4. Provide copies of technical service bulletins and manufacturer representative reports regarding inspection, diagnosis or a test drive upon request from a consumer.
  5. Provide a fully itemized and legible repair order or written statement each time a vehicle is returned to a consumer from warranty service containing the following information:
    • Problem description;
    • Diagnosis;
    • Work performed;
    • Parts and labor;
    • Odometer readings; and
    • Dates when the vehicle was submitted for diagnosis or repair and when made available to the consumer.
  6. May not refuse warranty-related diagnosis or repairs to avoid a possible Lemon Law claim.
  7. Must make continuing warranty repairs until a problem reported under the warranty is repaired even if the warranty period has expired.**
  8. Provide the required Lemon Law resale disclosure document to the first retail buyer/lessee of a vehicle reacquired by a manufacturer after a determination, adjudication or settlement under the Lemon Law. The Resale Disclosure and windshield disclosure forms are prepared and sent to the manufacturer by the Lemon Law Administration. The manufacturer is required to place the windshield disclosure in the vehicle and transfer the Resale Disclosure form with the vehicle. If a dealer knowingly obtains a Lemon vehicle but does not receive the Lemon Law resale forms directly from the manufacturer, auction or with the vehicle, the forms must be obtained from the Lemon Law Administration prior to a retail sale or lease.*

Note: Any transferor of the vehicle prior to the first retail sale/lease must transfer the resale disclosure documents with the vehicle. Failure to transfer the documents makes the transferor liable for the amount of any subsequent transaction and may indemnify subsequent transferors for additional damages.*

Sale/lease of a "Lemon" vehicle from another state also requires resale disclosure forms if it is the first retail transaction after the manufacturer reacquired the vehicle.*

An agreement as part of a sale/lease which waives or limits a consumer’s Lemon Law rights is void.*

* Also required of leasing companies.
**Manufacturer and selling dealer.

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Vehicle Reacquired by the Manufacturer in Compliance with an Arbitration Award

Resale Disclosure Directions 247: Rev. 9-97
RCW 19.118.061 and WAC 44-10-221, 222 and 223

What is a Manufacturer’s First Duty After Reacquiring a Vehicle in Compliance With an Arbitration Award?

When a manufacturer reacquires a vehicle in compliance with a decision of the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, the manufacturer is required to notify the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Licensing of receipt of the vehicle by certified mail (NOTE: no form provided). See RCW 19.118.061(2).

Resale Documents (requirements for Manufacturers, Dealers, and Wholesale Transferors, including Auctions, when repairing or selling /transferring a vehicle wholesale and retail transactions):

Lemon Law Resale Notice – A manufacturer, its agent or motor vehicle dealer to whom a motor vehicle is returned, is required to affix the "Lemon Law Resale Notice" to the lower center of the front windshield so as to be readily visible from the exterior of the vehicle. The Notice is provided to the manufacturer by the Attorney General’s Office. Only the retail purchaser of the vehicle may remove the Notice from the window.

Lemon Law Resale Disclosure: Form LL-247 – The form identifies the specific serious safety defect(s) and nonconformity(ies) found in the motor vehicle that were listed in the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board’s decision. It includes the manufacturer’s statement of certification of repair and warranty. The manufacturer must ensure that the resale disclosure documents and directions are received by the motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor in any wholesale transaction. The dealer, auction or other intervening transferor has the obligation to transfer the resale disclosure forms and directions with the vehicle in any subsequent wholesale or retail transaction. The Lemon Law Resale Disclosure form LL-247 is provided by the Lemon Law Administration, Attorney General’s Office.

What do I need to do when I sell or transfer the vehicle in either a wholesale or retail transaction to meet disclosure requirements?

If you are selling or transferring the vehicle in a wholesale transaction:

  • A dealer, auction or other intervening transferor must transfer the Resale Disclosure forms and directions with the vehicle. You must ensure that the Lemon Law Resale Disclosure forms and directions are received by the motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor.
  • If the vehicle is sold or transferred in a wholesale transaction you should get a written verification of receipt of these directions and the Resale Disclosure Documents from the wholesale buyer to avoid future liability for failure to transfer the Resale Disclosure Documents. (see the Non-Retail Transfer section of the Form for further directions).

If you are selling the vehicle to a retail purchaser:

  • The form must be signed by the retail purchaser;
  • The retail purchaser must be given the original (white);
  • The green copy must be sent to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Lemon Law Administration;
  • The yellow copy must be submitted to the Department of Licensing with the Application for Title;
  • The pink copy should be retained by the selling dealer; and
  • The goldenrod copy should be returned to the manufacturer if it remains with the form.

Out-of-State Disposition Card – If you plan to wholesale or otherwise transfer a vehicle to another state or country, an Out of State Disposition Postcard must be completed and returned to the Attorney General’s Office if a manufacturer, motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor sells, delivers or disposes of a vehicle outside the state of Washington after the request for resale documents has been processed by the Lemon Law Administration.

Who do I call if I need Lemon Law Resale Documents for a vehicle that I just bought? Who do I call if I have a question?

Call the Lemon Law Administration in the Attorney General’s Office at: 1 (800) 541- 8898 or (206) 464-6488.

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Vehicle Reacquired by the Manufacturer Under the Lemon Law of Another State

Resale Disclosure Directions 247 -OS: Rev. 9-97
RCW 19.118.061 and WAC 44-10-221, 222 and 223

I have a vehicle from out-of-state that is a "lemon" under another state's lemon law. What does Washington's Lemon Law require me to do to sell or lease it?

The Lemon Law recognizes the laws of other states which are the same or are similar to Washington’s Lemon Law. This means that the same resale disclosure obligations and procedures apply just as if the vehicle had been determined to be defective and was reacquired by the manufacturer under Washington law.

The Washington Lemon Law Resale procedures apply only to vehicles through the first retail sale after being classified as a "lemon".

Example 1 – A California vehicle is determined to be a "lemon" under California law and is reacquired by the manufacturer. The manufacturer sends the vehicle to either a California or an out-of-state auction where your dealership buys it. As the vehicle has not had an intervening retail sale the Resale Disclosure requirements of Washington’s Lemon Law apply if you bring the vehicle to Washington.

Note: if the manufacturer sends an out-of-state ‘lemon’ to a Washington auction it is required to follow these same resale requirements and must provide you with the Resale disclosure forms and directions - and the yellow windshield display must be in place before the vehicle is auctioned.

Example 2 – a California vehicle is determined to be a "lemon" under California law. It is eventually sold to a consumer in a retail transaction in Oregon. The consumer later trades it in for a new vehicle at a Washington dealership. The dealer has no Lemon Law Resale obligations under Washington’s law because the vehicle had already been sold in a retail transaction.

Resale Documents (requirements for Manufacturers, Dealers, and Wholesale Transferors, including Auctions, when repairing or selling /transferring a vehicle wholesale and retail transactions):

Lemon Law Resale Notice – A manufacturer, its agent or motor vehicle dealer to whom a motor vehicle is returned, is required to affix the "Lemon Law Resale Notice" to the lower center of the front windshield so as to be readily visible from the exterior of the vehicle. The Notice is provided to the manufacturer by the Attorney General’s Office. Only the retail purchaser of the vehicle may remove the Notice from the window.

Lemon Law Resale Disclosure: Form LL-247 OS – Form 247 OS identifies that the vehicle was reacquired by the manufacturer from the previous retail consumer under the lemon law of another state. It includes the manufacturer’s statement of certification of repair and warranty and will reference any similar manufacturer document that is provided to the Lemon Law Administration. The Lemon Law Resale Disclosure form LL-247 OS is provided by the Lemon Law Administration, Attorney General’s Office upon request.

What do I need to do when I sell or transfer the vehicle in either a wholesale or retail transaction to meet disclosure requirements?

If you are selling or transferring the vehicle in a wholesale transaction:

  • A dealer, auction or other intervening transferor must transfer the Resale Disclosure forms and directions with the vehicle. You must ensure that the Lemon Law Resale Disclosure forms and directions are received by the motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor.
  • If the vehicle is sold or transferred in a wholesale transaction you should get a written verification of receipt of these directions and the Resale Disclosure Documents from the wholesale buyer to avoid future liability for failure to transfer the Resale Disclosure Documents, (see the Non-Retail Transfer section of the Form for further directions).

If you are selling the vehicle to a retail purchaser:

  • The form must be signed by the retail purchaser;
  • The retail purchaser must be given the original (white);
  • The green copy must be sent to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Lemon Law Administration;
  • The yellow copy must be submitted to the Department of Licensing with the Application for Title;
  • The pink copy should be retained by the selling dealer; and
  • The goldenrod copy should be returned to the manufacturer if it remains with the form.

Out-of-State Disposition Card – If you plan to wholesale or otherwise transfer a vehicle to another state or country, an Out of State Disposition Postcard must be completed and returned to the Attorney General’s Office if a manufacturer, motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor sells, delivers or disposes of a vehicle outside the state of Washington after the request for resale documents has been processed by the Lemon Law Administration.

Who do I call if I need Lemon Law Resale Documents for a vehicle that I just bought? Who do I call if I have a question?

Call the Lemon Law Administration in the Attorney General’s Office at: 1 (800) 541- 8898 or (206) 464-6488.

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Vehicle Reacquired by the Manufacturer in Settlement of a Pending Arbitration

Resale Disclosure Directions - Settlement 248: Rev. 9-97
RCW 19.118.061 and WAC 44-10-221, 222 and 223

What is a Manufacturer’s first Duty After Reacquiring a Vehicle in Settlement of a Pending Arbitration?

When a manufacturer reacquires a vehicle in a pre-hearing ‘settlement’ of of a Lemon Law dispute that has been accepted by the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, a manufacturer is required to notify the Attorney General’s Office and the Department of Licensing of receipt of the vehicle by certified mail. (see below for mailing addresses).

Resale Documents (requirements for Manufacturers, Dealers, and Wholesale Transferors, including Auctions, when repairing or selling /transferring a vehicle wholesale and retail transactions):

Lemon Law Resale Notice – When a vehicle is reacquired by a manufacturer in a "settlement", the manufacturer, its agent or motor vehicle dealer to whom the motor vehicle is returned is required to affix the "Lemon Law Resale Notice" to the lower center of the front windshield before resale or transfer of the vehicle so as to be readily visible from the exterior of the vehicle. The Notice is provided to the manufacturer by the Attorney General’s Office. Only the retail purchaser of the vehicle may remove the Notice from the window.

Lemon Law Resale Disclosure, Settlement: Form LL-248 – Form 248 identifies that the vehicle was required by the manufacturer through a "settlement" agreement with the previous owner after acceptance by the New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board to arbitrate allegations that the vehicle had not been conformed to the manufacturers warranty within a reasonable number of attempts to diagnose or repair substantial defects. It also includes the manufacturer’s statement of certification of repair and warranty. The Lemon Law Resale Disclosure Addendum (Form LL-249) will be attached where more than two (2) defects must be listed. The Lemon Law Resale Disclosure form LL-248 and LL-249 are provided to the manufacturer by the Attorney General’s Office.

What do I need to do when I sell or transfer the vehicle in either a wholesale or retail transaction to meet disclosure requirements?

If you are selling or transferring the vehicle in a wholesale transaction:

  • A dealer, auction or other intervening transferor must transfer the Resale Disclosure forms and directions with the vehicle. You must ensure that the Lemon Law Resale Disclosure forms and directions are received by the motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor.
  • If the vehicle is sold or transferred in a wholesale transaction you should get a written verification of receipt of these directions and the Resale Disclosure Documents from the wholesale buyer to avoid future liability for failure to transfer the Resale Disclosure Documents. (see the Non-Retail Transfer section of the Form for further directions).

If you are selling the vehicle to a retail purchaser:

  • The form must be signed by the retail purchaser;
  • The retail purchaser must be given the original (white);
  • The green copy must be sent to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Lemon Law Administration;
  • The yellow copy must be submitted to the Department of Licensing with the Application for Title;
  • The pink copy should be retained by the selling dealer; and
  • The goldenrod copy should be returned to the manufacturer if it remains with the form.

What do I need to do when I wholesale or otherwise transfer a vehicle to another state or country?

When a vehicle is reacquired by a manufacturer under a "settlement", an Out of State Disposition Postcard must be completed and returned to the Attorney General’s Office if a manufacturer, motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor sells, delivers or disposes of a vehicle outside the state of Washington.

Who do I call if I need Lemon Law Resale Documents for a vehicle that I just bought? Who do I call if I have a question?

Call the Lemon Law Administration in the Attorney General’s Office at 1 (800) 541- 8898 or (206) 464-6488.

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Vehicle Reacquired by the Manufacturer in a Settlement Under the Lemon Law of Another State

Resale Disclosure Directions - Settlement 247 OS: Rev. 9-97
RCW 19.118.061 and WAC 44-10-221, 222 and 223

I have a vehicle from out-of-state that was reacquired by the manufacturer to settle a dispute under another state's lemon law. What does Washington's Lemon Law require me to do to sell or lease it?

The Lemon Law recognizes the laws of other states which are the same or are similar to Washington’s Lemon Law. This means that the same resale disclosure obligations and procedures apply just as if the vehicle had been determined to be defective and was reacquired by the manufacturer under Washington law.

The Washington Lemon Law Resale procedures apply only to vehicles through the first retail sale after being classified as a "lemon".

Example 1 – A California vehicle is reacquired by the manufacturer in settlement of a warranty dispute under California’s Lemon Law. The manufacturer sends the vehicle to either a California or an out-of-state auction where your dealership buys it. As the vehicle has not had an intervening retail sale the Resale Disclosure requirements of Washington’s Lemon Law apply if you bring the vehicle to Washington.

Note: if the manufacturer sends an out-of-state ‘settlement lemon’ to a Washington auction it is required to follow these same resale requirements and must provide you with the Resale disclosure forms and directions - and the yellow windshield display must be in place before the vehicle is auctioned.

Example 2 – A California vehicle is reacquired by the manufacturer in settlement of a warranty dispute under California’s Lemon Law. It is eventually sold to a consumer in a retail transaction in Oregon. The consumer later trades it in for a vehicle at a Washington dealership. The dealer has no Lemon Law Resale obligations under Washington’s law because the vehicle had already been sold in a retail transaction.

Resale Documents (requirements for Manufacturers, Dealers, and Wholesale Transferors, including Auctions, when repairing or selling /transferring a vehicle wholesale and retail transactions):

Lemon Law Resale Notice – When a vehicle that has been reacquired by a manufacturer in a "settlement" under the lemon law of another state is brought to Washington prior to its first retail sale and the vehicle will be sold at wholesale or retail, the manufacturer, dealer or other intervening transferor is required to affix the "Lemon Law Resale Notice" to the lower center of the front windshield before resale or transfer of the vehicle so as to be readily visible from the exterior of the vehicle. The Notice is provided by the Lemon Law Administration, Attorney General’s Office upon request. Only the retail purchaser of the vehicle may remove the Notice from the window.

Lemon Law Resale Disclosure: Form LL-247 OS – Form 247 OS identifies that the vehicle was required by the manufacturer through a "settlement" agreement with the previous owner under the lemon law of another state. It includes the manufacturer’s statement of certification of repair and warranty and will reference any similar manufacturer document that is provided to the Lemon Law Administration. The Lemon Law Resale Disclosure form LL-247 OS is provided to the manufacturer by the Attorney General’s Office.

What do I need to do when I sell or transfer the vehicle in either a wholesale or retail transaction to meet disclosure requirements?

If you are selling or transferring the vehicle in a wholesale transaction:

  • A dealer, auction or other intervening transferor must transfer the Resale Disclosure forms and directions with the vehicle. You must ensure that the Lemon Law Resale Disclosure forms and directions are received by the motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor.
  • If the vehicle is sold or transferred in a wholesale transaction you should get a written verification of receipt of these directions and the Resale Disclosure Documents from the wholesale buyer to avoid future liability for failure to transfer the Resale Disclosure Documents. (see the Non-Retail Transfer section of the Form for further directions).

If you are selling the vehicle to a retail purchaser:

  • The form must be signed by the retail purchaser;
  • The retail purchaser must be given the original (white);
  • The green copy must be sent to the Washington State Attorney General’s Office, Lemon Law Administration;
  • The yellow copy must be submitted to the Department of Licensing with the Application for Title;
  • The pink copy should be retained by the selling dealer; and
  • The goldenrod copy should be returned to the manufacturer if it remains with the form.

What do I need to do when I wholesale or otherwise transfer a vehicle to another state or country?

When a vehicle is reacquired by a manufacturer under a "settlement", an Out of State Disposition Postcard must be completed and returned to the Attorney General’s Office if a manufacturer, motor vehicle dealer, auction or other intervening transferor sells, delivers or disposes of a vehicle outside the state of Washington.

Who do I call if I need Lemon Law Resale Documents for a vehicle that I just bought? Who do I call if I have a question?

Call the Lemon Law Administration in the Attorney General’s Office at: 1 (800) 541- 8898 or (206) 587-4240.

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