California lemon law calculator

California's lemon law sets a specific formula for manufacturer repurchases. Two parts determine your result:

The mileage offset — your one deduction: The manufacturer deducts a usage fee representing the miles you drove before the defect was first reported. The formula is:

California uses 120,000 miles as the statutory vehicle lifespan.

Your net buyback:

Worked Example

The manufacturer also pays attorney's fees separately. That $53,727 would be yours.

What's included in your recovery

What's deducted

One more thing the calculator doesn't show

If the manufacturer willfully refused to fix a vehicle they knew was defective, California law allows a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages on top of the buyback. That requires a case evaluation — not a formula.

The calculator gives you the statutory baseline. Your actual recovery depends on whether your vehicle legally qualifies, how the manufacturer handles the demand, and whether any civil penalty applies.

If your number looks substantial — and for most California owners with documented repair visits, it will — the next step is a free case review.

We'll tell you whether your vehicle qualifies, what your realistic recovery looks like, and how long the process typically takes. No cost, no pressure.