How a Florida Lemon Law Case Works

The Florida Lemon Law is written to make it economically viable for ordinary consumers to take on vehicle manufacturers. The statute (Fla. Stat. § 681.112(2)) allows a prevailing consumer to recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer. That framework is what makes it possible for us to take qualifying cases on pure contingency — no retainer, no hourly billing, and no fee unless we recover for you.

Here is exactly how the process works, from the day you call us to the day the manufacturer cuts the check.

Step 1 — Free Case Review

You submit your case online or call us directly. We'll ask about the vehicle (year, make, model, purchase or lease date, whether new or used, current mileage), the defects you've experienced, and the repair history. If you have your service invoices or repair orders handy, bring them — but if you don't, we'll help you pull them from the dealer.

The review is free. At the end of it we'll tell you — honestly — whether we believe you have a claim. If you don't, we'll explain why. If you do, we move to Step 2.

Step 2 — Engagement & Evidence Assembly

If we take the case, we'll send you a written engagement agreement on a pure contingency basis. You do not pay anything up front. If we don't recover for you, you owe nothing. The specific fee arrangement — including how attorney fees and costs are handled if we prevail — is set out in the engagement agreement before any case begins.

We'll then request complete repair records from the dealer and manufacturer, compile a timeline of every repair visit, identify the specific nonconformity (or nonconformities) at issue, and confirm the case fits within the 24-month Florida Lemon Law Rights Period.

Step 3 — Statutory Notice to the Manufacturer

Florida law requires the consumer to provide the manufacturer written notice of the nonconformity and a final opportunity to repair. This notice has to be sent correctly — certified mail, return receipt requested, addressed to the specific corporate location designated by the manufacturer in its warranty materials. We draft and send the notice, track the response deadline, and document the final repair opportunity.

Step 4 — Arbitration or Civil Action

If the manufacturer's final repair opportunity fails — or if they refuse to honor their Lemon Law obligations — we move to a state-certified arbitration program (most commonly BBB AUTO LINE) or, if no program is available, to the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. For claims outside the arbitration framework or where arbitration fails, we file in civil court.

At every stage, we prepare the case as if it will be tried. That preparation — documentation, expert analysis, and a clear narrative of the repair history — is what produces serious settlement offers. Manufacturers respond to representation that is ready to go the distance.

Step 5 — Recovery

Under Florida law you are entitled to elect between:

• A replacement with a comparable new motor vehicle acceptable to you; or
• A refund of the full purchase price, including taxes, title, registration, optional equipment, and finance charges, minus a reasonable offset for mileage driven before the defect was first reported.

Once a recovery is agreed — whether through arbitration decision, settlement, or civil judgment — the manufacturer issues payment and takes the vehicle back. You move on.

Our Fee Promise

No recovery, no fee. We take Florida Lemon Law cases on pure contingency. You pay nothing up front and nothing during the case. If we don't recover for you, you owe us nothing.

Florida law (Fla. Stat. § 681.112(2)) provides that a prevailing consumer may recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer. The specific allocation of fees and costs in any individual case depends on the outcome and how the matter resolves; we will set out the full fee arrangement in writing in our engagement agreement before any case begins. In rare circumstances, a case may involve specific costs (filing fees, expert witness fees) that we discuss with you up front. We will not charge you personally for costs on an unsuccessful case.

What You Actually Do During the Case

Honestly — very little. You continue using the vehicle normally. You send us new repair orders as they accumulate. You let us handle communications with the manufacturer and the dealer. You don't have to surrender the vehicle, and you don't have to stop driving it. The case is designed to run in the background of your life while you get value from the vehicle you paid for.