United States citizens need to be protected from auto manufacturers who sell malfunctioning vehicles. For this reason, most states practice Lemon Law: law that advocates for those who have purchased new vehicles that are not what they claimed to be.

Does South Carolina Have a Lemon Law?

Because of the need to protect citizens, most states have Lemon Law set up.
If you are interested in reading about the details of South Carolina’s Lemon Law in particular, be sure to read about it online or talk about it with one of our South Carolina Lemon Law attorneys.

What is Lemon Law in South Carolina?

South Carolina Code Annotated, 56-28-10 to 56-28-110

56-28-10 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

(1) “Consumer” means the purchaser or lessor, other than for purposes of resale, of a motor vehicle normally used for personal, family, or household purposes and subject to the manufacturer’s express warranty, and any other person entitled by the warranty to enforce the obligations of the warranty.

(2) “Manufacturer” means any person, resident, or nonresident, who manufactures or assembles or imports or distributes new motor vehicles which are to be sold in the State.

(3) “Manufacturer’s express warranty” or “warranty” means the written warranty, so labeled, of the manufacturer of a new motor vehicle, including any terms or conditions precedent to the enforcement of obligations under that warranty.

(4) “Motor vehicle” means a private passenger motor vehicle, as classified by Section 56-3-630, but excluding the living portion of recreational vehicles and off-road vehicles, which is sold and registered in this State.

(5) A “new motor vehicle” means a private passenger motor vehicle which has been sold to a new motor vehicle dealer by a manufacturer and which has not been used for other than demonstration purposes and o­n which the original title has not been issued from the new motor vehicle dealer.

(6) “Nonconformity” means a defect or condition that substantially impairs the use, value, or safety of a motor vehicle, but does not include a defect or condition that results from an accident, modification, or alteration of the motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent.

56-28-20 Manufacturers to provide annual written summaries of certain motor vehicles.

Forms; records to be made available; penalties.

Every manufacturer, in a format and a form that must be mailed annually to each manufacturer approved by the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs, shall provide a written summary of all motor vehicles repurchased or replaced under this chapter no less than o­nce each calendar year. In addition, every manufacturer shall make available any paperwork, reports, or other information regarding vehicles subject to this chapter upon request by the administrator. Failure to supply either the written summaries of repurchased vehicles or respond to reasonable requests for information by the administrator subjects the manufacturer to an administrative penalty not to exceed o­ne thousand dollars for each violation which the administrator in his discretion may impose.

56-28-30 Nonconformity with express warranties.

Notice required; repairs required.

If a new motor vehicle does not conform to all applicable express warranties within the first twelve months of purchase or the first twelve thousand miles of operation, whichever occurs first, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer or its agent during the term of the express warranties, the manufacturer, or its agent, shall make those repairs as are necessary to conform the vehicle to the express warranties at no cost to the consumer, notwithstanding the fact that the repairs are made after the expiration of the term.

56-28-40 Replacement of motor vehicle.

Refund of purchase price.

If, within the term specified in Section 56-28-30, the manufacturer, through its agents or authorized dealer, is unable to conform the motor vehicle to any applicable express warranty by repairing or correcting any defect or condition which substantially impairs the use, market value, or safety of the motor vehicle to the consumer after a reasonable number of attempts, the manufacturer shall replace the motor vehicle with a comparable motor vehicle, or at its option, accept return of the vehicle from the consumer and refund to the consumer the full purchase price as delivered including applicable finance charges, sales taxes, license fees, registration fees, and any other similar governmental charges, less a reasonable allowance for the o­nsumer’s use of the vehicle. Refunds must be made to the consumer and lien holder, if any, as their interest may appear o­n the record of ownership kept by the Division of Motor Vehicles. A reasonable allowance for use must be that amount directly attributable to use by the consumer before his first report of the nonconformity to the manufacturer, agent, or dealer, and must be calculated by multiplying the full purchase price of the vehicle by a fraction having as its denominator o­ne hundred twenty thousand and having as its numerator the number of miles that the vehicle traveled before the first report of nonconformity. The consumer is not entitled to a refund or replacement if:

(1) the nonconformity does not substantially impair the motor vehicle’s use, market value, or safety;

(2) the nonconformity is the result of abuse, neglect, or modification or alteration of the motor vehicle by the consumer.

56-28-50 Presumption of attempts to conform.

Information to be provided to consumers; obligations of manufacturer; costs and attorney’s fees; notice requirements.

 

(A) It is presumed that a reasonable number of attempts have been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable express warranties if:

(1) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times by the manufacturer, or its agent, within the express warranty term, but the nonconformity continues
to exist; or

(2) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for a cumulative total of thirty or more calendar days during the express warranty. The term of an express warranty, and the twenty-day period must be extended by any period of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war, invasion, strike, fire, flood, or other natural disaster.

(B) The manufacturer must provide information regarding consumer complaint remedies with each new motor vehicle. It is the responsibility of the consumer, or his representative, before availing himself of the provisions of this chapter, to give written notification to the manufacturer of the need for the repair of the nonconformity, in order to allow the manufacturer a final opportunity to cure the alleged defect if the manufacturer has clearly and prominently informed the consumer of the requirement of written notification to the manufacturer at the time of sale. The manufacturer, within ten business days, must notify the consumer of a reasonably accessible repair facility of a franchised new vehicle dealer to conform the new vehicle to the express warranty. After delivery of the new vehicle to an authorized repair facility by the consumer, the manufacturer must attempt immediately to repair the vehicle within a period not to exceed ten business days in order to conform the new motor vehicle to the express warranty. If the manufacturer is unable to repair properly the vehicle within the final ten-business-day period, the manufacturer must replace the vehicle with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle or refund the purchase price subject to the provisions of Section 56-28-40.

(C) Upon notification from the consumer that the new vehicle has not been conformed to the express warranty, the manufacturer shall inform the consumer if an informal dispute settlement procedure has been established by the manufacturer as enumerated in Section 56-28-60. However, if prior notice by the manufacturer of an informal dispute settlement procedure has been given, no further notice is required.

(D) Any consumer who finally prevails in any action brought under this chapter, may be allowed by the court to recover as part of the judgment a sum equal to the aggregate amount of cost and expenses including attorney’s fees based o­n actual time expended) and other such costs which are directly attributable to the nonconformity of the motor vehicle determined by the court to have been reasonably incurred by the plaintiff for or in connection with the commencement and prosecution of such action, unless the court in its discretion determines that such an award of attorney’s fees would be inappropriate.

(E) All written notifications required by this section shall be sent by registered, certified, or express mail.

56-28-60 Informal dispute settlement procedures.

If a manufacturer has established an informal dispute settlement procedure which substantially complies with Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 703, or if the manufacturer participates in a consumer-industry appeals, arbitration, or mediation panel or board, whose decisions are binding o­n the manufacturer, the provisions of Section 56-28-40 concerning refunds or replacement do not apply to any consumer who has not first resorted to those procedures or to the alternate procedure provided in Section 56-28-90.

56-28-70 Limitation of actions.

Any action brought under this chapter must be commenced within three years following the date of original delivery of the motor vehicle to the consumer.

56-28-80 Construction of chapter.

Reimbursement from dealer prohibited; exception.

Nothing in this chapter may be construed as imposing any liability o­n a motor vehicle dealer or creating a cause of action by a consumer against a motor vehicle dealer under Section 56-28-40. The manufacturer shall not charge back or require reimbursement by the dealer for any costs, including, but not limited to, any refunds or vehicle replacements incurred by the manufacturer arising out of this chapter in the absence of evidence that the related repairs had been carried out by the dealer in a manner substantially inconsistent with the manufacturer’s published instructions.

56-28-90 State arbitration board may be established.

The Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs may establish by regulation a state arbitration board consisting of five members appointed by him to serve at his pleasure. The board shall review matters involving manufacturers that have not created an informal dispute settlement procedure that substantially complies with Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Part 703. The cost of the arbitration board must be borne by the manufacturer of the vehicle purchased or leased by the consumer.

56-28-100 Repurchased vehicles not to be resold; exceptions.

Any vehicle required to be repurchased by a manufacturer under this chapter or any other provision of law relating to motor vehicle warranties may not be resold, reassigned, or retransferred, either at wholesale or retail in this State, unless:

(1) The manufacturer notifies the Administrator of the Department of Consumer Affairs within thirty calendar days, in writing, of the vehicle identification number of that motor vehicle, the reason that the vehicle was repurchased, and provides a statement that all necessary repairs and adjustments have been made and that the vehicle meets acceptable operating standards.

(2) The manufacturer provides a written warranty to the subsequent retail purchaser of the vehicle covering the vehicle for twelve months or twelve thousand miles. The warranty must expressly include any component related to the manufacturer’s decision to repurchase the vehicle.

(3) The manufacturer shall disclose to any dealer or other wholesale purchaser of the fact that the vehicle was required to be repurchased under this chapter or another provision of law relating to motor vehicle warranties.

56-28-110 Notification to subsequent purchasers.

Penalties for failure to notify.

Every subsequent purchaser must be notified by the seller of the fact that the vehicle was required to be repurchased under the terms of this chapter or another provision of law relating to motor vehicle warranties. Failure to notify properly any purchaser of the requirements of this section subjects the seller to an administrative penalty to be imposed by the administrator up to a maximum of five hundred dollars for each vehicle.

When does a vehicle qualify as a Lemon in South Carolina?

Sometimes, it can be difficult to tell whether or not a vehicle will qualify as a lemon. Each state has different qualifications, so do some online research about the specifics of South Carolina’s Lemon Law to find out if you have a lemon on your hands. If you are not certain, it may be a good idea to contact one of our attorneys for some clarity on the situation.

If you decide you would like to speak with one of your attorneys, head to our website and look for the contact form. After you fill it out, someone will reach out to you shortly. If telephone is more convenient for you, call us at (888)353-0456.

Is a used car covered under South Carolina Lemon Law?

Unfortunately, used cars do not typically qualify as lemons in the United States. However, as mentioned above, each state has different qualifications. If the used car you have purchased happens to have an active warrantee, you may be able to move forward with some legal steps in proving that it is a lemon.

When do I need a South Carolina based Lemon Law Attorney?

Throughout any part of the process, having an expert Lemon Law attorney can be very helpful. Whether you would like to speak with an attorney about the qualifications in South Carolina, or you would like to move forward and open a new case, we are here to help you every step of the way. We are excited to help you along with your Lemon Law case because we have been on the flip side of the law, representing the auto manufacturing companies and we know how to beat match their legal strategies in your favor.

How do Lemon Law Attorneys in South Carolina protect my rights?

Our South Carolina Lemon Law attorneys will not only teach you about your rights, they will protect your rights for you. Legal rights are a serious issue and if you do not have someone on your side who knows the system, you may not wind up with the best outcome.

Our Lemon Law attorneys are also very knowledgeable about the differences between each case. It is important to recognize that each case is unique in order to make the most beneficial game plan for you.

How long do Lemon Law cases in South Carolina typically take to get resolved?

Due to the uniqueness of each Lemon Law case, it is difficult to predict the amount of time each case will take to conclude. We recommend sitting down for a consultation with one of our attorneys so that you can explain the details of your case and move forward with a better understanding of the time frame.

Whether your particular case takes weeks or months, we pride ourselves in communicating with our clients so that they never have to wonder what is happening with their Lemon Law case.

How much will a South Carolina Lemon Attorney cost to hire?

Lemon Law cases can be pricey, but the financial responsibility does not fall on you. In each Lemon Law case, the auto manufacturer involved is responsible for all of the finances, no matter the outcome of the case.

What are some of the areas that that Lemon Law Lawyers in South Carolina cover?

No matter which part of the process you are in, our South Carolina based Lemon Law attorneys are here to assist you. We are available in these major cities and a few others:

  • Charleston
  • Columbia
  • North Charleston
  • Mount Pleasant
  • Rock Hill
  • Greenville
  • Summerville
  • Goose Creek
  • Sumter
  • Hilton Head Island
  • Florence
  • Spartanburg
  • Goose Creek
  • Aiken
  • Myrtle Beach
  • Anderson
  • Greer
  • Greenwood
  • Mauldin
  • North Augusta
  • Easley
  • Simpsonville
  • Hanahan
  • Lexington
  • Conway
  • West Columbia
  • Orangeburg
  • Clemson
  • North Myrtle Beach
  • Bluffton
  • Cayce
  • Gaffney
  • Beaufort
  • Irmo
  • Fort Mill
  • Port Royal
  • Forest Acres
  • Newberry
  • Georgetown
  • Laurens
  • Bennettsville
  • Lancaster
  • Clinton

Instead of trying to carry this heavy load on your own, reach out to one of our professional, experienced attorneys today.

Contact us today if your vehicle is a lemon!  We are here to help!

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