Free Tool
California Lemon Law Buyback Calculator
Estimate what your vehicle repurchase could be worth under California's Song-Beverly Act. Enter your numbers below for an instant estimate — free and with no obligation.
The short answer
A California lemon law buyback refunds the total amount you paid or owe on the vehicle — your down payment, every monthly payment made, the remaining loan or lease balance, and collateral charges like taxes and fees — then subtracts a mileage offset for the use you got before the defect first appeared. The formula:
Mileage offset = Purchase price × (Miles at first repair for the defect ÷ 120,000)
- The mileage offset only counts miles before your first repair order for the specific defect that makes the car a lemon — not routine service, and not miles added while the manufacturer failed to fix it.
- You may also recover a civil penalty of up to two times your damages if the manufacturer acted willfully.
- The manufacturer pays your attorney fees on a successful claim, so there's no upfront cost to you.
Enter your numbers
The sticker/contract price of the vehicle. Used to calculate the mileage offset.
Cash down plus any trade-in value applied at purchase.
Your regular loan or lease payment.
How many monthly payments you've made so far.
What you still owe. In a buyback, the manufacturer pays this off.
Sales tax, registration, and license fees you paid (optional).
Reasonable costs caused by the defect, like towing or rental cars (optional).
The odometer reading on your FIRST repair order for the specific problem that makes the vehicle a lemon — not a routine service or an unrelated repair. Only miles before this visit reduce your payout.
Your estimated buyback
Fill in the fields and press Calculate to see an estimate of your California lemon law buyback.
This calculator provides a rough estimate only. The facts of every case vary, and your actual recovery depends on your specific documents and circumstances. It is not legal or financial advice.
How the buyback is calculated
When a vehicle qualifies under California's lemon law, one primary remedy is a buyback — the manufacturer unwinds the sale, refunds what you've paid, and takes the defective vehicle back. The amount isn't arbitrary: the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act sets out exactly what a buyback must include and how it is reduced.
What's included: your down payment and trade-in, all monthly payments made to date, the remaining loan or lease payoff (the manufacturer clears what you still owe), and collateral charges — sales tax, registration and license fees — plus reasonable incidental costs such as towing or rental cars caused by the defect.
The mileage offset is the one major deduction. California multiplies the purchase price by the miles you drove before your first repair visit, divided by 120,000. If you paid $40,000 and first brought the car in at 12,000 miles, the offset is $40,000 × (12,000 ÷ 120,000) = $4,000. Miles you add afterward, while the manufacturer fails to fix the car, do not increase the offset.
Prefer to keep your car? Many owners choose a cash-and-keep settlement instead of a repurchase, or a replacement vehicle of comparable value. For a full walkthrough, see our guide on how a California buyback is calculated.
Frequently asked questions
How is a California lemon law buyback calculated?
A California buyback refunds the total amount you paid or owe on the vehicle — down payment, all monthly payments made, the remaining loan or lease balance, plus collateral charges like taxes, registration, and incidental costs such as towing or rental — minus a mileage offset. The mileage offset is the purchase price multiplied by the miles driven before your first repair visit, divided by 120,000.
What is the lemon law mileage offset formula?
Mileage offset = purchase price × (miles at first repair visit ÷ 120,000). For example, a $40,000 vehicle first brought in at 12,000 miles has an offset of $40,000 × (12,000 ÷ 120,000) = $4,000. Only the miles before that first repair attempt count.
Does the buyback include my taxes and fees?
Yes. California's Song-Beverly Act requires the manufacturer to refund collateral charges such as sales tax, registration, and license fees, plus reasonable incidental costs like towing and rental car expenses caused by the defect.
Is this calculator's estimate guaranteed?
No. It is a good-faith estimate based on the statutory formula. Your actual recovery depends on your specific paperwork, defect history, and how your case is resolved — and you may also be entitled to a civil penalty of up to two times your damages, plus attorney fees paid by the manufacturer.
Do I have to pay anything to use a lemon law attorney?
In a successful California lemon law case, the manufacturer pays your reasonable attorney fees and costs. That's why reputable firms, including Mousavi Law Firm, handle these cases with no upfront cost to you.
Want a real number for your vehicle?
A free case review is the most accurate way to find out what your buyback or settlement could be worth. No win, no fee.