While California’s smog check regulations are ever-evolving, they do not currently affect motorcycles. If you own a motorcycle in the State of California, it is exempt from the state’s smog check requirements. This being said, California has a lot of motorcycles and some of the strictest smog regulations in the nation, and there is no guarantee that this exemption will hold. If you love to ride, but the bike you’ve purchased turns out to be a motorcycle lemon, you have legal rights, and an experienced California lemon law attorney can help protect them.
California is unrivaled when it comes to breathtaking scenery, and if you ride, you know just how inviting California’s seemingly endless miles of roadway can be. According to statistics, California has far more motorcycles registered than any other state in the nation. In fact, California’s 785,424 registered bikes amount to more than twice the number that are registered in New York (which comes in at third place) and exceed Florida (which comes in at second place) by more than 165,000. California has a way of drawing people to ride motorcycles in the open air.
California has strong lemon laws in place, and they also apply to motorcycles – although there are distinctions. Your motorcycle is covered by California’s lemon laws if the following apply:
Motorcycles are covered under the consumer goods portion of the state’s lemon law statute (rather than under the motor vehicle portion specifically), which means that variations apply, but replacement or repurchase is based on repeated repair attempts.
A primary distinction between cars and motorcycles when it comes to California’s lemon laws is how the claims are resolved. When cars are identified as lemons, consumers often have the choice of whether or not they would prefer a replacement vehicle or a refund (minus mileage).
If you’ve purchased a motorcycle that’s a lemon, however, the bike’s manufacturer has the option of either replacing it with a substantially identical vehicle or repurchasing it outright. If your bad experience with the motorcycle in question leaves you soured on the brand, having it replaced may not be your first choice.
On the other hand, the level of defect required to trigger a motorcycle lemon law claim does not have to meet the same lofty standard of substantially impairing its safety, value, or use that it would for a car claim.
If your motorcycle turns out to be a lemon, the savvy California lemon law attorneys at LemonLaw123 have an impressive track record of guiding motorcycle claims like yours toward advantageous outcomes, and we’re here for you too. Learn more by contacting or calling us at 657-529-5239 today.
Valerie G. Fernandez Campbell, known as The Lemon Law Lady, has dedicated her entire legal career to the specialized field of Lemon Law, a journey that began immediately after her
graduation from UCLA School of Law.
With a 99% success rate and a policy of no fees unless you win, her practice stands as a testament to her expertise in California’s Lemon Law, her commitment to her clients, and her unwavering dedication to justice and consumer rights.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Valerie G. Fernandez Campbell, personally handled over 500 lemon law cases and settlements.
