Georgia Lemon Law (§ 10-1-780 et seq.): Rights Period, Arbitration, and Fee Shifting

Georgia Lemon Law (§ 10-1-780 et seq.): Rights Period, Arbitration, and Fee Shifting. O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10) (2025, opened): the lemon law rights period is the period ending two years after the date of the original delivery of a new motor vehicle to a consumer or the first 24,000 miles of operation after delivery of a new motor vehicle to the original consumer, whichever occurs first. Personal-injury suits are generally filed within two years (O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10)). Call (470) 852-6328. Cooper Law publishes no case results.

Reviewed by Omar A. Cooper, Esq. · Last updated September 3, 2026

Who and what is covered

New vehicles

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10) (2025, opened): the lemon law rights period is the period ending two years after the date of the original delivery of a new motor vehicle to a consumer or the first 24,000 miles of operation after delivery of a new motor vehicle to the original consumer, whichever occurs first. Extended one day for each day repair services are unavailable due to strike, war, invasion, terrorist act, blackout, fire, flood, other disaster, or declared state of emergency.

If the manufacturer cannot correct on the final attempt, or the vehicle was 30 days out of service in the rights period, the manufacturer shall, at the consumer's option, repurchase or replace (§ 10-1-784(b)). Consumer notifies in writing by SOD/certified mail which option; manufacturer has 20 days from receipt.

Used cars out

Non-lessee repurchase: purchase price + collateral charges + incidental costs, less a reasonable offset for use (purchase price × consumer miles as of first delivery for repair of the nonconformity ÷ 120,000; motor home ÷ 90,000) (§ 10-1-782(23)). Do not promise a repurchase dollar amount.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-787 (2025, opened): the arbitrator's decision is final unless a party appeals to superior court within 30 days; appeal is de novo and the decision is admissible. If the manufacturer appeals and the consumer prevails, recovery in addition to the arbitrator's award shall include all charges incurred during or as a result of the appeal, including continuing collateral and incidental costs, technical or expert witness fees, attorney's fees, and court costs ((c) — this is the opened fee-shifting clause).

GVWR / motorcycle / golf cart exclusions

Manufacturer that does not appeal a consumer win must fully comply within 40 days; AG may impose a civil penalty of up to $1,000.00 per day ((d)). Do not cite § 10-1-790 as fee shifting — that section (title on Justia) is requirements for transfer of a reacquired vehicle.

Do not cite reserved/repealed § 10-1-794.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10): Rights period: two years from delivery or first 24,000 miles, whichever first.

The rights period and reasonable attempts

Quote 10-1-782(10) and 10-1-784(a).

Arbitration and fees

Certified mechanism first only if AG-certified

Covered consumer (§ 10-1-782(5)): a person who purchases or leases a new motor vehicle for personal, family, or household use and not for resale/lease to another; and a person who purchases or leases ten or fewer new motor vehicles a year for business purposes other than limousine rental services. Covered vehicle ((15)): original-title new self-propelled vehicle; not used; not trucks > 12,000 pounds GVWR; not motorcycles or golf carts.

Motor homes: chassis/self-propelled vehicle covered; living-quarters/office/commercial space not covered.

Reasonable number of attempts, § 10-1-784(a)(1) (opened): deemed undertaken during the rights period if (A) a serious safety defect has been subject to repair one time and has not been corrected; (B) the same nonconformity has been subject to repair three times and has not been corrected; or (C) the vehicle is out of service by reason of repair of one or more nonconformities for a cumulative total of 30 days. If the vehicle is being repaired on the date the rights period expires, the period extends until that attempt is completed.

AG currently says none are certified

Final manufacturer attempt, § 10-1-784(a)(2): after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer notifies the manufacturer by statutory overnight delivery or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the address in the owner's manual. The manufacturer has 28 days from receipt for a final attempt; must name a reasonably accessible facility by close of business on day 7; consumer delivers by close of business on day 14.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-785 (Justia 2025 extract opened): if the manufacturer does not replace or repurchase after a (b) request, the consumer may apply for arbitration under § 10-1-786 — but if the manufacturer has an Attorney General-certified informal dispute settlement mechanism, the consumer is eligible for state arbitration only after submitting the dispute to that mechanism. File with the certified mechanism no later than one year after expiration of the rights period.

If the certified mechanism does not decide within 40 days, the consumer may go to state arbitration.

Fee shift on manufacturer appeal is 10-1-787(c)

Georgia Attorney General Lemon Law FAQs (opened): 'At the time of printing this publication, no manufacturer has a certified informal dispute settlement program in Georgia, so consumers can proceed directly to state arbitration.' It is a violation of Georgia law to represent that a Lemon Law dispute must be submitted to a manufacturer's program that is not certified (BBB AUTO LINE, NCDS, CAP-Motors named). Report to 404-458-3827.

State program is funded by the $3.00 fee paid at purchase/lease; an attorney is not required.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-784: Reasonable attempts: 1 serious safety, 3 same nonconformity, or 30 days OOS; then 28-day manufacturer final try.

O.C.G.A. § 10-1-787(c): If manufacturer appeals and consumer prevails: fees, expert costs, and appeal charges shall be included.

Georgia law that applies

• O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10) — Rights period: two years from delivery or first 24,000 miles, whichever first.
• O.C.G.A. § 10-1-784 — Reasonable attempts: 1 serious safety, 3 same nonconformity, or 30 days OOS; then 28-day manufacturer final try.
• O.C.G.A. § 10-1-787(c) — If manufacturer appeals and consumer prevails: fees, expert costs, and appeal charges shall be included.

Attorney advertising. This is general information about Georgia law, not legal advice for a particular person, and it does not create a lawyer-client relationship.

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• contact Cooper Law

Sources: O.C.G.A. § 10-1-782(10) · O.C.G.A. § 10-1-784(a)(1) · O.C.G.A. § 10-1-785 · Georgia AG Lemon Law FAQs · O.C.G.A. § 10-1-787 (2025)

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