How Does The Lemon Law Work?

The Hawaii Lemon Law helps consumers who buy or lease new motor vehicles and have repeated problems in getting their vehicles repaired under the manufacturer`s warranty. The Lemon Law can help a consumer get a refund of the vehicle purchase price or a replacement vehicle from the manufacturer. The State Certified Arbitration Program (SCAP) provides the consumer with a self­help arbitration process to resolve a warranty dispute with a manufacturer. This Program gives the consumer a less complicated and less expensive option than going to court.

The information in this handbook summarizes the Lemon Law and the procedures involved in requesting and preparing for an arbitration. The law itself is found in Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 481I (Read the Statute by selecting Hawaii under Lemon Law Statutes in the drop­down selection menu at the right side of this screen). The administrative rules which govern the SCAP process are found in Hawaii Administrative Rules Title 16 Chapter 181.

For more information, call:

• Oahu
  587­3222 and choose option #2
• Kauai
  274­3141 then dial 73222, then the # sign.
• Maui
  984­2400 then dial 73222, then the # sign.
• Big Island
  974­4000 then dial 73222, then the # sign.
• Lanai/Molokai
  1­800­468­4644 then dial 73222, then the # sign.

Or write:

Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Regulated Industries Complaints Office
Consumer Resource Center
235 S. Beretania Street, Ninth Floor
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813