Eligibility

• The Texas lemon law applies only to new cars purchased or leased from a licensed dealership or leasing agency in the state of Texas. Most used cars, private sales and cars purchased or leased from unauthorized dealers are not covered under the law. The law is broad in what is considered a "car" for the purposes of this law. This includes trucks, cars, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and motor homes. Towable RVs must have a Texas title and registration to fall under the jurisdiction of this law.
  
  

Used Car Exceptions

• Some used cars may be covered by the Texas lemon law. The used vehicle must be covered by the original manufacturer's warranty. Extended service contracts do not qualify as warranties under this law. Used cars are also eligible if the problem began while the car was still under warranty and continues to be present. This entitles you to assistance getting any and all repairs related to the problem done.
  
  

Lemons Defined

• A lemon must meet all of seven different conditions to qualify under Texas law. Your vehicle must be in abnormal condition or have a serious defect. This problem has to be covered by the manufacturer's warranty. You are required bring the car to the dealer for repair and do so a reasonable number of times. You must then contact the manufacturer by certified mail and give the company a final chance to make repairs. The problem has to then persist and seriously impact the car's value and safe operation. You must then file a lemon law complaint in a timely fashion and pay the filing fee of $35 as of 2011.
  
  

Repair Chances

• Three metrics are used to determine if a dealership has had a "reasonable" chance to fix the problem. One is the four-times test. If you bring your car in for repairs for the same problem twice within a year and then twice more in the year after the second attempt, you qualify. For serious safety hazards, you need only to bring the car in once and then again within a year. Finally, under the 30-days test your car must be in the shop for 30 days total in a two-year period with two repair attempts in the first year.