Decide which option is best for you: replacement vehicle or refund
In California, the lemon law protects consumers and gives them the legal right to receive a refund for the original cost of their vehicle or receive a replacement vehicle of the same value and similar model from its manufacturer. Which option is best for you depends on your unique needs and circumstances, but there are a few important things to consider when deciding whether you prefer a refund or a replacement vehicle.
 

Reimbursement of the original cost of your car
The reimbursement you could receive from your manufacturer includes the cost of your original down payment, any state taxes you paid on your car, any registration fees, any remaining balances on your car loan, and any monthly payments you made to meet your vehicle loan. . Also, the amount you receive in reimbursement likely includes out-of-pocket expenses that were a direct result of your defective vehicle. An example of this could be any legal fees you paid for your lemon law attorney, towing costs, taxi costs, uber costs, etc. However, while this reimbursement may seem like a lot of your expenses, it's important to know that the manufacturer may deduct specific costs from your buyback cost. These deductions include late fees ​​ that you incurred on loan payments, aftermarket items you purchased, and, in particular, the deduction plus The big thing manufacturers do is mileage compensation. Mileage compensation represents the depreciation in value of your car due to the mileage on the vehicle before the mechanical problems occurred.

replacement vehicle
If instead of a refund, you decide that a replacement vehicle is the best option for you, your manufacturer's replacement will be a similar vehicle model and must be of equal value. This option would be best for people who don't want to spend time looking for a new car because it saves time in this regard, but keep in mind that your replacement vehicle will come from the same manufacturer that sold you the lemon.