PA Bill Would Add Motorcycles to PA Lemon Law

The Pennsylvania Senate is considering a proposal to expand the PA Lemon Law to include motorcycles.

Senator Michele Brooks reintroduced Senate Bill 155, which passed the Senate Consumer Protection & Professional Licensure committee and will now be considered by the full Senate.

Current PA Lemon Law Does Not Cover Motorcycles

Presently, the Pennsylvania Lemon Law only applies to personal vehicles, not motorcycles.

Under the current law, only newly purchased vehicles, which are registered in Pennsylvania, are covered under the PA lemon law.

Below is a summary of the current PA Lemon Law:

• The PA Lemon Law protects owners from manufacturer defects that substantially impair its use, safety, or value.
• The defect must have occurred within 12,000 miles driven, manufacturer warranty terms or one year from the date the vehicle is delivered to the buyer.
• The buyer is entitled to a new vehicle or a full refund if defects cannot be repaired after a “reasonable number of attempts.”
• A manufacturer has three attempts to repair the defect, or 30 cumulative days if the vehicle is out of service.

We have previously written about the PA Lemon Law Requirements and the 10 important facts which can affect your lemon law rights.

Since motorcycles owners do not have coverage under the Pennsylvania Lemon Law, they can only pursue cases under the federal lemon law or Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act Summary. These laws are limited in scope and only provide motorcycle owners limited rights to recovery.

New PA Lemon Law Bill to Add Motorcycles

Under the proposed PA Lemon Law change, motorcycles would be covered in addition to new cars.

As part of the proposed changes to the PA Lemon Law, motorcycle owners who receive defective motorcycles could seek the same lemon law relief as car owners and request a replacement or refund within a year of delivery.

Included in the proposed changes to the PA Lemon Law to include motorcycles are the following requirements:

• Dealerships would be required to use manufacturer-sourced parts.
• Storage time would not be counted against the 30 cumulative days provision
• Motorcycles buyers could waive the minimum day period in writing, and loaner vehicles would not be required

The proposed change to the PA Lemon Law to include motorcycles is important in light of a recent study that indicates “an estimated 150,000 cars each year (or 1% of new vehicles) are “lemons”.

Pennsylvania would join a long list of states providing motorcycle lemon law coverage.

Presently the motorcycles are covered under the New Jersey Lemon Law, New York Lemon Law and Hawaii Lemon Law.

The addition of motorcycles in the PA Lemon Law would benefit the thousands of motorcycle owners who experience defects which impair the use of the bike.

Lemon Law Information for your Motorcycle Problems

If your motorcycle is experiencing defects make sure you understand your lemon law rights and what you should do if you have a lemon.

Let David J. Gorberg & Associates help you. We’re the lemon law experts and can help you with your defective motorcycle.

Contact us today and tell us about your lemon motorcycle!