Wyoming Lemon Law (2026): How to Qualify & Get a Refund

Wyoming's lemon law, Wyo. Stat. section 40-17-101, gives new-vehicle buyers up to one year from delivery to establish protection. If the same defect persists after more than three repair attempts, or the vehicle sits out of service for 30 or more cumulative business days, the manufacturer must either replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price.

Wyoming protects consumers who purchase defective new vehicles through its lemon law at Wyo. Stat. section 40-17-101. The law applies to new motor vehicles under 10,000 pounds that are sold or registered in the state. When a manufacturer cannot fix a substantial defect after a reasonable number of attempts, the consumer can demand a remedy, and the manufacturer then chooses to provide either a replacement vehicle or a full refund.

This guide explains what vehicles qualify under Wyoming's lemon law, the repair attempt thresholds, available remedies, notice requirements, and how to file a claim.

Which Vehicles Does the Wyoming Lemon Law Cover

Wyoming's lemon law covers new self-propelled motor vehicles that meet a specific weight limit and are sold or registered in the state.

Covered Vehicle Types

• Passenger cars including sedans, coupes, and hatchbacks
• Light-duty trucks under the weight limit
• SUVs and crossovers under 10,000 pounds unladen weight
• Vans and minivans for personal use
• Electric and hybrid vehicles that meet the weight and registration requirements

Weight Limit

The law covers motor vehicles with an unladen weight of less than 10,000 pounds. Unladen weight refers to the weight of the vehicle without passengers or cargo. Vehicles at or above this threshold are excluded from coverage.

Vehicles NOT Covered

• Vehicles moved solely by human power (bicycles)
• Motor vehicles with an unladen weight of 10,000 pounds or more
• Used vehicles bought after the manufacturer's original express warranty has expired
• Vehicles purchased primarily for resale

A used vehicle is not automatically excluded, though. If it was transferred to you while the manufacturer's original express warranty was still running, you meet the statute's definition of "consumer" and the same protections apply. See "Who Counts as a Consumer" below.

Who Counts as a Consumer

Wyoming defines a consumer as any person who:

• Purchases a motor vehicle (other than for resale) to which an express warranty applies
• Receives a vehicle by transfer during the term of an express warranty applicable to the vehicle
• Is entitled by the warranty terms to enforce the warranty

The "other than for resale" limit appears only in the first prong, which covers purchasers. A person who takes the vehicle by transfer while the manufacturer's express warranty is still running is a consumer under the second prong without any resale qualifier.

What Is an Express Warranty

The statute defines "express warranty" as the written warranty, so labeled, of the manufacturer of a new motor vehicle, including any terms or conditions precedent to enforcement. This means only the manufacturer's written warranty counts toward lemon law protection. Dealer-added warranties or service contracts are not included.

The Wyoming Lemon Law Presumption

Wyoming law creates a presumption that a reasonable number of repair attempts have been made when certain conditions are met within one year following the original delivery of the vehicle.

When the Presumption Applies

Business Days, Not Calendar Days

Wyoming counts business days rather than calendar days for the out-of-service calculation. This is an important distinction. Weekends and state holidays are not counted, which means a vehicle must be out of service for a longer total calendar period before the presumption applies compared to states that count calendar days.

For practical purposes, 30 business days equals roughly 6 calendar weeks, while 30 calendar days equals about 4 calendar weeks.

Written Notice Requirement

The presumption does not apply against a manufacturer unless:

1. The manufacturer has received prior direct written notification from or on behalf of the consumer
2. The manufacturer has had a reasonable opportunity to cure the alleged defect

Consumers should send this notice by certified mail with return receipt requested to create a verifiable record that the manufacturer received it.

Extensions for Extraordinary Circumstances

The time periods in the presumption section may be extended during any period when the vehicle could not reasonably be repaired because of war, invasion, act of terror, civil unrest, strike, fire, flood, or natural disaster.

Consumer Remedies: Replacement or Refund

When a vehicle qualifies as a lemon under Wyoming law, the manufacturer decides which of two remedies to provide. This differs from states such as California that expressly give the consumer the right to choose.

Option 1: Replacement Vehicle

The manufacturer may provide:

• A new or comparable motor vehicle of the same type
• Similarly equipped to the original vehicle

Option 2: Full Refund

Alternatively, the manufacturer may accept return of the vehicle and refund:

• The full purchase price of the vehicle
• All collateral charges included in the purchase price

The statute does not define "collateral charges" or list what falls inside the term. Wyoming, unlike states that enumerate it, leaves the scope of collateral charges open, so which purchase-related costs are reimbursed may be subject to negotiation or, in a dispute, determination by a court.

Refunds are made to the consumer and any lienholder, as their interests may appear. If the consumer has an outstanding auto loan, the lender receives its share of the refund to pay off the remaining balance.

Usage Deduction

The manufacturer may subtract a "reasonable allowance for consumer's use." This amount is based on:

• Use of the vehicle before the first report of the nonconformity to the manufacturer, agent, or dealer
• Use during any subsequent period when the vehicle was not out of service for repairs

Unlike many states that specify a per-mile formula (such as purchase price multiplied by miles divided by 100,000 or 120,000), Wyoming does not set a specific calculation method. The allowance must simply be "reasonable," which means the exact amount may be subject to negotiation or, in the event of a dispute, determination by a court.

Federal Overlay: Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act

Even without a remedy-choice guarantee under state law, Wyoming consumers can pursue a parallel claim under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act (15 U.S.C. ch. 50). This federal law gives consumers an independent right to sue for breach of any written or implied warranty, and it allows recovery of attorney fees if the consumer prevails. In practice, a strong Magnuson-Moss claim can significantly strengthen a Wyoming lemon law demand because it shifts the litigation risk to the manufacturer regardless of which state-law remedy the manufacturer would prefer to offer.

How to File a Lemon Law Claim in Wyoming

Step 1: Document Everything

Start keeping records from the first sign of a problem:

• Keep all repair orders and invoices
• Track dates the vehicle enters and leaves the shop, counting business days
• Write down the symptoms you experience each time
• Save all correspondence with the dealer and manufacturer
• Take photos or videos of defects when possible

Step 2: Report the Problem Within One Year

Report the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent, or an authorized dealer within one year following original delivery of the vehicle. This triggers the manufacturer's obligation to make necessary repairs.

An important protection: the manufacturer must make repairs even if the one-year period has expired, as long as the consumer first reported the problem within that year.

Step 3: Allow Repair Attempts

Give the manufacturer, its agents, or authorized dealers the opportunity to repair the vehicle. Keep careful records of each attempt, including what work was performed and whether the problem returned.

Step 4: Send Written Notice to the Manufacturer

Before the lemon law presumption can apply in your favor, you must send direct written notification to the manufacturer and give them a reasonable opportunity to cure the defect. Include your name, contact information, vehicle details (year, make, model, VIN), a description of the problem, your repair history, and a request for remedy.

Step 5: Check for an Informal Dispute Settlement Procedure

If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with federal regulations under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and 16 CFR Part 703, you must exhaust that process before you can claim the replacement or refund remedy. Subsection (f) removes subsection (c), the replace-or-refund obligation itself, from any consumer who has failed to exhaust those remedies, so skipping a qualifying program costs the core lemon law remedy, not just the presumption.

Step 6: File a Civil Action if Necessary

If the manufacturer does not provide an adequate remedy through informal dispute resolution or direct negotiation, you may bring a civil action to enforce the lemon law and recover reasonable attorney fees.

Informal Dispute Settlement Procedures

Wyoming's lemon law incorporates informal dispute settlement by reference to federal requirements.

When Exhaustion Is Required

The replacement-or-refund remedy in subsection (c) does not apply to any consumer who has failed to exhaust a manufacturer's informal dispute settlement procedure if:

• The procedure exists, AND
• The procedure complies with the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and FTC regulations at 16 CFR Part 703

This is a bar on the remedy, not merely on the presumption. A consumer who skips a qualifying program loses the statutory right to demand replacement or refund, which is why it is worth confirming whether your manufacturer runs a certified program before going further.

Federal Standards for Valid Procedures

To be valid, a manufacturer's dispute settlement program must meet these federal requirements:

• Independence from manufacturer control in decision-making
• Adequate record-keeping and reporting
• Timely resolution (generally within 40 days of filing)
• No charge to consumers beyond shipping costs
• Decisions not binding on consumers (consumers may still go to court)

If no compliant procedure exists for your vehicle's manufacturer, you may proceed directly to court.

Manufacturer Defenses

Wyoming provides manufacturers with specific affirmative defenses.

The fourth defense highlights why written notice is so critical. Without proof that you notified the manufacturer in writing, the presumption of reasonable repair attempts will not apply.

Electric and Hybrid Vehicle Coverage

Wyoming's lemon law does not contain separate provisions for electric vehicles or plug-in hybrids. However, any EV or hybrid that qualifies as a new self-propelled motor vehicle under 10,000 pounds unladen weight and is sold or registered in Wyoming receives the same protections as gasoline-powered vehicles.

Common EV-specific defects that may support a lemon law claim include:

• Battery range falling significantly below manufacturer specifications
• Repeated charging system failures or inability to charge
• Thermal management malfunctions affecting battery performance or safety
• Software defects that reduce drivetrain performance, regenerative braking, or vehicle stability

Because EV technology involves complex software and battery systems, some repairs take longer than traditional vehicle repairs. This additional time still counts toward the 30-business-day threshold. Consumers should track business days carefully and note each visit in their records.

Other Legal Remedies Available

Wyoming's lemon law explicitly preserves all other legal rights available to consumers. Nothing in the statute limits remedies available under other laws. Wyoming consumers may also pursue:

• Federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act claims for warranty disputes not fully resolved under state law
• Breach of warranty claims under the Uniform Commercial Code
• Wyoming consumer protection claims under the state's Consumer Protection Act
• Common law claims such as fraud or misrepresentation if the manufacturer or dealer concealed a known defect

Attorney Fees

Any consumer injured by a violation of Wyoming's lemon law may bring a civil action and recover reasonable attorney fees from the manufacturer who issued the express warranty. This fee-shifting provision helps ensure that consumers can afford to pursue valid claims.

More Wyoming Laws

• Wyoming Car Accident Laws

Frequently Asked Questions

How many repair attempts does Wyoming require before a vehicle qualifies as a lemon?

Wyoming law presumes a reasonable number of attempts have been made when the same defect has been subject to repair more than three times and continues to exist, or when the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative business days. These conditions must occur within one year following original delivery of the vehicle.

Does Wyoming count business days or calendar days for the out-of-service period?

Wyoming counts business days, not calendar days. Weekends and state holidays are typically excluded. In practical terms, 30 business days equals roughly 6 calendar weeks, compared to about 4 calendar weeks for states that count 30 calendar days.

Who decides whether a consumer gets a replacement or a refund under Wyoming lemon law?

The manufacturer decides. Wyoming statute 40-17-101 states that the manufacturer shall either replace the vehicle with a new or comparable one, or accept the return and refund the full purchase price with collateral charges. This differs from states like California where the consumer makes the choice.

What is the weight limit for vehicles covered by Wyoming's lemon law?

Wyoming's lemon law covers new motor vehicles with an unladen weight of less than 10,000 pounds. Vehicles at or above that weight are not covered. Unladen weight means the weight of the vehicle without passengers or cargo.

How is the usage deduction calculated in Wyoming?

Unlike many states that use a specific per-mile formula, Wyoming requires only a reasonable allowance for the consumer's use. This covers driving before the first defect report plus any driving during periods when the vehicle was not out of service for repairs. The exact amount may be subject to negotiation or court determination.

Do I have to use arbitration before suing in Wyoming?

If the manufacturer has an informal dispute settlement procedure that complies with federal regulations under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and FTC rules at 16 CFR Part 703, you must exhaust that process first. Wyoming statute 40-17-101(f) provides that the replacement-or-refund remedy in subsection (c) does not apply to a consumer who has failed to exhaust those remedies, so skipping the program costs the statute's main remedy. If no compliant procedure exists for your manufacturer, you may proceed directly to a civil action.