Wyoming Lemon Law: Your Complete Legal Guide

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 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 (previously titled to a consumer)
• Vehicles purchased primarily for resale

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 (other than for resale)
• Is entitled by the warranty terms to enforce the warranty

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

Condition	Threshold	Details
Repair attempts (same defect)	More than 3 attempts	The same nonconformity has been subject to repair and continues to exist
Days out of service	30 or more cumulative business days	Vehicle out of service because of repairs (business days, not calendar days)
Coverage window	1 year following original delivery	From the date of first delivery to the consumer

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 consumer chooses between two remedies.

Option 1: Replacement Vehicle

The manufacturer must provide:

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

Option 2: Full Refund

The manufacturer must provide:

• The full purchase price of the vehicle
• All collateral charges associated with the purchase (taxes, registration fees, finance charges, and similar costs)

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.

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 the lemon law presumption will work in your favor.

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 lemon law presumption does not apply to any consumer who has not exhausted 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

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.

Defense	What the Manufacturer Claims	How Consumers Can Respond
No substantial impairment	The defect does not substantially impair use and fair market value	Document how the defect affects daily driving, safety, and resale value
Consumer abuse or neglect	The nonconformity resulted from how the consumer used the vehicle	Provide maintenance records showing proper care and adherence to the owner's manual
Unauthorized modification	Modifications by someone other than the manufacturer caused the defect	Show the defect existed before modifications or is completely unrelated
No written notice	The manufacturer did not receive prior direct written notification	Provide certified mail receipt or other proof of delivery

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.

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