Beta

If you’re researching a California Lemon Law buyback (repurchase), you’ll often see the term mileage/use offset (sometimes called a use deduction). This is a common manufacturer talking point—and it can sound like it wipes out your recovery. In reality, the offset is typically a limited, formula-based deduction that depends on your records, especially the mileage at the time of the first repair attempt for the defect at issue.

A California Lemon Law buyback (also called a repurchase) is one of the most common remedies when a warranty defect substantially affects a vehicle’s use, value, or safety and the issue continues after a reasonable number of repair attempts. In a buyback, the manufacturer typically takes the vehicle back and reimburses you for what you spent on the vehicle based on what the records show.