STANDARDS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEMON LAW

The following is a brief explanation of most relevant provisions of the South Carolina
lemon law.  The complete text of the lemon law can be found at South Carolina Code
Ann. §§ 56-28-10 through 56-28-110.
VEHICLES COVERED
The South Carolina lemon law covers “motor vehicle” sold and registered in the state. 
“Motor vehicle” means a private passenger motor vehicle that is:
1.   A motor vehicle designed, used, and maintained for the transportation of ten or
fewer persons; and
2.   Trucks having an empty weight of 7,000 pounds or less and a gross weight of 9,000
pounds or less.
The lemon law does not cover motorcycles, motor-driven cycles, the living portion of
recreational vehicles, and off-road vehicles.
“New motor vehicle” is a private passenger motor vehicle that has been sold to a new
motor vehicle dealer by a manufacturer and that has not been used for other than
demonstration purposes and on which the original title has not been issued from the
new motor vehicle dealer.
CONSUMERS COVERED
The lemon law covers the following consumers:
1.   The purchaser, including a lessor, for purposes other than resale, of a motor vehicle
normally used for personal, family, or household purposes, and subject to the
manufacturer’s express warranty ; and
2.   Any other person entitled by the warranty to enforce its obligations.
The lemon law appears to cover a subsequent transferee.
VEHICLE CONVERTERS
The lemon law applies to vehicle converters.
PROBLEMS COVERED
The lemon law covers any nonconformity, which is defined as a defect or condition that
substantially impairs the use, value or safety of the motor vehicle. This does not include
a defect or condition that results from an accident, modification, or alteration of the
motor vehicle by persons other than the manufacturer or its authorized service agent.

MANUFACTURER’S DUTY TO REPAIR
If a new motor vehicle does not conform to all applicable express warranties within the
first twelve months of purchase or the first 12,000 miles of operation, whichever comes
first, and the consumer reports the nonconformity to the manufacturer or its agent
during the term of the express warranties, then the manufacturer or its agent must make
the necessary repairs to conform the vehicle to the express warranties. The necessary
repairs must be made even after the expiration of the term of the express warranty.
MANUFACTURER’S DUTY TO REPURCHASE OR REPLACE A VEHICLE
If the manufacturer, its agents or authorized dealers are unable to conform the vehicle
to the express warranty by repairing or correcting any nonconformity after a reasonable
number of attempts within the term of the express warranties, the manufacturer, at its
option, must either replace or repurchase the motor vehicle.
REASONABLE NUMBER OF REPAIR ATTEMPTS
The South Carolina lemon law establishes a presumption that a reasonable number of
attempts has been undertaken to conform a motor vehicle to the applicable express
warranties if, within the express warranty term, either of the following occurs:
1.   The same nonconformity has been subject to repair three or more times by the
manufacturer or its agents, but the nonconformity continues to exist; or
2.   The motor vehicle is out of service by reason of repair for a cumulative total of 30 or
more calendar days. 
The term of an express warranty and the 20 (sic) day period are extended by any period
of time during which repair services are not available to the consumer because of a war,
invasion, strike, fire, flood or other natural disaster.
NOTICE AND OPPORTUNITY TO REPAIR
Before filing a claim under the lemon law, the consumer or a representative must notify
the manufacturer in writing, by registered, certified or express mail, of the need for
repair of the nonconformity, in order to allow the manufacturer a final opportunity to
cure the alleged defect. This notice requirement does not apply unless the manufacturer
has clearly and prominently informed the consumer, at the time of sale that written
notification of the nonconformity is required.
The manufacturer has ten business days to notify consumer of a reasonably accessible
repair facility of a franchised new vehicle dealer to conform the motor vehicle to the
express warranty. After the motor vehicle is delivered to an authorized repair facility by
the consumer, the manufacturer has up to ten business days to repair the motor vehicle
so that it conforms to the express warranty.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION
If the manufacturer has established an informal dispute settlement procedure that
complies with 16 C.F.R. Part 703, or if the manufacturer participates in a consumer-
industry appeals, arbitration or mediation panel or board whose decisions are binding
on the manufacturer, then the provisions requiring refund or replacement do not apply
unless the consumer has first resorted to one of these procedures. 
TIME PERIOD FOR FILING CLAIMS
An action must be commenced within three years following the date of the motor
vehicle’s original delivery to the consumer.

REMEDIES UNDER THE SOUTH CAROLINA LEMON LAW

REPURCHASE
The South Carolina lemon law sets out the following amounts that a manufacturer must
pay when it repurchases an owned or leased motor vehicle under the lemon law:
1.   The full purchase price as delivered; and
2.   Applicable finance charges, sales taxes, license and registration fees and similar
government charges;
3.   Less a reasonable allowance for the consumer’s use of the motor vehicle.
Refunds must be made to the consumer and lienholder, if any, as their interests exist at
the time the refund is to be made.
The reasonable allowance for use is that amount directly attributable to use by the
consumer before the first report of the nonconformity to the manufacturer, its agent or
dealer.  The reasonable allowance must be calculated in accordance with the following
formula:
Number of miles that the motor vehicle
Reasonable       traveled before the nonconformity is first
allowance   =    reported to the manufacturer, agent, or dealer  X  Purchase
for use                                     120,000                                     Price
REPLACEMENT
When replacing a vehicle under the South Carolina lemon law, the manufacturer must
provide a comparable motor vehicle.  The reasonable allowance for use does not apply to
a replacement.