# The Massachusetts Used Vehicle Warranty Law, for dealers who actually have to live with it
> What the MA Used Vehicle Warranty Law (the used-car lemon law, M.G.L. c. 90 §7N¼) requires of dealers: who's covered, the mileage-based warranty terms, and refund triggers.
- Source: https://www.dealervlo.com/blog/ma-used-vehicle-warranty-law
- Published: 2026-06-22
- Updated: 2026-06-22
- Author: Chris Abouraad
- Tags: massachusetts, compliance
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When I sold my first few cars in Massachusetts, I assumed "as-is" meant as-is. It doesn't — not here. Massachusetts has a used-car lemon law, the Used Vehicle Warranty Law (M.G.L. c. 90 § 7N¼), and on most of the cars a small lot sells, you owe the buyer a warranty whether you put one in the contract or not. New dealers find this out the hard way. Here's the version I wish someone had handed me.
## Which cars the used vehicle warranty law covers
The statutory used-vehicle warranty applies when all of these are true:
- The vehicle is sold by a **dealer** (private-party sales aren't covered)
- It's for **personal use**
- The **sale price is $700 or more**
- The odometer reads **under 125,000 miles** at the time of sale
If a car clears that bar — and most of your inventory will — you owe a warranty. You don't get to opt out with an "as-is" sticker.
## How long the warranty runs
The term scales with mileage at sale. Whichever limit comes first ends the warranty:
| Miles at sale | Warranty term |
|---|---|
| Under 40,000 | 90 days or 3,750 miles |
| 40,000 – 79,999 | 60 days or 2,500 miles |
| 80,000 – 124,999 | 30 days or 1,250 miles |
So a clean 35k-mile trade carries a 90-day obligation; an 95k-mile car carries 30 days. Price your reconditioning with that window in mind — the cheap car with the short warranty can still cost you a transmission in week three.
## What you actually have to do
During the term, you have to repair — **free of charge** — any defect that impairs the use or safety of the vehicle. You get a reasonable number of attempts, but there are hard backstops:
- If you can't fix the **same defect after three attempts**, or
- the vehicle is **out of service for more than 10 business days** during the warranty term,
the buyer can demand a **refund** (the purchase price, less a statutory deduction for use). That's the part that hurts, so the lesson is to fix things right the first time and not let a car sit.
The warranty travels with the car for the full term even if you sold it "cheap." If you wouldn't want to back a car for 30–90 days, recondition it before it hits the line or wholesale it instead of retailing it.
## The disclosure you owe every buyer
Beyond the repairs, you have to **give the buyer a written disclosure** of their rights under the warranty law, signed and dated, as part of the purchase paperwork. Skipping it is its own violation — separate from any repair dispute. It belongs in the deal jacket alongside the [RMV-1](/guide/how-to-fill-out-rmv-1-massachusetts) and the FTC Buyers Guide.
## Even the cars that aren't "covered" aren't off the hook
Over 125,000 miles, or under $700? The statutory used-vehicle warranty doesn't apply — but two other things still do:
- **The implied warranty of merchantability.** Every dealer sale in Massachusetts carries it. The car has to be fit to drive. You can't sign that away on a retail sale.
- **The Lemon Aid Law** (M.G.L. c. 90 § 7N, a different statute). If the vehicle **fails the Massachusetts safety or emissions inspection within 7 days** of the sale and the estimated repair cost exceeds **10% of the purchase price**, the buyer can void the sale and get their money back. This is why you never deliver a car that won't pass inspection — see the [MA paperwork checklist](/guide/massachusetts-used-car-dealer-paperwork-checklist) for where the 7-day inspection fits.
## The practical takeaways
1. **Assume most retail sales carry a warranty.** Budget recon and a reserve for it.
2. **Deliver inspectable cars.** The 7-day Lemon Aid window punishes anything that won't pass.
3. **Give — and keep — the written warranty disclosure.** It's required, and it's your record.
4. **Fix the same defect right the first time.** Three strikes or 11 days down and you're buying the car back.
None of this is legal advice — the Attorney General's "Dealer's Guide to the Massachusetts Used Vehicle Warranty Law" is the authoritative source, and a Massachusetts attorney should review your disclosure template. But this is the shape of the obligation, and it's a lot less scary once you price for it instead of getting surprised by it.
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