BILL NUMBER: S8430
SPONSOR: STAVISKY
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to used motor
vehicles
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL:
This bill would update New York's Lemon Law to better reflect today's
automotive market by making amendments to the current mileage and age
requirements as well as providing New Yorkers with better outcomes when
they experience such issues.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS:
Section one of the bill amends paragraphs 2 and 4 of subdivision a of
section 198-a of the general business law related to mileage and age
under the definition of motor vehicles and mileage deduction formula.
Section two amends paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision b of section 198-a
of the general business law to increase mileage and vehicle age.
Section three amends paragraph 1 of subdivision c of section 198-a of
the general business law related to vehicle mileage.
Section four amends subdivisions (e) and (h) of section 198-a of the
general business law related to warranty length and increases in fee
amount.
Section' five amends paragraph 2 of subdivision (m) of section 198-a of
the general business law related to vehicle mileage and age.
Section six amends paragraph 2 of subdivision a of section 198-b of the
general business law related to mileage and age under the definition of
used motor vehicle.
Section seven amends paragraphs 1 and 2 of subdivision b of section
198-b of the general business law related to used vehicle mileage and
warranty length and to adds additional vehicle components to be covered.
Section eight amends paragraph 3 of subdivision d of section 198-b of
the general business law related to vehicle mileage.
Section nine amends paragraphs 1 and 3 of subdivision f of section 198-b
of the 7,general business law related to components of the used car
lemon law bill of rights and to increases in fees related to arbi-
tration.
Section ten relates to the effective date.
 
JUSTIFICATION:
New York's Lemon Law has not been substantially updated since the 1980s,
and it no longer reflects the realities of today's automotive market.
Key standards-such as cost thresholds, mileage limits, and definitions
of qualifying defects-are outdated. Modern vehicles are far more
complex, and the practices for diagnosing and repairing defects have
advanced significantly beyond what the original law contemplated. This
legislation updates the Lemon Law to account for changes in vehicle
technology, repair practices, and ownership models. Importantly, the
bill acknowledges that modern repair practices often address symptoms
rather than root causes, making it harder to determine whether multiple
repairs are related-something the original law did not anticipate. By
revising how qualifying defects are assessed and updating the law's
thresholds and remedies, the bill ensures consumers are not unfairly
denied relief due to outdated assumptions.
Streamlining arbitration and enhancing enforcement will give New Yorkers
timely and transparent access to remedies. Updating the Lemon Law is
essential to protect consumers, promote fair business practices, and
align the law with 21st-century vehicle technology and standards.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY:
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
To be determined.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE:
This act shall take effect one year after it shall have become a law.

Statutes affected:
S8430: 198-a general business law, 198-a(c) general business law, 198-b general business law, 198-b(a) general business law, 198-b(d) general business law