Nothing upfront. Checkmate Law works on a contingency fee basis, and under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, the manufacturer is required to pay your attorney’s fees and costs if you prevail. You pay zero out-of-pocket — and nothing at all unless there is a recovery.

The statute of limitations is four years from the date you discovered — or reasonably should have discovered — the defect under Cal. Com. Code § 2725. This is longer than most clients expect, but waiting creates real risk: repair records become harder to obtain, dealer notes get overwritten, and the manufacturer’s defense builds over time. Do not wait to find out where you stand.

The buyback equals the full contract price — including down payment, monthly payments made, taxes, registration, and finance charges — minus a mileage offset for use prior to the first repair attempt. The offset is calculated as miles driven before the first repair divided by 120,000 (California’s statutory vehicle lifespan). Manufacturers routinely inflate this number. Shayan runs the precise calculation for every client before any offer is evaluated.

A vehicle qualifies if it has a warranty-covered defect that substantially impairs its use, value, or safety, and the manufacturer has been unable to fix it after a reasonable number of attempts. The Tanner Consumer Protection Act (Cal. Civ. Code § 1793.22) creates a legal presumption after two repair attempts for a safety defect, four attempts for any other defect, or 30 or more cumulative days out of service within 18 months or 18,000 miles.

No. The Song-Beverly Act covers manufacturer warranties, not private party transactions. However, if the vehicle still carried an active manufacturer warranty when you bought it — including many used and certified pre-owned vehicles — those protections transfer to you as the new owner. If you’re unsure, a free case review will tell you exactly where you stand.

Both are covered. Leased vehicles are expressly protected under the Song-Beverly Act — lessees have identical rights to buyers. Used vehicles qualify if an active manufacturer’s warranty was in force when you purchased the car. Certified pre-owned vehicles typically qualify. The key question is whether the defect appeared while the warranty was active — not whether the car was brand new.

Under Cal. Civ. Code § 1794(c), if a court finds the manufacturer willfully failed to comply with the Song-Beverly Act, you may be entitled to a civil penalty of up to two times your actual damages on top of the buyback or replacement. This is the exposure manufacturers most want to avoid — and the leverage that drives favorable settlements before trial.

Yes — before you sign anything. Manufacturer offers typically reflect the minimum they believe they can settle for, not the full value of your claim. Once you sign a release, the claim is permanently closed regardless of what problems develop later. A free consultation costs nothing and can prevent a costly mistake.