A Lemon Law buyback is a vehicle that has been reacquired by the manufacturer, on or after January 1, 1996, due to specified warranty defect(s).Checked 2026-08-11
Lemon law buyback
A vehicle the manufacturer reacquired because of warranty defects, recorded as a brand on the title.
Also called: manufacturer buyback · buyback title · lemon title
What it means
Definition
A lemon law buyback is a vehicle reacquired by its manufacturer because of specified warranty defects. California's DMV defines it as a vehicle reacquired by the manufacturer, on or after January 1, 1996, due to specified warranty defects, and requires the manufacturer to have the title and registration marked 'Lemon Law Buyback'. Lemon laws are state laws, so what qualifies and how the title is marked differ between states.
Why a buyer cares
What it changes
The brand is a permanent record that a manufacturer took the car back over a defect its own repair attempts did not resolve. It does not say what the defect was.
In practice
Where you meet it
Printed on the title and registration as a brand, and disclosed in dealer paperwork at resale.
Two things that look alike
Not the same as
A recall applies to a model line and does not brand any title; a buyback applies to one specific vehicle.
Read next
Related terms
Safety recall
Action taken when a manufacturer or NHTSA finds a vehicle creates an unreasonable safety risk or fails a federal standard.
Powertrain warranty
Warranty coverage limited to the parts that make power and deliver it to the wheels.
Vehicle history report
A lookup of the title, odometer and salvage records reported against one VIN.
Where this comes from
Sources
California's rule and its 1996 date do not transfer to other states.