| Summary: This comprehensive checklist covers every document, record, and piece of evidence you need to support a California lemon law claim under the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act and the 2025 AB 1755 requirements. |
Most lemon law cases are won or lost on documentation, not on the defect itself.
A vehicle with four failed repair attempts and disorganized, incomplete records is a weak case. The same vehicle with four repair orders, a written timeline, a file of correspondence, and a log of out-of-pocket expenses is a strong one.
Manufacturers have experienced legal teams that review documentation from the moment a claim is submitted. They are looking for gaps. They are looking for inconsistencies. They are looking for the things you didn’t write down.
This checklist — which reflects what Johnson & Buxton attorneys look for when evaluating a new case — tells you exactly what to collect, what to document, and what records matter most under California law.
Why Documentation Is the Foundation of Your Case
The Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (California Civil Code §§ 1790–1795.8) requires that a consumer demonstrate three things: (1) a substantial defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty, (2) that the manufacturer had a reasonable number of opportunities to repair it, and (3) that the manufacturer failed.
Every element of this test is proved through documentation. The defect is documented on your repair orders. The repair attempts are documented on your repair orders. The failure to fix it is documented on your repair orders.
Your repair orders are your case. Everything else supports and strengthens that foundation.
Assembly Bill 1755 (2025) added new documentation requirements. To preserve your right to civil penalties — which can double your total recovery — you must send a written demand letter to the manufacturer before filing suit. That letter must include specific information, and you must have documentation confirming it was received.
Section A: Vehicle Purchase or Lease Documents
These documents establish the foundation of your claim — what you bought, what the manufacturer promised, and what protections apply.
✓ Purchase contract or lease agreement (Retail Installment Sale Contract or lease agreement — the document you signed at the dealership)
✓ Manufacturer’s warranty booklet (the original — identifies coverage periods, exclusions, and the manufacturer address needed for demand letters)
✓ Window sticker / Monroney label (documents the vehicle’s configuration as sold and the warranty terms at time of sale)
✓ Any written representations made at point of sale (a salesperson’s written claims about a specific vehicle feature or capability can constitute an express warranty under California law)
✓ Title document (if purchased outright)
✓ Loan or lease payoff statement (shows current balance — relevant to calculating buyback recovery)
Where to find these: The dealer is required to give you a signed copy of all purchase documents at the time of sale. If you need additional copies, contact the dealer’s finance department. Your lender can provide current loan payoff statements.
Section B: Complete Repair History
This is the most important section. Every repair order represents both evidence of a repair attempt and evidence of the defect’s persistence.
✓ Every repair order from every authorized dealer visit, in chronological order
✓ Date of each visit
✓ Mileage at each visit (record this yourself when you drop the vehicle off — it appears on the work order but verify it)
✓ The complaint as described on the work order (verify that the service writer documented what you actually said — if it’s wrong, ask for a correction before you leave)
✓ The work performed, including parts replaced and labor performed
✓ The outcome notation (“repaired,” “no fault found,” “cannot duplicate,” “within spec,” etc.)
✓ Parts replaced: note whether OEM (original equipment manufacturer) or non-OEM parts were used
✓ Any technical service bulletin (TSB) numbers referenced in the repair notes
✓ Dealer technician notes (ask for the full technician’s copy of the repair order, not just the customer copy — the technician’s notes contain diagnostic information that can be significant)
How to request missing repair orders: You are legally entitled to copies of all repair orders for your vehicle. Contact the service department and make the request in writing (email is fine). Reference the vehicle’s VIN, your name, and the date range you need. If the dealership is unresponsive, a lemon law attorney can compel production of these records.
What “no fault found” means for your case: A repair order with “NFF” or “cannot duplicate” is not a dead end — it is documentation that you presented the vehicle with a complaint that the dealer failed to resolve. It still counts as a repair attempt.
Section C: Communication Records
Every communication with the dealer or manufacturer is potentially relevant to your case.
✓ All emails with dealer service advisors, service managers, or manufacturer customer service representatives
✓ Text messages (screenshot and save to a backed-up location)
✓ Letters sent or received (keep originals — scan copies for backup)
✓ Case numbers or complaint numbers assigned by manufacturer customer service
✓ Names of all manufacturer representatives you spoke with (date, name, what was said)
✓ Notes from any phone calls: write them down immediately after the call with date, time, who you spoke to, and the substance of the conversation
✓ Any written commitments made by the dealer or manufacturer (“we’ll have this fixed by Friday”; “we’re ordering the part now”)
Pro tip: For all significant communications going forward, follow up any phone call with an email summarizing what was discussed: “Per our conversation today, you indicated that part [X] would arrive on [date] and the repair would be completed by [date].” This creates a written record of verbal commitments.
Section D: Out-of-Pocket Expense Records
California law entitles you to recover incidental and consequential damages — the real-world costs your defective vehicle caused. These are easy to overlook and easy to document if you start from day one.
✓ Towing receipts (every time the vehicle was towed for a warranty-related issue)
✓ Rental car receipts or rideshare records (during periods when the vehicle was at the dealer for warranty repairs)
✓ Loan or lease payments made during periods the vehicle was out of service and unusable
✓ Any repair costs paid out-of-pocket that should have been covered under warranty (keep receipts and any denial letters from the manufacturer)
✓ Registration renewal fees paid during the period of defects
✓ Bus passes, transit costs, or other alternative transportation expenses tied to dealer visits
These costs may seem small individually. Across multiple repair visits — each potentially involving rental cars, towing, or transit — they can add up to thousands of dollars. Document everything.
Section E: Timeline Summary Document
Create a simple, chronological one-page summary of your repair history. This is the single most useful document you can bring to an attorney consultation.
Format: A simple table or list with the following columns:
Date | Mileage at Visit | Issue Reported | Work Performed | Outcome | Days Out of Service
At the bottom, calculate:
- Total number of repair attempts for the primary defect
- Total cumulative days out of service across all visits
- Date and mileage of the first repair attempt for the primary defect (the mileage offset calculation starts here)
- Date of original vehicle delivery
This document doesn’t need to be polished — it needs to be accurate. Use your repair orders as the source of record.
Section F: AB 1755 Compliance Documents (New in 2025)
Assembly Bill 1755, effective January 1, 2025, created new documentation requirements that must be met to preserve your full range of legal remedies.
✓ Pre-suit demand letter: A written demand to the manufacturer requesting repurchase or replacement, sent via certified mail (or email to an email address provided in the warranty booklet) at least 30 days before filing a lawsuit. Must include: your name, vehicle VIN, a brief description of the defects, and a statement that you are requesting repurchase or replacement.
✓ Certified mail receipt or email confirmation: Proof that the manufacturer received your demand. The 30-day response period starts when the manufacturer receives the letter — not when you send it.
✓ Manufacturer’s response (or documentation of non-response): If the manufacturer responds with an offer, document the offer and the date. If the manufacturer does not respond within 30 days, document that fact.
✓ Vehicle possession confirmation: Under AB 1755, you must have possession of the vehicle when you send the demand letter. If you’re a lessee, this means acting before your lease end date.
✓ Warranty expiration date: Calculate the date your manufacturer’s warranty expires. Your deadline to file a lawsuit is one year after that date, or six years from the original delivery date — whichever comes first.
✓ Original delivery date: Document this from your purchase contract. The six-year outer limit runs from this date.
Note: Johnson & Buxton can prepare and send the demand letter on your behalf. Contact us before sending anything to the manufacturer — the letter must be structured correctly to preserve all your rights.
Quick Reference: Am I Ready to File?
You are likely ready to pursue a California lemon law claim if:
- You have documented four or more repair attempts for the same defect (or two for a safety defect); and/or
- Your vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for warranty repairs; and
- The defect first occurred while the vehicle was under the manufacturer’s warranty; and
- You are within the filing deadline (one year after warranty expiration or six years from delivery)
You should contact a lemon law attorney immediately if:
- Your vehicle’s warranty is expiring soon
- Your lease is ending in the next 60–90 days and defects have not been resolved
- You’ve received any settlement offer or waiver from the manufacturer
- Your warranty expires within one year
At Johnson & Buxton, we offer free case evaluations. If your documentation file reflects a qualifying claim, we will tell you clearly — and we’ll represent you at no out-of-pocket cost. The manufacturer pays all attorney fees under California law.
Sources & Legal References
- Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — California Civil Code §§ 1790–1795.8
- Tanner Consumer Protection Act — California Civil Code §§ 1793.22–1793.26
- Assembly Bill 1755 (2024) — California Legislative Information, effective January 1 and April 1, 2025
- California Department of Consumer Affairs: “California’s Lemon Law Q&A” — dca.ca.gov
- California Code of Civil Procedure § 871.24 (pre-suit demand procedure under AB 1755)