The short answer
Under SB 26, each vehicle manufacturer decides whether to be governed by California’s new AB 1755 lemon law procedures. The California Department of Consumer Affairs publishes the official list of manufacturers that have opted in and updates it by December 15 each year. Which rules apply to your claim depends on whether your manufacturer is on that list so checking it is the first practical step.
What the opt-in list is
When California overhauled its lemon law process with AB 1755, it didn’t make the new rules mandatory for everyone. A companion bill, Senate Bill 26, signed April 2, 2025, gave manufacturers a choice. A manufacturer can agree to be governed by the new streamlined procedures (found in the California Code of Civil Procedure at sections 871.20–871.30), or it can stay under the traditional framework. The opt-in list is the official record of which manufacturers made that choice.
California’s three tracks, briefly
As of 2025–2026, a manufacturer resolving lemon disputes in California falls into one of three lanes:
- Opted into the new AB 1755 / SB 26 procedures: The faster track with a defined statute of limitations, a 30-day pre-suit notice, mandatory mediation, and firm payout deadlines.
- Traditional Song-Beverly: The long-standing process that still governs any manufacturer that hasn’t opted in.
- State-certified arbitration: A manufacturer that participates in an arbitration program certified by the Department of Consumer Affairs.
The substance of your rights whether your car is a lemon and what you’re owed is the same across all three. What differs is the procedure your claim runs on.
Where to find the official list
The authoritative source is the California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program, which maintains the opt-in list on its official page (dca.ca.gov/acp/new_lemon_law.shtml). Under SB 26, the program must publish an updated list by December 15 each year, and it adds a manufacturer within two business days of verifying that manufacturer’s election. Because the roster can change from year to year, treat any third-party list you find elsewhere as a starting point and confirm against the DCA’s own page.
One important nuance
The opt-in is irrevocable for five calendar years. A manufacturer that opts in can’t quietly switch back mid-cycle, and its election can cover vehicles it sold new in 2025 and the prior five years. So if your manufacturer is on the list, the new procedures likely reach your vehicle even if you bought it a few years ago.
What changes if your manufacturer opted in
If your manufacturer is on the list, three practical things follow:
- A specific filing deadline applies. For opted-in manufacturers, a buyback or replacement suit must generally be filed within one year after the express warranty expires, and never more than six years after delivery. We explain this in our guide to the statute of limitations.
- A 30-day pre-suit notice is required before you sue for civil penalties. See our full walkthrough of the 30-day pre-suit notice.
- The case moves faster early document exchange, mandatory mediation within 150 days, and daily penalties if the manufacturer drags its feet on a signed settlement.
What changes if your manufacturer did NOT opt in
If your manufacturer isn’t on the list, your claim runs under the traditional Song-Beverly process. There’s no mandatory 30-day pre-suit notice step, and the deadline to file is generally the four-year breach-of-warranty period rather than the AB 1755 clock. Either way, you still have full lemon law rights — the path to enforcing them is just different.
What doesn’t change on either track
Whichever lane your manufacturer is in, the core of the law is identical: your vehicle qualifies based on the Song-Beverly and Tanner Acts — a substantial, warranty-covered defect the manufacturer couldn’t fix in a reasonable number of attempts and your remedies are still a refund, a replacement, or other compensation. The opt-in list changes the how, not the whether.
How to check and what to do next
Checking is quick: find your manufacturer on the DCA list, then read the rules for that track. But the list only tells you which procedure applies; it doesn’t tell you whether your repair history clears the bar, or exactly when your deadline falls. Those depend on your specific facts. To have a strong California claim, you generally need to be a California consumer, with a vehicle from an authorized dealership (not a used-car retailer like CarMax, Carvana, or AutoNation), and a qualifying defect and repair history.
How Lemon Law Assist helps
Lemon Law Assist connects qualified California drivers with experienced California lemon law attorneys who handle the case from there — including checking your manufacturer’s status, calculating your deadline, and sending any required pre-suit notice correctly. There’s no cost to find out if you qualify, and in many successful cases California’s fee-shifting law means the manufacturer, not you, pays the legal fees.
See if you qualify. Start your free eligibility review
Frequently asked questions
Where is the official California lemon law opt-in list?
The California Department of Consumer Affairs’ Arbitration Certification Program publishes it on its official page and updates it by December 15 each year. Third-party lists can be out of date, so confirm against the DCA’s own page.
How do I know if my manufacturer opted in?
Check the DCA’s published list for your vehicle’s manufacturer. If it’s there, the new AB 1755 procedures apply to your claim; if not, the traditional Song-Beverly process applies.
Does the opt-in list change whether my car is a lemon?
No. The list only determines which procedure your claim follows. Whether your vehicle qualifies is governed by the Song-Beverly and Tanner Acts and doesn’t change based on the list.
Can a manufacturer change its mind after opting in?
No. Under SB 26 the election is irrevocable for five calendar years, and it can cover vehicles sold new in 2025 and the previous five years.
My manufacturer isn’t on the list do I still have a claim?
Yes. You keep full lemon law rights; your claim simply runs under the traditional process, which has different deadlines and no mandatory 30-day pre-suit notice step.
Attorney Advertising. This article is for general information only and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Lemon Law Assist is a California-focused service that connects qualified consumers with experienced California lemon law attorneys; it does not itself litigate claims. Laws change and outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney.
