State lemon law · checked October 23, 2026

Wisconsin lemon law

Checked in part — see the note on this pageWis. Stat. §218.0171

Verification level: checked in part. Checked in part: the demand procedure, 36-month action window, and the end of double damages (2013 Act 101) are verified; the trigger counts follow the Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection's published summary.

The short version

The 30-day demand clock: once you demand in writing, the manufacturer has 30 days to pay or replace.
Double damages are gone (2014) — any site still advertising them is selling you a stale law.
Out-of-service days count even when the car never left your driveway.

Run your repair log for Wisconsin

The presumption — Wisconsin's numbers

Presumption window	The nonconformity must be reported within the warranty term or 1 year after delivery.
Same defect	4+ repair attempts
Days out of service	30+ calendar days — 30 or more days out of service — Wisconsin counts days the vehicle is incapable of service because of the nonconformity, even if it sits in your driveway (Vultaggio).

The presumption is the set of numbers that shifts the burden to the manufacturer. A claim can exist outside the presumption — it is a shortcut, not the whole road. Read why.

The buyback — Wisconsin's formula

Deduction = full purchase price × miles driven before the consumer's first report of the nonconformity ÷ 100,000. Motorcycles divide by 20,000.

Notice and procedure

Wisconsin runs on a written DEMAND: notify the manufacturer (certified mail is the practice), and the manufacturer has 30 days to provide the refund or a comparable replacement. If it misses that deadline, your damages claim opens (§218.0171(2)(c)).

Dispute route: If a certified dispute settlement procedure is available, it must be used before filing a lawsuit.

Attorney's fees: A prevailing consumer recovers costs, disbursements, and reasonable attorney fees — but NOT double damages (repealed 2014).

Your deadline

An action must be filed within 36 months (3 years) after the motor vehicle is first delivered to a consumer.

Who and what is covered

New vehicles	Covered
Leased vehicles	Covered
Used vehicles	Covered in defined situations — see notes
Motorcycles	Covered
RV / motor home	Covered — whole vehicle

Wisconsin covers the whole motor home — it is one of the five whole-coach states.
Motorcycles are covered (20,000 offset divisor).
IMPORTANT: Wisconsin's famous DOUBLE DAMAGES were repealed by 2013 Act 101 (effective March 2014). Sites still promising double damages are a decade out of date. A prevailing consumer now recovers pecuniary loss + costs + attorney's fees.

Included in the $39 Lemon Verdict Pack

Your repair-log tracker, the Wisconsin notice letter, the buyback worksheet on Wisconsin's formula, and your deadline calendar.

See the Lemon Verdict Pack

Sources

Wis. Stat. §218.0171(2) (demand + remedies)
Wis. Stat. §218.0171(7) (damages, as amended by 2013 Act 101)
WI DATCP Lemon Law guidance

Checked October 23, 2026. Laws change; if your claim is close to a line, verify the current statute or ask a lawyer in Wisconsin. This page is information, not legal advice.