State-by-state guide
Most state lemon laws skip the house half of a motorhome
We read the lemon law statute in every state and DC to see what happens when a new motorhome is a lemon. Only 4 laws clearly reach the living area, 23 cover the chassis and drivetrain but carve out the house, and 16 exclude motorhomes entirely. Where state law stops, the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act still applies.
By the RV Inspectors research desk · Published October 25, 2026
Key findings
- Only 4 laws clearly cover the house half: Illinois, Maine, Texas and Wisconsin cover motorhomes without carving out the living area.
- 23 laws cover the chassis and drivetrain only. California, Florida, Washington, Arizona, Virginia and others carve out the living quarters; Florida's list includes plumbing, furnace, roof A/C, generator, flooring and house electrical.
- 16 jurisdictions exclude motorhomes outright, including Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Colorado, Nevada and DC.
- Towables are almost never covered. Texas is the only state we found that names towable RVs; most laws cover self-propelled vehicles only, and Illinois excludes most travel trailers.
- Coverage windows run 12 to 36 months. One year is the most common; Maine's 3 years or 18,000 miles is the longest we confirmed.
- Magnuson-Moss is the backstop. The federal warranty law lets you sue over a broken written or implied warranty, including the RV maker's house warranty, and a court may award attorney fees if you win.
Why the house half falls through the cracks
A motorhome is usually two products bolted together. One company builds the chassis and engine; another builds the coach on top. Lemon laws were written for cars, so many legislatures limited motorhome coverage to the part that drives. Florida's statute even lists what it leaves out: flooring, plumbing system and fixtures, roof air conditioner, furnace, generator and electrical systems other than automotive circuits.
The result is that many of the defects RV buyers run into, such as leaks, slide-outs, appliances and house electrical, sit outside the state lemon law. They are still covered by the RV maker's written warranty, and that warranty is enforceable under federal law.
How long the protection lasts
The 50-state table
| Alabama | Excluded: the law does not apply to motor homes or to vehicles 10,000 lb GVWR and up | No (self-propelled vehicles only) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Ala. Code 8-20A-1 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Alaska | Not confirmed: the Attorney General's summary does not address motorhomes | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 3 attempts or 30 business days | Alaska Department of Law: Lemon law |
| Arizona | Chassis only: covers the self-propelled vehicle and chassis, not portions used as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space | No (self-propelled vehicles only) | Warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts or 30 calendar days | A.R.S. 44-1261; A.R.S. 44-1264 |
| Arkansas | Chassis only: excludes the living facilities of a motor home (the 10,000 lb cap does not apply to motor homes) | No (self-propelled vehicles only) | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Ark. Code 4-90-403 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| California | Chassis only: covers the chassis and the portion devoted to propulsion, not any portion used primarily for human habitation | Not confirmed | 18 months or 18,000 miles (presumption period) | 18 | 2 attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, 4 attempts, or 30 days | Cal. Civ. Code 1793.22 |
| Colorado | Excluded: motor homes | No (passenger vehicles only) | Not confirmed (changed by SB 24-192) | Not confirmed | C.R.S. 42-10-101 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety); Colorado SB 24-192 (signed) | |
| Connecticut | Not confirmed: covers passenger and passenger-commercial vehicles as defined in 14-1; motorhomes not named | Not confirmed | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts (2 for a serious safety hazard) or 30 calendar days | Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 743b, 42-179 |
| Delaware | Excludes the living facilities of motor homes | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts or more than 30 calendar days | 6 Del. C. ch. 50 |
| District of Columbia | Excluded: motor homes and motorized recreational vehicles | No | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts (1 for a safety-related defect) or 30 days | D.C. Code 50-501; D.C. Code 50-502 |
| Florida | Covers RVs but excludes their living facilities: flooring, plumbing, roof A/C, furnace, generator, house electrical and more | No (an RV is defined as a motor vehicle) | 24 months | 24 | 3 attempts or 15 days out of service, then a final repair attempt | Fla. Stat. ch. 681 |
| Georgia | Chassis only: covers the self-propelled vehicle and chassis, not portions used as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | O.C.G.A. 10-1-782 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Hawaii | Not confirmed: motorhomes not named; vehicles over 10,000 lb GVWR excluded | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles | 24 | 3 attempts or 30 business days | HRS 481I-2; HRS 481I-3 |
| Idaho | Not confirmed: motorhomes not named; vehicles over 12,000 lb gross laden weight excluded | No (trailers excluded) | Warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles | 24 | 30 business days; attempt count not confirmed | Idaho Code 48-901; Idaho Code 48-902 |
| Illinois | Covers recreational vehicles; the definition has no living-area exclusion | Camping and travel trailers excluded unless they meet the used-motor-vehicle definition | 1 year or 12,000 miles | 12 | 4 attempts or 30 business days | 815 ILCS 380/2; 815 ILCS 380/3 |
| Indiana | Excluded: motor homes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Ind. Code 24-5-13-5 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Iowa | Excluded: motor homes and vehicles over 15,000 lb GVWR | No | Warranty term or 2 years/24,000 miles | 24 | 3 attempts or 30 days, plus a final repair attempt | Iowa Code 322G.2; Iowa Code 322G.4 |
| Kansas | Excludes customized parts added by second-stage manufacturers; vehicles registered over 12,000 lb excluded | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts, 30 calendar days, or 10 total repair attempts | K.S.A. 50-645 |
| Kentucky | Excluded: motor homes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | KRS 367.841 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Louisiana | Covers the chassis and drive train of a motor home, with a separate 90-day out-of-service rule for motor homes | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | La. R.S. 51:1941 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Maine | Covers any motor-driven vehicle sold in Maine; no motorhome or living-area exclusion | Not confirmed | Warranty term, 3 years or 18,000 miles | 36 | 3 attempts (1 for brakes or steering) or 15 business days | 10 M.R.S. 1161; 10 M.R.S. 1163 |
| Maryland | Excluded: motor homes | No | 24 months or 18,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts (1 for brakes or steering) or 30 days | Md. Com. Law 14-1501; Md. Com. Law 14-1502 |
| Massachusetts | Excluded: auto homes | Not confirmed | 1 year or 15,000 miles | 12 | 3 attempts or 15 business days | M.G.L. c. 90, 7N1/2 |
| Michigan | Excluded: motor homes | No | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | Not confirmed | MCL 257.1401; MCL 257.1402 |
| Minnesota | Chassis or van portion of a recreational vehicle only | No | Warranty term or 2 years | 24 | 4 attempts or 30 business days | Minn. Stat. 325F.665 |
| Mississippi | Excludes parts and components added on or assembled by the motor home manufacturer | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Miss. Code 63-17-151 et seq. (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Missouri | Excludes recreational motor vehicles except their chassis, engine, powertrain and component parts | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts or 30 working days | RSMo 407.560; RSMo 407.571 |
| Montana | Covers the nonresidential portion of a motor home | Not confirmed | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 24 | Not confirmed | MCA 61-4-501 |
| Nebraska | Excluded: recreational vehicles | No | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts or 40 days | Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2701; Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2704 |
| Nevada | Excluded: motor homes | No | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts or 30 calendar days | NRS 597.600 to 597.680 |
| New Hampshire | Not confirmed: covers 4-wheel vehicles up to 11,000 lb gross weight, which leaves out most motorhomes | Not confirmed | Term of the express warranty | 3 attempts or 30 business days | RSA 357-D:2; RSA 357-D:3 | |
| New Jersey | Excludes the living facilities of motor homes | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | N.J.S.A. 56:12-30 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| New Mexico | Not confirmed: covers passenger vehicles under 10,000 lb GVW; motorhomes not named | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | N.M. Stat. 57-16A-2 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| New York | Special motor home rules; they do not apply to residential systems, fixtures, appliances or furnishings | Not confirmed | 2 years or 18,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts or 30 days | N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 198-a |
| North Carolina | Not confirmed: house trailers and vehicles over 10,000 lb excluded; motorhomes not named | No (house trailers excluded) | Warranty term (warranties must last at least 1 year or 12,000 miles) | 4 attempts or 20 business days in any 12-month period | G.S. 20-351.1; G.S. 20-351.5 | |
| North Dakota | Excluded: house cars (motor homes) | No | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | More than 3 attempts or 30 business days | N.D. Cent. Code 51-07-16 to 51-07-22 |
| Ohio | Excludes a motor home's permanently installed facilities for cold storage, cooking, eating and sleeping | No (recreational vehicles excluded) | 1 year or 18,000 miles | 12 | 3 attempts or 30 calendar days (other triggers apply) | R.C. 1345.71; R.C. 1345.73 |
| Oklahoma | Excludes the living facilities of motor homes and vehicles over 10,000 lb GVW | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 15 Okla. Stat. 901 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Oregon | Covers motor homes but not living facility components (flooring, plumbing fixtures, appliances, water heater and more) | No (trailers excluded from the motor home definition) | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 24 | Not confirmed | ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418 |
| Pennsylvania | Excluded: motor homes | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | 73 P.S. 1952 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Rhode Island | Excluded: motorized campers; vehicles 10,000 lb and up excluded | Not confirmed | 1 year or 15,000 miles | 12 | Not confirmed | R.I. Gen. Laws 31-5.2-1 |
| South Carolina | Excludes the living portion of recreational vehicles | Not confirmed | 12 months or 12,000 miles | 12 | 3 attempts or 30 calendar days | S.C. Code 56-28 |
| South Dakota | Excluded: motor homes and vehicles 10,000 lb GVWR and up | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | SDCL 32-6D-1 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Tennessee | Excluded: motor homes and recreational vehicles | No | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Tenn. Code 55-24-201 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Texas | Covers motor homes and towable RVs for defects under a manufacturer's written warranty; TxDMV lists no living-area carve-out | Yes, towable recreational vehicles | 24 months or 24,000 miles (mileage limit generally not applied to towables) | 24 | 4 attempts (2 for a serious safety hazard) or 30 days | TxDMV: Texas Lemon Law |
| Utah | Chassis only: excludes portions of a motor home used as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Utah Code 13-20-2 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) | |
| Vermont | Excludes the living portion of recreation vehicles; the chassis warrantor is responsible for the chassis | Not confirmed | Term of the express warranty | 3 attempts or 30 calendar days | 9 V.S.A. 4171; 9 V.S.A. 4172 | |
| Virginia | Covers only the self-propelled motorized chassis of motor homes | No | 18 months | 18 | 3 attempts (1 for a serious safety defect) or 30 calendar days | Va. Code 59.1-207.11; Va. Code 59.1-207.13 |
| Washington | Covers the self-propelled vehicle and chassis, not portions used as a mobile dwelling, office or commercial space | Not confirmed | 2 years or 24,000 miles | 24 | 4 attempts (2 for a serious safety defect) or 30 days; separate motor home rules, including a 60-day out-of-service period | RCW 19.118.021; RCW 19.118.031; RCW 19.118.041 |
| West Virginia | Covers the self-propelled chassis of motor homes | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 3 attempts or 30 calendar days | W. Va. Code 46A-6A-2; W. Va. Code 46A-6A-5 |
| Wisconsin | Covers motor vehicles registered in Wisconsin; motor homes are not excluded | Not confirmed | Warranty term or 1 year | 12 | 4 attempts or 30 days | Wis. Stat. 218.0171 |
| Wyoming | Not confirmed: covers vehicles under 10,000 lb unladen weight; motorhomes not named | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Not confirmed | Wyo. Stat. 40-17-101 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety) |
"Not confirmed" means we could not verify the value in the current official code. For 16 states we could only read the statute as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety, so we report their motorhome coverage but not their periods or thresholds. Thresholds are the main presumptions; most laws add notice and final-repair-attempt steps. Download this table (CSV)
The federal fallback: Magnuson-Moss
The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act applies to consumer products sold with a written warranty, and an RV's house components are no exception. It does not give you an automatic buyback the way a state lemon law can, but it does three useful things.
- It makes a broken warranty a federal claim. Under 15 U.S.C. 2310(d), a consumer damaged by a warrantor's failure to honor a written or implied warranty can sue, and a court may award costs and attorney fees to a consumer who wins.
- It protects implied warranties. The FTC says a company that gives a written warranty cannot disclaim implied warranties. A limited warranty may shorten them to the length of the written warranty, but cannot remove them.
- It requires clear terms. Written warranties on products over $10 must be labeled "full" or "limited," and the terms must be available before you buy. Read the coach warranty and the chassis warranty separately; they often come from different companies.
- Check for a dispute program. If the warranty requires an informal dispute settlement program that meets FTC rules, the law allows the warrantor to require you to try it before you sue.
What it means for you
- Before you sign: get a pre-delivery inspection while the dealer still has the rig. Defects found before you take delivery can be fixed before you sign off on the rig.
- Buying used or from a private seller? No state lemon law helps you, so a pre-purchase RV inspection is the only independent check you get.
- Keep every repair order. Every presumption in the table counts repair attempts or days out of service, and the dates on your work orders are the evidence.
- Put notices in writing. Most laws require written notice to the manufacturer, often by certified mail, before the presumption applies.
- Know which warranty covers what. In a chassis-only state, a failed slide motor goes to the coach maker's warranty and Magnuson-Moss, not the state lemon law. A motorhome inspection report helps document which system failed.
Related reading: RV inspection laws by state covers safety, emissions and VIN-check rules, and the hidden expiration dates in your RV lists the parts that age out on a calendar.
The infographic
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How we did this
- We compiled the table between Oct 20 and Oct 25, 2026. For each state and DC we read the definitions section of the new motor vehicle lemon law to see whether motorhomes are covered, excluded, or covered only for the chassis and drivetrain.
- For 35 jurisdictions we read the statute on the official legislature or code website (or, for Alaska and Texas, the attorney general's or DMV's lemon law page). For the other 16 we could only read the statute as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety; we report motorhome coverage from that text but mark periods and thresholds "Not confirmed", because some reproduced texts lag recent amendments.
- "Living area included" means the definition covers motorhomes with no carve-out for living quarters. Whether a given defect qualifies still depends on the written warranty and the law's other terms.
- Weight caps matter: several laws exclude vehicles over 10,000 to 15,000 lb, which leaves out most Class A and many Class C motorhomes even where the law does not name motorhomes. We put states whose laws do not name motorhomes in the "Not confirmed or weight-limited" group rather than guess.
- The Magnuson-Moss section relies on the statute (15 U.S.C. 2301 and 2310) and the FTC's Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law.
Sources
- Ala. Code 8-20A-1 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- Alaska Department of Law: Lemon law, accessed October 25, 2026
- A.R.S. 44-1261, accessed October 25, 2026
- A.R.S. 44-1264, accessed October 25, 2026
- Ark. Code 4-90-403 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- Cal. Civ. Code 1793.22, accessed October 25, 2026
- C.R.S. 42-10-101 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- Colorado SB 24-192 (signed), accessed October 25, 2026
- Conn. Gen. Stat. ch. 743b, 42-179, accessed October 25, 2026
- 6 Del. C. ch. 50, accessed October 25, 2026
- D.C. Code 50-501, accessed October 25, 2026
- D.C. Code 50-502, accessed October 25, 2026
- Fla. Stat. ch. 681, accessed October 25, 2026
- O.C.G.A. 10-1-782 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- HRS 481I-2, accessed October 25, 2026
- HRS 481I-3, accessed October 25, 2026
- Idaho Code 48-901, accessed October 25, 2026
- Idaho Code 48-902, accessed October 25, 2026
- 815 ILCS 380/2, accessed October 25, 2026
- 815 ILCS 380/3, accessed October 25, 2026
- Ind. Code 24-5-13-5 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- Iowa Code 322G.2, accessed October 25, 2026
- Iowa Code 322G.4, accessed October 25, 2026
- K.S.A. 50-645, accessed October 25, 2026
- KRS 367.841 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- La. R.S. 51:1941 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- 10 M.R.S. 1161, accessed October 25, 2026
- 10 M.R.S. 1163, accessed October 25, 2026
- Md. Com. Law 14-1501, accessed October 25, 2026
- Md. Com. Law 14-1502, accessed October 25, 2026
- M.G.L. c. 90, 7N1/2, accessed October 25, 2026
- MCL 257.1401, accessed October 25, 2026
- MCL 257.1402, accessed October 25, 2026
- Minn. Stat. 325F.665, accessed October 25, 2026
- Miss. Code 63-17-151 et seq. (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- RSMo 407.560, accessed October 25, 2026
- RSMo 407.571, accessed October 25, 2026
- MCA 61-4-501, accessed October 25, 2026
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2701, accessed October 25, 2026
- Neb. Rev. Stat. 60-2704, accessed October 25, 2026
- NRS 597.600 to 597.680, accessed October 25, 2026
- RSA 357-D:2, accessed October 25, 2026
- RSA 357-D:3, accessed October 25, 2026
- N.J.S.A. 56:12-30 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- N.M. Stat. 57-16A-2 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- N.Y. Gen. Bus. Law 198-a, accessed October 25, 2026
- G.S. 20-351.1, accessed October 25, 2026
- G.S. 20-351.5, accessed October 25, 2026
- N.D. Cent. Code 51-07-16 to 51-07-22, accessed October 25, 2026
- R.C. 1345.71, accessed October 25, 2026
- R.C. 1345.73, accessed October 25, 2026
- 15 Okla. Stat. 901 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- ORS 646A.400 to 646A.418, accessed October 25, 2026
- 73 P.S. 1952 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- R.I. Gen. Laws 31-5.2-1, accessed October 25, 2026
- S.C. Code 56-28, accessed October 25, 2026
- SDCL 32-6D-1 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- Tenn. Code 55-24-201 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- TxDMV: Texas Lemon Law, accessed October 25, 2026
- Utah Code 13-20-2 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- 9 V.S.A. 4171, accessed October 25, 2026
- 9 V.S.A. 4172, accessed October 25, 2026
- Va. Code 59.1-207.11, accessed October 25, 2026
- Va. Code 59.1-207.13, accessed October 25, 2026
- RCW 19.118.021, accessed October 25, 2026
- RCW 19.118.031, accessed October 25, 2026
- RCW 19.118.041, accessed October 25, 2026
- W. Va. Code 46A-6A-2, accessed October 25, 2026
- W. Va. Code 46A-6A-5, accessed October 25, 2026
- Wis. Stat. 218.0171, accessed October 25, 2026
- Wyo. Stat. 40-17-101 (statute text as reproduced by the Center for Auto Safety), accessed October 25, 2026
- FTC: Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law, accessed October 25, 2026. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
- 15 U.S.C. 2301 (definitions), accessed October 25, 2026. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
- 15 U.S.C. 2310 (remedies), accessed October 25, 2026. Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act
Cite this: RV Inspectors, "Most state lemon laws skip the house half of a motorhome," October 25, 2026, https://rvinspectors.org/rv-lemon-laws-by-state/
Spotted an error or have newer data? Tell us and we'll check it and update the page.
Questions people ask
Does the lemon law cover my motorhome?
It depends on the state. In our reading, 27 state lemon laws cover new motorhomes in some form, but 23 of those cover only the chassis and drivetrain. 16 jurisdictions exclude motorhomes outright, and 8 have weight caps or wording we could not confirm. Check your state's row and statute link.
Is the living area of an RV covered by lemon laws?
Rarely. Only Illinois, Maine, Texas and Wisconsin cover motorhomes without carving out the living area. States such as California, Florida, Washington, Oregon and Ohio exclude living quarters, plumbing, appliances and similar house systems. Those parts are still covered by the RV maker's written warranty, which you can enforce under Magnuson-Moss.
Are travel trailers covered by lemon laws?
Almost never. Most lemon laws cover only self-propelled vehicles. Texas is the only state we found whose lemon law explicitly names towable recreational vehicles, and Illinois excludes camping and travel trailers unless they meet its used-motor-vehicle definition. For other trailers, the written warranty and Magnuson-Moss are the main protection.
What can I do if my state's lemon law doesn't cover my RV?
Use the written warranty. The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act lets a consumer sue a warrantor that fails to honor a written or implied warranty and recover attorney fees if they win. Keep every repair order, send written notice to the manufacturer, and check whether the warranty requires an informal dispute program first.
How many repair attempts make an RV a lemon?
Most laws presume a lemon after 3 or 4 repair attempts for the same defect, or 30 days out of service, within the coverage period. Some count business days, some calendar days, and several require fewer attempts for a serious safety defect. Washington adds a 60-day out-of-service rule for motor homes.