Consumer Rights in New Hampshire
Key New Hampshire Law
New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated Section 357-D:1 et seq. (New Motor Vehicle Arbitration)
New Hampshire's lemon law provides a state-administered arbitration process for resolving disputes about defective new motor vehicles, with manufacturers required to replace or repurchase qualifying vehicles that cannot be repaired within a reasonable number of attempts.
View official statuteProcedural Details in New Hampshire
New Hampshire Agencies & Resources
New Hampshire Attorney General — Consumer Protection Bureau
Administers the NH lemon law arbitration program and enforces the Consumer Protection Act.
New Hampshire Insurance Department
Regulates insurers and handles consumer complaints about bad faith claim handling in New Hampshire.
New Hampshire Bar Association — Lawyer Referral Service
Connects NH consumers with licensed attorneys for lemon law and consumer protection matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does New Hampshire's state arbitration program work?
New Hampshire operates a free state-run lemon law arbitration program administered by the AG's office. Before you can sue a manufacturer, you must go through this program. The arbitration is designed to be consumer-friendly and is free of charge. If the arbitration award is in your favor and the manufacturer does not comply, you can then pursue enforcement in court.
What triggers New Hampshire's lemon law?
Three repair attempts for the same defect, or 30 cumulative days out of service, within the first year or 12,000 miles of original delivery may trigger New Hampshire's lemon law. Keep written documentation of every repair visit including drop-off dates, pick-up dates, and the reported problem.
What damages are available under New Hampshire's Consumer Protection Act?
New Hampshire's CPA allows actual damages plus up to $1,000 additional per violation and up to $10,000 for willful violations. Attorney fees are also available. The three-year statute of limitations means you should act promptly after discovering any consumer fraud.
How does New Hampshire handle insurance bad faith?
New Hampshire's RSA 417 establishes standards for fair insurance practices and is enforced by the NH Insurance Department. Common law bad faith claims may also be available in court. If your insurer unreasonably denies or delays a valid claim, filing a complaint with the Insurance Department can be an effective first step.
Related Consumer Rights Scenarios
Can I sue over a broken warranty?
Legal options when a manufacturer or seller refuses to honor an express or implied warranty on a consumer product.
Can I sue for auto repair fraud?
Legal options when an auto repair shop performs unauthorized work, overcharges, misrepresents needed repairs, or uses deceptive practices.
Can I sue over student loan servicing issues?
Legal options when student loan servicers make errors, misapply payments, provide incorrect information, or mishandle income-driven repayment plans.
Can I sue under lemon laws for defective vehicles?
Legal options when new or used vehicles have persistent defects that manufacturers can't fix.
Have a Specific Situation in New Hampshire?
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