Last reviewed: 3 October 2026
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United StatesCan a repair be covered after the warranty ends? What California's adjustment-program law says
Sometimes a manufacturer offers to pay for a repair after the warranty has run out. This page covers one source only: a California law about manufacturer "adjustment programs." It describes who must tell you about such a program and how to claim a refund. It does not cover other states or one-off requests.
The short answer
- What an adjustment program is: California defines it as a program or policy that "expands or extends the consumer’s warranty beyond its stated limit" or under which a manufacturer offers to pay "all or any part of the cost of repairing" a condition that may substantially affect durability, reliability or performance. Safety and emission recalls are excluded.1
- One-off requests are outside the definition: the law says an adjustment program "does not include ad hoc adjustments made by a manufacturer on a case-by-case basis."1
- Paid before you knew: if you paid for a repair covered by a program before you knew about it, you may claim reimbursement. The claim must be in writing to the manufacturer within two years of the date you paid.1
- Where it applies: the chapter's definition of "motor vehicle" covers vehicles "registered in this state," meaning California.1
What the law defines
The law uses the word manufacturer for the company that makes or assembles vehicles, or imports them.1 It defines an adjustment program as "any program or policy that expands or extends the consumer’s warranty beyond its stated limit or under which a manufacturer offers to pay for all or any part of the cost of repairing, or to reimburse consumers for all or any part of the cost of repairing, any condition that may substantially affect vehicle durability, reliability, or performance, other than service provided under a safety or emission-related recall campaign."1
The same section says an adjustment program "does not include ad hoc adjustments made by a manufacturer on a case-by-case basis."1 So a manufacturer's one-time decision to help one owner falls outside this chapter's definition. (We use the term "goodwill repair" for such a decision. The law does not use that word.) The chapter does not say how to ask for such a decision or whether a manufacturer must grant it.
A service bulletin is, in the law's words, "any notice issued by a manufacturer and filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration relating to vehicle durability, reliability, or performance."1 The law also says "consumer" includes the purchaser, a lessee, and a person to whom the vehicle is transferred during the term of an express warranty.1
Who has to do what
| Who | What the law requires |
|---|---|
| Dealer: notice | Give prospective purchasers and lessees a notice on how to get copies of service bulletins. The law sets the wording and says it is enough if posted in the showroom or another area conspicuous to buyers.1 |
| Dealer: at the repair shop | Tell a consumer seeking repairs for a particular condition "the principal terms and conditions of the manufacturer’s adjustment program covering the condition if the dealer has received a service bulletin concerning the adjustment program."1 |
| Manufacturer: notice to owners | Within 90 days of adopting a program, notify "by first-class mail" all owners or lessees of eligible vehicles of the condition and the program's principal terms. Safety and emission recalls take priority.1 |
| Manufacturer: copies and dealers | Send copies of the mailed notices to the New Motor Vehicle Board within the Department of Motor Vehicles, and notify dealers in writing of all the terms within 30 days of adopting a new program.1 |
| Manufacturer: reimbursement | Have procedures to reimburse each eligible consumer who paid for the repair before learning of the program. Tell the consumer within 21 business days of receiving a claim whether it is allowed or denied. A denial must state the specific reasons in writing.1 |
Claiming a refund for a repair you already paid for
The law says a consumer who paid for a repair of a condition covered by a program before acquiring knowledge of it "may file a claim for reimbursement." The claim "shall be made in writing to the manufacturer within two years of the date of the consumer’s payment for repair of the condition."1 Reimbursement follows "the terms and conditions of the particular program."1
Other remedies stay available
The chapter says nothing in it "shall be construed to exclude, modify, or otherwise limit any other remedy provided by law to a consumer or lessee."1 Our guide on lemon laws vs. vehicle service contracts covers separate legal routes. Our guide on the recall vs. known-defect exclusion explains why a safety recall is a different thing.
What this page does not cover
The chapter's definition of "motor vehicle" excludes motorcycles, motor homes and off-road vehicles and covers vehicles "registered in this state."1 We read only this California chapter for this page. We do not describe federal rules or other states' laws on repairs after a warranty ends. Check your own state's statutes and your vehicle's warranty booklet.
Where this fits our standard
Point 1 of our standard asks whether contract terms and exclusions are disclosed in plain language. The Register reports how we check providers by category. It describes a method, not a recommendation of any company.
How to verify this yourself
- Open the California Legislative Information page (reference 1) and read sections 1795.90 to 1795.93. Every statement above comes from them.1
- Ask the dealer whether the manufacturer has an adjustment program for your condition. California requires a dealer to disclose the terms if it has received a service bulletin about the program.1
- Check your own state's consumer protection office for any similar rule. Our where to file a warranty complaint guide shows how state routes differ.
What this page is not
This is general information about one California statute, not legal advice. It does not say whether a manufacturer must pay for any particular repair, and it does not describe other states. A manufacturer's decision about a one-off request is outside the chapter's definition.
What to do next
If you paid for a repair and think a manufacturer program may cover it, ask the dealer about adjustment programs, then make any claim to the manufacturer in writing and keep a copy. Start from the vehicle warranties hub.