When a Florida lemon dispute does not settle, it does not usually start in a courtroom. It goes to a state forum built for exactly this fight: the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board. The board hears Lemon Law cases quickly, without a filing fee, and its decisions carry real enforcement teeth.
This guide explains how the board works, how a case reaches it, and what it can order.
What the board is
The New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board is created by section 681.109 of the Florida Statutes and administered through the Florida Attorney General's office. Board members are volunteers with relevant backgrounds, and panels typically include a member with technical automotive knowledge. The board's only job is deciding whether vehicles qualify for relief under Chapter 681, which makes it a far more focused forum than a court of general jurisdiction.
There is no filing fee to request arbitration, and the process was designed so consumers can navigate it without procedural training. The forms are plain-language, the state publishes guidance alongside them, and the schedule is set by statute rather than by crowded court dockets.
How a case reaches the board
A consumer starts by filing a Request for Arbitration on the state's form. The request is screened for eligibility by the state before the board ever sees it: the screening looks at whether the vehicle is covered, whether the repair attempt or days out of service triggers were met, whether the defect notification was sent properly, and whether the request is timely.
Timing matters here. A request generally must be filed within 60 days after the expiration of the Lemon Law Rights Period, or within 30 days after the final action of a certified manufacturer dispute program, whichever is later. The rights period itself is explained in the 24-month rights period guide.
One detour can apply first. If the manufacturer runs a state-certified informal dispute settlement procedure, the consumer must complete that program before the state board takes the case. How those programs work is covered in the certified programs guide.
What happens after acceptance
Once a dispute is approved for arbitration, the schedule moves quickly compared to ordinary litigation. The board generally hears the dispute within about 40 days of approval, and decisions follow shortly after the hearing.
Hearings are held around the state and are deliberately informal. Both sides present their story: the consumer describes the defect and the repair history, the manufacturer responds, board members ask questions, and in many cases the board inspects or rides in the vehicle. There is no jury, and the rules of evidence are relaxed. What to expect in the room is described in the arbitration hearing guide.