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SB00119 • 2026

AN ACT CONCERNING USED MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTIES.

AN ACT CONCERNING USED MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTIES.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
General Law Committee
Last action
2026-03-25
Official status
File Number 170
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not specify enforcement mechanisms or penalties for violations, leaving these details uncertain.

Used Car Warranty Rules

This act changes the warranty requirements for used cars that are less than ten years old, ensuring they come with a guarantee of being in good working order and providing protection against mechanical issues.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires dealers to not exclude or limit implied warranties on used vehicles under ten years old.
  • Replaces existing express warranties with new ones that cover the full cost of repairs for at least sixty days or three thousand miles, whichever comes first.
  • Limits the sale of 'as is' used cars to those that are ten years old or older.

Who It Names or Affects

  • Used car dealers
  • Consumers buying used cars

Terms To Know

Implied Warranty
A guarantee that a product will work as expected, even if not written down.
Express Warranty
A specific promise made by the seller about the condition of the product.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill does not specify what happens to dealers who violate these rules.
  • It is unclear how this will affect used car sales between dealers.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-25 LCO

    Reported Out of Legislative Commissioners' Office

  2. 2026-03-25 Connecticut General Assembly

    Favorable Report, Tabled for the Calendar, Senate

  3. 2026-03-25 Connecticut General Assembly

    Senate Calendar Number 113

  4. 2026-03-25 LCO

    File Number 170

  5. 2026-03-19 LCO

    Referred to Office of Legislative Research and Office of Fiscal Analysis 03/24/26 5:00 PM

  6. 2026-03-12 LCO

    Filed with Legislative Commissioners' Office

  7. 2026-03-11 GL

    Joint Favorable

  8. 2026-02-13 Connecticut General Assembly

    Public Hearing 02/18

  9. 2026-02-10 Connecticut General Assembly

    Referred to Joint Committee on General Law

Official Summary Text

To provide that (1) a dealer selling a used motor vehicle that is less than ten years of age shall not exclude, modify, disclaim or limit an implied warranty on the vehicle, (2) each contract entered into by a dealer for the sale of any such used motor vehicle to a consumer shall include an express warranty that the vehicle is mechanically sound and will remain so for at least sixty days or three thousand miles of operation, whichever occurs first, and (3) a used motor vehicle may be sold "as is" by a dealer only if the vehicle is ten years of age or older.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
Senate
SB119 / File No. 170 1

General Assembly File No. 170
February Session, 2026 Senate Bill No. 119

Senate, March 25, 2026

The Committee on General Law reported through SEN.
MARONEY of the 14th Dist., Chairperson of the Committee on
the part of the Senate, that the bill ought to pass.

AN ACT CONCERNING USED MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTIES.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. Subsections (a) to (c), inclusive, of section 42-221 of the 2026 1
supplement to the general statutes are repealed and the following is 2
substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2026): 3
(a) A dealer selling a used motor vehicle [which has a cash purchase 4
price of three thousand dollars or more] that is less than ten years of age 5
shall not exclude, modify, disclaim or limit implied warranties on the 6
motor vehicle. 7
(b) Each contract entered into by a dealer for the sale to a consumer 8
of a used motor vehicle [which has a cash purchase price of three 9
thousand dollars or more but less than five thousand dollars,] that is less 10
than ten years of age shall include an express warranty, covering the full 11
cost of both parts and labor, that the vehicle is mechanically operational 12
and sound and will remain so for at least [thirty] sixty days or [one 13
thousand five hundred ] three thousand miles of operation, whichever 14
period ends first, in the absence of damage resulting from an automobile 15
SB119 File No. 170

SB119 / File No. 170 2

accident or from misuse of the vehicle by the consumer. [Each contract 16
entered into by a dealer for the sale of a used motor vehicle which has a 17
cash purchase price of five thousand dollars or more shall include an 18
express warranty, covering the full cost of both parts and labor, that the 19
vehicle is mechanically operational and sound and will remain so for at 20
least sixty days or three thousand miles of operation, whichever period 21
ends first, in the absence of damage resulting from an automobile 22
accident or from misuse of the vehicle by the consumer. ] A dealer may 23
not limit a warranty covered by this section by the use of such phrases 24
as "fifty-fifty", "labor only", "drive train only", or other words attempting 25
to disclaim [his] the dealer's responsibility. 26
(c) The provisions of this section shall not apply to: (1) The [sale of a 27
used motor vehicle having a cash purchase price of less than three 28
thousand dollars; (2) the ] sale of [such] used motor vehicles between 29
dealers; or [(3)] (2) the sale of a used motor vehicle [which] that is [seven] 30
ten years of age or older, which age shall be calculated from the first day 31
in January of the designated model year of such vehicle. 32
Sec. 2. Subsection (a) of section 42 -224 of the general statutes is 33
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 34
1, 2026): 35
(a) A used motor vehicle may be sold "as is" by a dealer only [if its 36
cash purchase price is less than three thousand dollars or ] if such used 37
motor vehicle is [seven] ten years of age or older, which age shall be 38
calculated from the first day in January of the designated model year of 39
such vehicle. 40
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:

Section 1 October 1, 2026 42-221(a) to (c)
Sec. 2 October 1, 2026 42-224(a)

GL Joint Favorable

SB119 File No. 170

SB119 / File No. 170 3

The following Fiscal Impact Statement and Bill Analysis are prepared for the benefit of the members of
the General Assembly, solely for purposes of information, summarization and explanation and do not
represent the intent of the General Assembly or either chamber thereof for any purpose. In general,
fiscal impacts are based upon a variety of informational sources, including the analyst’s professional
knowledge. Whenever applicable, agency data is consulted as part of the analysis, however final
products do not necessarily reflect an assessment from any specific department.

OFA Fiscal Note

State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 27 $ FY 28 $
Motor Vehicle Dept. TF - Potential
Revenue Gain
Minimal Minimal
Note: TF=Transportation Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill, which modifies used vehicle warranty requirements, results
in potential minimal revenue gain to the extent that additional civil
penalties are imposed from violations.
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to any civil penalties imposed.

SB119 File No. 170

SB119 / File No. 170 4

OLR Bill Analysis
SB 119

AN ACT CONCERNING USED MOTOR VEHICLE WARRANTIES.

SUMMARY
This bill extends the statutory used vehicle warranty requirements to
all vehicles that are less than 10 years old, regardless of price, rather than
those that cost $3,000 or more and are less than seven years old. The bill
also requires these vehicles to have the required express warranty for at
least 60 days or 3,000 miles, whichever ends first. Under current law, the
express warranty must cover a used vehicle for (1) at least 30 days or
1,500 miles, whichever ends first, if it costs between $3,000 and $5 ,000,
and (2) at least 60 days or 3,000 miles, whichever ends first , if it costs
$5,000 or more.
As under current law, dealers may not exclude, modify, disclaim, or
limit implied warranties on these vehicles, and they must provide an
express warranty in each sales contract for these vehicles that covers the
full cost of both parts and labor for repair s during the required time or
mileage, excluding damage from an accident or consumer misuse.
Current law also only allows used car dealers to sell a used car “as
is” if its cash purchase price is less than $3,000 or if the car is seven years
or older. The bill eliminates the purchase price option and increases the
minimum age to 10 years.
As under existing law, dealers violating the warranty provisions may
have their license suspended by the motor vehicles commissioner and
be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 per violation (CGS § 42-226a).
The bill also makes minor, technical, and conforming changes.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2026
SB119 File No. 170

SB119 / File No. 170 5

COMMITTEE ACTION
General Law Committee
Joint Favorable
Yea 20 Nay 0 (03/11/2026)