This manual is intended as a businessperson's guide to the basic features of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, the federal law governing warranties on consumer products. The text provides citations to specific sections of the law—the Warranty Act itself, the Rules the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) adopted under the Act, and the FTC's Warranty Advertising Guides. For reference purposes, a supplement to this manual containing the Act, the Rules, and the Guides is available from the FTC's Consumer Response Center.

This manual also addresses some basic points of state law that you need to know to understand the requirements and prohibitions of the Magnuson-Moss Act. However, because state law varies, you may need to contact a private attorney or the offices of the attorneys general in the states where you do business to get specific state law information. The manual is intended as a tool for you to use in consultation with your attorney, not as a substitute for your attorney's advice.

The names of the companies in the examples in this manual are fictitious; any resemblance between them and the names of actual companies is completely coincidental.