What are my rights when buying a car from a dealer?

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, any car sold by a dealer must be of satisfactory quality (working, safe, durable), as described (matching the advert and any verbal claims), and fit for purpose. These rights apply to all business sellers, not just franchised dealers.

Can I get a refund on a faulty car?

Yes. Within 30 days of purchase, you can reject a faulty car for a full refund if it doesn't meet satisfactory quality standards. After 30 days (up to 6 months), the dealer gets one chance to repair or replace. If that fails, you can then reject for a refund which may be reduced for usage.

Does 'sold as seen' remove my consumer rights?

No. When buying from a dealer, terms like 'sold as seen', 'trade sale only', 'no warranty', or 'no refunds' do NOT remove your statutory consumer rights. These disclaimers are invalid for consumer purchases from business sellers.

What should I do if a dealer won't help with a faulty car?

Document everything with photos and written correspondence. Contact Trading Standards through Citizens Advice. Consider Alternative Dispute Resolution through The Motor Ombudsman. For claims up to £10,000, you can use Small Claims Court. If you paid by credit card, you may have Section 75 protection.

Your Rights When Buying From a Dealer

Understanding your consumer rights when purchasing a vehicle from a motor trade dealer in the UK.

Consumer Rights Act 2015

What the dealer must guarantee

Every vehicle sold by a dealer must be of satisfactory quality (working, safe, durable, and free from defects that shouldn't be present given the vehicle's age, mileage, and price), as described (matching any description in the advert, listing, or verbally by the dealer, including mileage, service history, previous owners), and fit for purpose (if you told the dealer you need the car for a specific purpose such as towing, it must be suitable for that).

Your right to reject

30-day right to reject

If a fault develops within 30 days of purchase, you have the right to reject the vehicle and get a full refund. You don't have to accept a repair – you can demand your money back. The fault must make the car not of satisfactory quality. You must not have "accepted" the car (e.g., by keeping it too long after discovering the fault).

After 30 days (up to 6 months)

Step 1: the dealer gets ONE chance to repair or replace. Step 2: if the repair fails or takes too long, you can then reject for a refund. Key protection: during this period, the fault is presumed to have existed at sale. The dealer must prove otherwise.

After 6 months

You still have rights, but you must prove the fault existed at the time of sale (e.g., independent inspection). Any refund may be reduced for the use you've had. The dealer can still argue the fault is due to wear and tear.

What counts as a fault?

Likely a valid fault

Engine or gearbox failure within days or weeks of purchase
Mechanical issues that shouldn't occur on a car of that age or mileage
The car was described as "full service history" but it wasn't
Safety-critical components failing shortly after purchase
Mileage discrepancy discovered after purchase
Undisclosed previous accident damage

Unlikely to be covered

Normal wear and tear (brake pads, tyres, clutch on high-mileage cars)
Issues caused by your own misuse or neglect
Minor cosmetic issues that were visible at the time of sale
Faults disclosed before purchase and reflected in the price
Issues found on the test drive that you proceeded with anyway

What dealers cannot do

Invalid exclusions

These terms or statements do NOT remove your legal rights. "Sold as seen" – this doesn't exclude consumer rights when buying from a dealer. "Trade sale only" – if you're a consumer (not buying for business), you still have full rights. "No warranty" – your statutory rights exist regardless of any warranty. "No refunds" – you have a legal right to a refund for faulty goods. "You test drove it" – test driving doesn't remove your rights for faults you couldn't discover.

Your remedies

Full refund: within 30 days for any fault making the car unsatisfactory. Free repair: after 30 days, dealer must attempt repair at no cost to you. Replacement: or a replacement vehicle of equivalent value. Final right to reject (after 30 days): if the repair or replacement fails, or takes an unreasonably long time, you can reject the car for a refund. Note: after 6 months, the refund may be reduced to account for the use you've had of the vehicle.

How to raise an issue

Document everything: take photos and videos of the fault, keep any repair quotes or inspection reports
Contact the dealer in writing: email or message through the platform, clearly stating the issue and what you want (refund, repair, etc.)
Give a reasonable deadline: typically 14 days for a response, or the timeframe in their complaints policy
Keep records: save all correspondence, note dates and what was discussed in any phone calls
Escalate if needed: if the dealer won't cooperate, you can use Alternative Dispute Resolution or the small claims court

If the dealer won't help

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR): free or low-cost mediation through The Motor Ombudsman if the dealer is a member
Trading Standards: report the dealer to your local Trading Standards through Citizens Advice
Small Claims Court: for claims up to £10,000 (England/Wales) or £5,000 (Scotland); the process is relatively straightforward
Credit card/finance: if you paid any amount by credit card, you may have a claim under Section 75; finance companies may also be liable

Frequently asked questions

What are my rights when buying a car from a dealer?: Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, any car sold by a dealer must be of satisfactory quality (working, safe, durable), as described (matching the advert and any verbal claims), and fit for purpose. These rights apply to all business sellers, not just franchised dealers.
Can I get a refund on a faulty car?: Yes. Within 30 days of purchase, you can reject a faulty car for a full refund if it doesn't meet satisfactory quality standards. After 30 days (up to 6 months), the dealer gets one chance to repair or replace. If that fails, you can then reject for a refund which may be reduced for usage.
Does 'sold as seen' remove my consumer rights?: No. When buying from a dealer, terms like 'sold as seen', 'trade sale only', 'no warranty', or 'no refunds' do NOT remove your statutory consumer rights. These disclaimers are invalid for consumer purchases from business sellers.
What should I do if a dealer won't help with a faulty car?: Document everything with photos and written correspondence. Contact Trading Standards through Citizens Advice. Consider Alternative Dispute Resolution through The Motor Ombudsman. For claims up to £10,000, you can use Small Claims Court. If you paid by credit card, you may have Section 75 protection.