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Guides › Cars and Motoring › Buying a Car

Buying a Car

Buying from a dealer gives you strong rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, including a 30-day short-term right to reject; buying from a private seller gives much weaker protection. Paying by credit card or finance can add further routes to get your money back.

Last checked 2 October 2026 General information, not legal advice
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At a Glance

30 daysshort-term right to reject a faulty car bought from a dealer
6 monthsfaults are presumed to have been there at delivery
14 daysto cancel a car bought online or by phone from a dealer
8 weeksto let the dealer respond before using The Motor Ombudsman

Your Rights

What the rules say, with a link to the official source for each.

Buying from a Dealer

  • Quality and Description

    Dealer sales: goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described (Consumer Rights Act 2015). If a car fails these tests you have a short-term right to reject and get a full refund within 30 days, counted from when ownership, delivery and any installation are complete (s.22). source

  • After 30 days
    • Repair or Replace

      After the 30 days you can ask for a free repair or replacement; the trader normally gets one attempt, after which you can claim a price reduction or the final right to reject (s.19). source

  • First 6 Months

    For the first 6 months a fault is presumed to have been there at delivery unless the dealer proves otherwise; after 6 months you must show the fault was already present (s.19(15)). source

  • Deductions for Use

    For motor vehicles the dealer may reduce a final-right-to-reject refund by a deduction for your use, including in the first 6 months, which is the exception to the general no-deduction rule in s.24. source

  • Buying Online or by Phone

    If you buy a car at a distance (online or by phone) from a dealer you generally have a 14-day cancellation right under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, starting the day after you receive the goods; you have a further 14 days to return it. There is no automatic right in a showroom purchase. source

Buying Privately

  • Private Sales

    Private sales: the Consumer Rights Act does not apply; you are protected under the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (description and the seller's right to sell) and by misrepresentation law, and the car need not be of satisfactory quality. A trader posing as a private seller is still bound by the Act. source

  • Outstanding Finance

    If the car turns out to have outstanding finance, a private buyer who bought in good faith, without knowing about it, may be able to keep it (conditions apply, e.g. being the first private buyer); otherwise seek a refund from the seller (CRA 2015 if a trader, Sale of Goods Act 1979 if private). source

Paying

  • Section 75

    Section 75 Consumer Credit Act: if you pay by credit card (or buy now, pay later) for an item costing 100 to 30,000 pounds you can claim from the card provider for breach of contract or misrepresentation even if only part was paid by card; chargeback may help with debit cards. Escalate to the Financial Ombudsman Service if refused. source

Steps to Take

Step 1 of 7

Before buying: check the seller (Companies House for traders), the V5C logbook with its watermark, VIN and engine numbers, and get an independent history check.

Step 2 of 7

Check MOT history on GOV.UK for mileage at each test and look for odd gaps or drops that could indicate clocking.

Step 3 of 7

Get any claims in the advert written into the sales contract and keep the advert.

Step 4 of 7

Pay by credit card if you can (100 to 30,000 pounds) for Section 75 cover, and do not pay large cash sums to unverified sellers.

Step 5 of 7

If a fault appears in the first 30 days of a dealer purchase, tell the dealer in writing that you are rejecting the car and want a refund, stating the fault and giving dates.

Step 6 of 7

After 30 days, ask for a repair or replacement; keep records of every repair attempt and ask for a price reduction or final rejection if it fails.

Step 7 of 7

If the dealer will not help, use their ADR scheme (for example The Motor Ombudsman if the dealer is accredited), then card provider claims, then a county court claim.

(Tap the numbers to reveal steps)

Time Limits to Know

Miss a deadline and you can lose a right. Check the dates on your own paperwork.

  • 30 days
    Short-term right to reject a faulty car bought from a dealer30 days beginning the day after ownership, delivery and any installation are complete
  • 6 months
    Faults presumed present at deliveryFirst 6 months from delivery
  • 14 days
    Cancelling an online or phone purchase from a dealer14 days to notify from the day after delivery, then 14 days to return the goods
  • 8 weeks
    Complain to a dealer before using The Motor OmbudsmanAllow the dealer 8 weeks to respond unless it has issued a final response earlier
  • 6 years
    Legal action for goods problems in England and WalesGenerally up to 6 years from the problem (Citizens Advice; 5 years in Scotland)

Where to Go If It Is Not Put Right

Free routes to escalate, and when each one applies.

The Motor Ombudsman

Dealer is accredited to one of its codes (for example Vehicle Sales Code) and you have given it 8 weeks or received a final response. It does not deal with car finance claims.

Card Provider (Section 75 / Chargeback)

You paid at least part by credit card for a car priced 100 to 30,000 pounds, or by debit card for chargeback.

Financial Ombudsman Service

Your lender or card provider has rejected a complaint or not replied within the required time.

Citizens Advice Consumer Service

Free advice and referral to Trading Standards.

County Court Small Claims

After trying to settle and ADR; small claims usually cover claims up to 10,000 pounds.

Watch Out For

Common traps and scams to avoid.

Clocked cars: mileage is wound back; compare MOT history mileage, wear on pedals/seats/steering wheel, and service records.

Cloned cars: plates copied from a similar legitimate vehicle; check VIN and engine numbers match the V5C and use a history check.

'Sold as seen' or 'trade sale' stickers from dealers do not remove your Consumer Rights Act protections.

Buying a car with hidden finance, or paying a deposit to a fake online seller you have not met; never pay for a car you have not seen.

Recent or changing rules: tap to read

Motor finance: the FCA confirmed a Motor Finance Consumer Redress Scheme (agreements from 6 April 2007 to 1 November 2024 where undisclosed commission arrangements applied, about 12.1 million agreements). FCA says the scheme was due to start 30 June 2026 for agreements from April 2014 and 31 August 2026 for earlier ones, but legal challenges led the Upper Tribunal to partially suspend it in July 2026; the FCA said a tribunal hearing is unlikely before October 2026 and it is preparing for complaints handling to resume from around mid-November 2026. Consumers are told to complain directly to their lender (free) and avoid claims firms charging high fees (over 30% is flagged). Consumer Rights Act s.29 is noted on legislation.gov.uk as having pending amendments from the 2024 legislation not yet in force.

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