Returning a Car Bought 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

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 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

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

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