Bought from a dealer? Strong rights
From a trader, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If it’s faulty:
- First 30 days: you can reject it for a full refund — including the return of any part-exchange.
- After 30 days: you must give the dealer one chance to repair or replace it; if that fails, you can claim a price reduction or a final rejection.
- The fault must be beyond normal wear and tear and have been there (or developing) when you bought it.
The 6-month rule is your friend
If a fault appears in the first 6 months, the law presumes it was there when you bought the car — so it’s up to the dealer to prove it wasn’t, not you to prove it was. That’s a big advantage.
Bought privately? “Buyer beware”
Buying from a private seller gives you far fewer rights. The car only has to be:
- As described in the advert and in person; and
- legally owned by the seller (theirs to sell, no outstanding finance hidden).
There’s no right to “satisfactory quality” or “fit for purpose” like there is with a dealer. But if the seller lied — gave an untrue answer or misrepresented the car in the advert or to your face — you may have a misrepresentation claim and could unwind the sale.
Protect yourself before you pay
Inspect carefully (ideally with an independent check), and run the basics — MOT history, mileage and outstanding finance. See
vehicle checks. With a private sale, what you check
before handing over money matters far more than your rights after.
“Sold as seen” — and buying on finance
A dealer cannot use “sold as seen”, “no refunds” or “trade sale” to wipe out your Consumer Rights Act protections — those rights are written into law and can’t be signed away. (With a private seller, “sold as seen” carries more weight, but still doesn’t cover lies or selling something they didn’t own.)
If you used finance, you often have extra routes:
| How you paid | Your route |
|---|
| Hire purchase / PCP | The finance company owns the car and is legally responsible to you — complain to and reject through them, not just the dealer. |
| Credit card (over £100) | Section 75 makes your card provider jointly liable for the dealer’s breach — claim from the card company too. |
How to get your money back
- Report the fault in writing to the dealer (or finance company) as soon as you spot it — with dated photos and any diagnostic evidence. Keep copies. Stop driving it if it’s unsafe.
- State your right clearly — to reject within 30 days, or a repair/replacement after that — quoting the Consumer Rights Act.
- If they refuse, escalate: through the finance company, a Section 75 claim, the Motor Ombudsman (if the dealer is a member), or the small claims court.
Do this now
Email the dealer today: describe the fault, attach dated photos, and say you’re exercising your right to reject under the Consumer Rights Act (if within 30 days) or requesting a repair. Need the words? Use the letter writer.
Refused? Open a Section 75 or finance-company claim, or take it to the small claims court. Free advice: Citizens Advice.