You’ve bought a used car, and something’s wrong with it. Maybe a warning light came on within days, the gearbox is slipping, or the car simply isn’t what the advert said. The good news: if you bought it from a dealer, UK law gives you real rights — and in many cases you can get a repair, a replacement, or your money back.
This guide explains those rights in plain English and tells you exactly what to do next.
Quick answer
If you bought from a dealer in the last 30 days, you can usually reject the car for a full refund. After that, the dealer normally gets one chance to repair or replace it. If that fails, you can reject it or ask for money off. Act quickly, and put everything in writing.
Does this apply to you?
Your rights depend on who sold you the car and how you paid.
| How you bought it | Your main protection |
|---|---|
| From a dealer or other business | The Consumer Rights Act 2015 — strong rights to a repair, replacement or refund |
| From a private seller | Much weaker: the car must match its description and the seller must own it, but it doesn’t have to be of “satisfactory quality” |
| On hire purchase or PCP | The finance company is legally the supplier, so your claim is usually against them, not the dealer |
| Partly or fully on a credit card | You may also be able to claim from the card provider (see “Bought on finance?” below) |
The rest of this guide covers cars bought from a dealer in England and Wales. Rights are similar in Scotland and Northern Ireland, but some time limits differ.
Your rights, step by step
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a car bought from a dealer must be:
- Of satisfactory quality — judged against its age, mileage and price, so a cheap high-mileage car won’t be held to a new-car standard, but it still shouldn’t break down straight away
- Fit for purpose — including any purpose you told the dealer about
- As described — matching the advert, the listing and anything the dealer told you
If it isn’t, what you can ask for depends on how long you’ve had the car.
Within 30 days: the short-term right to reject
You can reject the car and get a full refund, as long as you act within 30 days of buying it or taking delivery. There’s no deduction for the miles you’ve driven. Tell the dealer in writing that you’re rejecting the car — don’t just ask for a repair, or you may lose this right while the repair is attempted.
Up to 6 months: repair or replace first
After 30 days, the dealer normally gets one chance to repair or replace the car, at their cost and within a reasonable time. If the repair fails, or it isn’t done without significant inconvenience to you, you can choose:
- The final right to reject — a refund, though for cars the dealer can deduct an amount for the use you’ve had
- A price reduction — if you’d rather keep the car
Crucially, if the fault shows up within 6 months, the law assumes it was there when you bought the car. It’s up to the dealer to prove otherwise.
After 6 months: the same rights, but you must prove it
You keep the same rights, but now it’s for you to show the fault was there (or developing) when you bought it. An independent mechanic’s report is usually the best evidence.
How long do you have?
In England and Wales you can bring a claim up to 6 years after purchase (5 years in Scotland). In practice, the sooner you act, the stronger your position.
Bought on finance?
How you paid can change who you claim against — sometimes in your favour.
- Hire purchase or PCP: the finance company legally supplied the car, so your rights under the Consumer Rights Act are against them. Write to the finance company as well as the dealer.
- Credit card: if you paid any part of the price on a credit card and the car cost between £100 and £30,000, the card provider can be jointly liable with the dealer under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974.
- Personal loan or cash: your claim is against the dealer.
What to do now
- Stop using the car if you safely can. Continuing to drive it can weaken a rejection claim and may make the fault worse.
- Gather your evidence: the advert, invoice, any finance agreement, the MOT and service history, photos or videos of the fault, and dates of when it started.
- Get the fault checked. Within 6 months a garage’s diagnosis helps; after 6 months an independent report is often essential.
- Write to the dealer (and the finance company, if you used hire purchase or PCP). Say what’s wrong, which right you’re using — rejection, repair or replacement — and give a clear deadline, such as 14 days.
- Keep everything in writing. If you speak on the phone, follow up by email confirming what was said.
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If the dealer refuses
Don’t give up at the first “no”. You have three main routes:
- The Motor Ombudsman: if the dealer is accredited to its codes of practice, it can look at your dispute for free.
- The Financial Ombudsman Service: for complaints about a finance company. You usually need to complain to the company first and wait for its final response, or 8 weeks.
- Small claims court: in England and Wales, claims up to £10,000 can usually be made online. A clear paper trail is your strongest asset here.
This article is general information about UK consumer law, not legal advice. Every situation is different; if your claim is complex or high-value, consider getting advice from a solicitor or Citizens Advice.
