Bought a Faulty Used Car? Your Right to a Refund or Repair From the Dealer (UK)

Few consumer problems are as stressful — or as expensive — as a used car that develops a serious fault soon after you drive it off the forecourt. The good news: if you bought from a dealer (a business, not a private individual), the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you real leverage. Here is how the rules actually work, and how to put the dealer on notice in writing.

The Core Rule: The Car Must Be of Satisfactory Quality

Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015, a car sold by a dealer must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, and as described. For a used car, "satisfactory quality" is judged against what is reasonable for its age, mileage, and price — you cannot expect a ten-year-old car with 90,000 miles to be flawless. But it should be roadworthy, reliable enough for normal use, and free of faults that a reasonable buyer would not expect given what you paid. Ordinary wear and tear is not a fault; a gearbox that fails a fortnight later usually is.

The 30-Day Right to Reject (Full Refund)

If the car turns out to be faulty, your strongest remedy is the short-term right to reject. For 30 days from the date you take ownership, if the car is not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose, or as described, you can reject it and demand a full refund. You do not have to give the dealer a chance to repair it first during this window — though many buyers choose to. Report the fault clearly and in writing, and make it plain you are exercising your short-term right to reject.

After 30 Days: Repair or Replacement First

Once the 30-day window passes, the remedy changes. Between 30 days and six months you are generally entitled to ask the dealer for a free repair or replacement. The dealer gets one opportunity to fix the fault. If that repair fails — or if a repair is impossible or would cause you significant inconvenience — you move to the final right to reject: you can hand the car back for a refund. Note that for a rejection after the first 30 days, the dealer is allowed to make a reasonable deduction for the use you have had from the car.

The First Six Months Are on Your Side

Here is the point that catches many dealers out. If a fault appears within the first six months of ownership, the law presumes it was present or developing at the point of sale — so it is for the dealer to prove otherwise, not for you to prove the fault was there when you bought it. After six months, that burden flips to you, and you may need an independent mechanic's report to show the fault was there from the start.

Bought on Finance? You Have an Extra Route

If you bought the car on hire purchase or PCP, the finance company legally owns the car until you have paid it off — which means they are a party to the deal and can be jointly responsible for sorting out a faulty vehicle. You can direct your rejection or repair claim to the finance provider as well as the dealer, and they often act faster. If you paid a deposit of £100 or more by credit card, a Section 75 claim against your card provider is another backstop.

Where the Rules Are Different — Read This Before You Write

These protections are strong, but they are not universal:

• Private sales. If you bought from a private individual rather than a business, the Consumer Rights Act does not apply. The principle is closer to "buyer beware" — the seller must not misdescribe the car or lie about it, but there is no right to a satisfactory-quality car. A genuine private seller is a very different position from a dealer.
• "Sold as seen" and "trade sale" wording. A dealer cannot remove your statutory rights by writing "sold as seen", "no refunds", or "trade sale" on the invoice. Against a business seller, those clauses do not override the Consumer Rights Act. (They carry more weight only in genuine private sales.)
• Faults you were told about. If the dealer specifically drew your attention to a fault before you bought — or it was obvious on the inspection you carried out — you generally cannot later reject the car for that particular fault.
• Business purchases. If you bought the car mainly for business use, consumer law may not apply in the same way.

What to Do — and What to Put in Writing

Stop driving the car if the fault makes it unsafe. Then put your claim in writing — a clear letter or email does most of the work, because it shows the dealer you know the law and creates a record. Your message should:

• State the make, model, registration, price, and the date you took ownership;
• Describe the fault and when it appeared;
• Make clear which remedy you are exercising — the 30-day right to reject for a full refund, or a repair/replacement, or the final right to reject;
• Reference the Consumer Rights Act 2015, and — if within six months — that it is for the dealer to prove the fault was not present at sale;
• Give a reasonable deadline to respond, and keep it factual and firm.

If the dealer refuses to engage, your next steps can include the finance company (if applicable), the trader's alternative dispute resolution scheme if they belong to one, or a claim in the small claims court.