Consumer Rights Act 2015 and used cars: your rights
What the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you when you buy a used car from a dealer: the 30-day right to reject, the 6-month rule, repairs and refunds.
Updated
When you buy a used car from a dealer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 says the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If it is not, you can reject it for a full refund within 30 days. After that, the dealer gets one chance to repair or replace it. If that fails, you can ask for a price reduction or reject the car for a refund, less a deduction for the use you have had.
The Act applies to sales by a trader to a consumer. It does not cover private sales, and it gives much less at an auction you can attend in person. "Used" does not mean "no rights": the standard simply takes account of the car's age, mileage and price.
Who the Act protects
The Act protects a consumer, meaning an individual buying wholly or mainly outside their trade or business, when they buy from a trader, meaning someone selling for the purposes of their business. A franchised dealer, an independent forecourt, an online car retailer and a part-time trader selling from home are all traders.
Two common purchases fall outside it:
- Private sales. A private seller must own the car and describe it accurately, but there is no satisfactory quality standard. Our guide to buying privately vs from a dealer compares the two side by side.
- Public auctions you can attend in person. Section 2(5) says that when second-hand goods are sold at a public auction that individuals can attend in person, you are not treated as a consumer for most of the goods rights. See buying at a car auction.
The three standards a dealer's car must meet
| Standard | What it means for a used car |
|---|---|
| Satisfactory quality | What a reasonable person would expect, given the description, the price, the age and the mileage. It covers appearance, freedom from minor defects, safety and durability. |
| Fit for purpose | Fit for the normal use of a car, and for any particular purpose you told the dealer about before you bought, for example towing a caravan. |
| As described | The car must match what the advert and the dealer said: the model, the trim, the mileage, the service history and the number of keepers. |
Satisfactory quality is not a promise that nothing will ever wear out. A ten-year-old car with high mileage is not expected to behave like a new one, and normal wear and tear after you buy is not a fault. But a car that breaks down a week after sale, or has a defect the dealer never mentioned, is likely to fall short.
Section 9(4) sets out two limits. The standard does not cover a fault that was specifically pointed out to you before you bought, or one that an examination you actually made ought to have revealed. That is why a dealer may list known faults on the paperwork. It is also why you should keep a copy of anything you were shown.
Your remedies, in order
The Act sets out a ladder. Where you start depends on how long you have had the car.
| When the fault appears | What you can ask for |
|---|---|
| Within 30 days | Reject the car and get a full refund (the short-term right to reject) |
| After 30 days, or if you choose to | One repair or one replacement, at the dealer's cost |
| If that repair or replacement fails | A price reduction, or the final right to reject with a refund less a deduction for use |
| Up to 6 years later (5 in Scotland) | A claim through the courts, if the car did not conform at delivery |
The 30-day short-term right to reject
The 30 days start the day after the car is yours and has been delivered to you. Tell the dealer clearly that you are rejecting the car. The refund must be made within 14 days of the dealer agreeing that you are entitled to it, and the dealer cannot charge a fee for it. If you agree to a repair inside the 30 days, the clock stops while you wait for the car to come back.
Repair or replacement
After 30 days, or if you prefer it, the dealer must repair or replace the car within a reasonable time, without significant inconvenience to you, and pay the costs of doing so. With a used car, a replacement is often impossible because no identical car exists, so repair is the usual route.
Price reduction or final right to reject
If one repair or one replacement does not fix the problem, or the dealer does not do it in a reasonable time, you can choose either a price reduction or the final right to reject. For most goods there is no deduction for use in the first 6 months. Cars are the exception: section 24(10)(a) lets the dealer reduce the refund for the use you have had, even within 6 months. The Act makes an exception for vehicles adapted for a disabled person who is the only user at any one time.
Our step-by-step guide to rejecting a faulty used car covers the letters, the finance company and the deduction in more detail.
The 6-month rule
If a fault appears within 6 months of delivery, the law assumes it was there when you took the car, unless the dealer proves it was not. You do not have to prove the fault was present at sale. After 6 months the position flips: you need to show the fault was there at delivery, or that the car was not as durable as a reasonable person would expect. A report from an independent mechanic is usually the evidence that does this.
What the small print cannot remove
Section 31 says a term in the contract cannot exclude or restrict the dealer's liability for satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose, description, or the right to sell the car. Words such as "sold as seen", "trade sale" on a sale to you as a consumer, or "no refunds" do not take those rights away. Our guide to what "sold as seen" means explains where the phrase does still matter.
A dealer warranty sits on top of these rights. It cannot replace them. See used car warranties explained.
How long you have to claim
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland you generally have 6 years from the breach to bring a claim for breach of contract. In Scotland it is 5 years. That is a time limit for going to court, not a promise that a car will last 6 years. The older the car and the longer you have had it, the harder it is to show the fault was there on the day you bought it.
What to do when something goes wrong
- Stop driving the car if the fault affects safety.
- Tell the dealer in writing, by email or letter, and keep a copy. Say which right you are using.
- Keep the advert, the invoice, the finance paperwork and any messages.
- Get an independent mechanic's report if the dealer disputes the fault.
- If the dealer will not engage, ask whether they belong to an alternative dispute resolution scheme. GOV.UK lists consumer advice services for England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Before you buy, read the car's MOT history, compare the model with others of the same age on our MOT pages, and look at the example Buying Report to see what a report covers.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Consumer Rights Act apply to used cars?
Yes, when you buy from a trader. The car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, judged against its age, mileage and price. It does not apply to private sales.
Can I return a used car within 30 days?
Only if it is faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose. The 30-day short-term right to reject is for cars that do not conform to the contract. It is not a cooling-off period for a change of mind. If you bought online or by phone, a separate 14-day cancellation right may apply.
Who has to prove the fault was there when I bought the car?
Within 6 months of delivery, the dealer has to prove the car was fine at sale. After 6 months, you have to show the fault was there at delivery, usually with an independent report.
Can a dealer charge me for the miles I have driven if I reject the car?
Yes, if you use the final right to reject after a failed repair. For motor vehicles the Act allows a deduction for use even in the first 6 months. There is no deduction under the 30-day short-term right to reject.