Rejecting a faulty used car: the 30-day right
How to reject a faulty used car bought from a dealer: the 30-day right to a full refund, what changes after 30 days and 6 months, and what to do if you used finance.
Updated
If a used car you bought from a dealer turns out faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose, you can reject it for a full refund within 30 days. Tell the dealer clearly, in writing, that you are rejecting the car. After 30 days you usually have to let the dealer try one repair first. If the repair fails, you can reject the car then, but the dealer can take off an amount for the use you have had.
This applies to cars bought from a trader. Private sales work differently, as our guide to buying privately vs from a dealer explains.
Before you start: is it a fault the law covers
The Consumer Rights Act 2015 covers a car that was not of satisfactory quality, not fit for purpose or not as described when you got it. Ask yourself three questions.
- Was it there at the start? A fault that shows up soon after you buy usually was.
- Is it more than normal wear? Brake pads wearing out on an older car is wear. A warning light, a failing gearbox or a misfire a week after sale is not.
- Were you told about it? A fault the dealer specifically pointed out before you bought is not covered.
If you are unsure, get a written opinion from an independent garage. Our guide to the Consumer Rights Act and used cars explains the standards in more detail.
Within 30 days: the short-term right to reject
The 30 days begin the day after the car became yours and was delivered to you. Inside that window you can reject the car and get a full refund, with no deduction for the miles you have driven.
How to do it:
- Stop using the car except to return it, and do not have it repaired elsewhere first.
- Write to the dealer by email and by letter. Say that you are rejecting the car under the short-term right to reject in the Consumer Rights Act 2015, describe the fault, and ask for a full refund.
- Keep evidence: the advert, the invoice, photos or video of the fault, and any garage report.
- Make the car available for collection. The dealer must pay reasonable return costs, except the cost of driving it back to the place where you picked it up.
The dealer must refund you within 14 days of agreeing that you are entitled to a refund, using the same payment method, and cannot charge a fee for it.
A short letter is enough:
If you agree to let the dealer repair the car inside the 30 days, the clock stops while you wait. If the repair does not work, you have whatever was left of the 30 days, or at least 7 days after you get the car back.
After 30 days: one repair, then reject
Once the 30 days have passed, the next step is a repair or a replacement. The dealer must do it within a reasonable time, without significant inconvenience to you, and pay the costs. With a used car, a like-for-like replacement is rarely possible, so a repair is normal.
If one repair does not fix the fault, or the dealer does not do it within a reasonable time, you can choose between:
- a price reduction, which can be up to the full price, or
- the final right to reject, which ends the contract and gets you a refund.
The deduction for use
For most goods, there is no deduction for use if you use the final right to reject in the first 6 months. Cars are different. Section 24(10)(a) allows a deduction for a motor vehicle even inside those 6 months. The Act does not set a formula. Expect the dealer to base it on the miles you have covered and how much use you had from the car while the fault was present. If you think it is too high, say why in writing, and point out the days the car spent off the road or at the garage.
After 6 months: the burden shifts
Within 6 months of delivery, the law assumes a fault was there when you got the car unless the dealer proves otherwise. After 6 months, you have to show it. An independent inspection report that explains why the fault must have existed at sale, or why the part failed far sooner than it should for the car's age and mileage, is the usual evidence.
You can still claim long after, but it gets harder. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland the time limit for a court claim for breach of contract is generally 6 years. In Scotland it is 5 years.
If you bought with finance
How you paid changes who you claim against.
| How you paid | Who you claim against |
|---|---|
| Hire purchase, conditional sale or PCP arranged by the dealer | The finance company, which owns the car and is the supplier in law. Write to them and copy the dealer |
| Credit card, for some or all of the price | The dealer, and the card issuer jointly under section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act 1974 |
| Personal loan you arranged yourself, debit card, bank transfer or cash | The dealer only |
Hire purchase and PCP
Under most car finance agreements the finance company owns the car and is legally the supplier, so your Consumer Rights Act rights run against it. If you reject the car, the refund covers what you have paid under the agreement, including any deposit, and the agreement ends. Keep paying your instalments while the complaint is open, unless the finance company agrees otherwise in writing. Missed payments can harm your credit file.
Credit card and section 75
Section 75 makes the card issuer jointly liable with the dealer for a breach of contract or a misrepresentation. It applies where the cash price of the item is over £100 and not more than £30,000. It covers a car where only part of the price, such as the deposit, went on the card, as long as the car's price falls inside those limits. It does not apply to debit cards.
Escalating a complaint
- Final letter. Give the dealer or finance company a clear deadline, such as 14 days, and say what you will do next.
- Finance company complaints. A finance business has up to 8 weeks to deal with most complaints. After that, or after a final response you disagree with, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service. The service is free to use.
- Dealer complaints. If the dealer belongs to an alternative dispute resolution scheme, such as The Motor Ombudsman, you can ask it to look at the dispute.
- Court. In England and Wales you can make a money claim online. If you claim £10,000 or less and the other side disputes it, you will be told you must attend mediation, which the court organises. Court fees apply, set out on GOV.UK. Scotland and Northern Ireland have their own processes.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to reject a used car?
You have 30 days from the day after the car became yours and was delivered to reject it for a full refund. After that you can still reject, but usually only after one failed repair, and the dealer may make a deduction for use.
Can a dealer refuse to take a car back within 30 days?
Not if the car was faulty, not as described or not fit for purpose when you got it. The dealer may dispute that the fault is covered, so put your rejection in writing and keep evidence, such as a garage report.
Can the dealer insist on repairing it first?
Not inside the 30 days. You can choose to reject instead. After 30 days, the dealer normally gets one chance to repair or replace before you can reject.
Who do I complain to if the car is on finance?
The finance company, because it is usually the supplier in law. Copy the dealer in. If it does not resolve the complaint within 8 weeks, you can go to the Financial Ombudsman Service.