Car Buyers' Legal Rights
Buying a used car can be a risky experience, so it’s best to be
fully aware of your rights should something go wrong.
Dealer
The law is clear; you are covered by the Sale of Goods Act 1979. A car
must be:
1. Of satisfactory quality, bearing in mind its age, what it cost and
how it was described to you. It should be free from serious defects, other
than those you were made aware of.
1. As described. If the dealer says it's a 2.0-litre, and it's actually
a 1.6-litre, you can reject the car and seek a refund or replacement.
3. Fit for any reasonable purpose. The car should do all that you reasonably
expect of it, including any specifics you state to the dealer. If you
need a car for towing and the dealer says a 1-litre super mini will be
fine, you can reject the car if it struggles
However, if you pay for the car to be inspected, the dealer is not responsible
for any faults the inspection should have found. Always get a statement
on the car's condition from the dealer. If your car is faulty, you have
six months from the date of purchase in which you can reject it. You can
demand repair or a replacement, unless it would cause 'disproportionate'
or 'cause significant inconvenience' to the seller.
Examples of this would be if a repair would be as effective as a replacement,
or if a price reduction would be more appropriate for minor defects. Dealers
must now prove the vehicle was of satisfactory quality when it was sold.
This means you no longer need to seek an independent inspection. However,
if you believe your car is faulty, you must stop using the car immediately,
and contact the dealer directly. You need to follow this up in writing,
providing evidence of the problems.
Private
You have far less legal comeback when buying privately. The only obligation
for sellers is to describe the car truthfully - but even if they don't,
getting compensation from them can be difficult, time-consuming and costly.
However, you can still expect a car to be:
1. Capable of passing an MOT, unless the seller specifies it isn't
2. Owned by the person who is selling it - because if you later find out
it's been stolen, you have no legal right to keep it