Can I get a refund on a faulty used car?
From a dealer, yes — you get a 30-day right to reject a faulty used car; from a private seller, mostly no. The basis is the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Buying from a dealer or trader, the car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described; if it's not, you have a 30-day right to reject it for a full refund (the clock pauses during any repair). After 30 days but within 6 months, you give one chance to repair or replace; if that fails, you can reject for a refund — and in the first 6 months a fault is presumed to have been there at sale, so the dealer must prove otherwise. "Sold as seen" / "no refunds" has no legal effect against a trader. A private sale is "buyer beware": the car only has to be as described and not misrepresented. In short: strong rights from a dealer, weak ones privately.
📋 The rules
- Dealer: car must be satisfactory, fit, as described
- 30-day right to reject for a full refund
- After 30 days/within 6 months: one repair, then refund
- First 6 months: a fault is presumed present at sale
- 'Sold as seen' has no effect against a trader
🔓 Exceptions
- Faults pointed out or obvious before purchase aren't covered
- Fair wear and tear, or buyer-caused damage, gives no right
- Private sales: caveat emptor — remedy limited to misdescription
⚠️ Penalties & fines
This is about rights, not penalties. From a dealer: the 30-day right to reject gives a full refund; the repair-then-reject right runs within 6 months, with the burden on the dealer to disprove a fault; after 6 months you must prove the fault existed at purchase, and a deduction for use may apply. Claims can be brought within about 6 years (5 in Scotland), and a refund is due within 14 days of agreement. Beware a myth: "'sold as seen' means no comeback" is false against a trader — it's legally meaningless, and only carries weight in a genuine private sale, where the car just has to match its description. To use your rights: from a dealer, reject promptly and put it in writing; if you paid a deposit by credit card, you may also have a Section 75 claim.
📎 Official sources
- The Motor Ombudsman — your rights buying a car →
- Which? — Consumer Rights Act 2015 →
- Citizens Advice — problem with a used car →
❓ Frequently asked
Can I return a faulty used car to a dealer?
Yes. If you buy a used car from a dealer and it turns out to be faulty — not of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose or as described — you have a 30-day right to reject it for a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2015. After 30 days, the dealer gets one chance to repair or replace before you can reject it.
Does 'sold as seen' protect the dealer?
No. 'Sold as seen', 'no refunds' or similar phrases have no legal effect when you buy from a dealer or trader. Your statutory rights under the Consumer Rights Act apply regardless, and the dealer can't exclude them. Such phrases only carry weight in a genuine private sale, between two private individuals.
What about buying privately?
Buying from a private seller is largely 'buyer beware'. The car only has to match the description given and not be misrepresented; there's no requirement that it be of satisfactory quality or fit for purpose. So you have far fewer rights, and your main recourse is if the seller lied about or misdescribed the car.
What if the fault appears after 30 days?
Within the first six months from a dealer, you give them one opportunity to repair or replace the car. If that attempt fails, you can reject it for a refund, though a deduction for use may apply. In those first six months, the fault is presumed to have been present at the time of sale, so the dealer must prove otherwise.
Can I use my credit card for extra protection?
Yes. If you paid for the car, or even just a deposit, by credit card and the price was over £100 and up to £30,000, you may also have a Section 75 claim against your card provider, who is jointly liable with the dealer. This can be useful if the dealer won't cooperate or has gone out of business.
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