Bought a faulty car – what can I do?

Have you bought a faulty car and aren’t sure what to do?  Our guide is here to help! Understand your rights and what to do if you’ve purchased a faulty used car. What you’re entitled to depends on who you bought the car from, how long you’ve had the faulty car, and when you’ve spotted that something is amiss. Spotting a fault with a car early entitles you to the highest level of protection. Find out about your rights when you’ve bought a faulty car. 

You’re protected under the Consumer Rights Act 2025. 

The Consumer Rights Act 2015 protects any buyer when getting a new and used car. It applies in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Consumer Rights Act only protects buyers who use a registered trader, such as a dealership or through a broker. You won’t be protected if you buy a car from a private seller though. 

Official traders, such as car dealerships, need to ensure all cars meet the below criteria: 

Before 30 days. 

If you’ve found an issue or a serious fault with a vehicle within 30 days of purchase, you’ll be entitled to a full refund. Take photos or videos of the fault as soon as possible. Then, lodge an official complaint with the dealership and make them aware the car is either not of satisfactory quality or meets the needs it was intended for. The complaints process can be lengthy, so ensure you’re making the right decision before committing to buy a car in the first place. If the seller does not accept your rejection of the vehicle, you may have to start court proceedings to get your money back. 

30 days after purchase. 

If you’ve found fault with your vehicle after 30 days but before six months of purchase, you could be entitled to a repair or replacement. The seller of the car will need to prove the fault wasn’t present when the car was sold and if they can, you’re unlikely to get a refund. 

The dealer has one chance to fix the fault, and if the car is not fixed, you are entitled to a refund. However, things like usage of the car will be taken into account and you may not receive a refund for the full amount. 

6 months after purchase. 

If you’ve found fault with a car you bought six months after purchase, you will need to prove the fault was present at the time of sale. To do this, you’ll usually have to have an Independent Technical Report performed to support your case. These tests are done by trained technicians or mechanics to show a detailed diagnosis of the vehicle and any issues. If a fault can be proven to have been present upon buying, you could be entitled to a partial refund. 

What’s not covered? 

• You’ve changed your mind. You can’t request a refund or reject a car if you have simply changed your mind. 
• General wear and tear. You can’t reject a car for general wear and tear that happens over time with normal use. E.g. common car faults such as worn brake pads or a flat tyre. 
• Pre-disclosed faults. If you buy a car knowing it has a fault, you won’t be able to claim. 
• Meets the criteria. You can’t claim for a car that’s fit for purpose, of good quality or is as described. 

What if I’m not happy with the outcome? 

If you’ve rejected a faulty car, complained to the dealership, and you’re not happy with the outcome, you can contact the Financial Ombudsman for advice. You can also take the issue to court, but it can be costly. The Financial/ Motor Ombudsman is an independent organisation aimed at helping consumers resolve complaints.

Find out how to contact the Motor Ombudsman. 

What are my rights if I buy a car from a private seller? 

If you’ve bought a car from a private seller, you’ll not have as much protection as buying from a dealership. Buying a car privately may save you money at first, but it can be costly should something go wrong. When buying from a private seller, you have a few rights: 

• The seller must have the legal right to sell you the car.
• The car must match the sellers description. 
• The car must be safe and roadworthy. 

If you’re not satisfied with the car you have bought, you can ask the seller for a refund. If they decline, you can take the matter to a small claims court. However, it can never be guaranteed you’ll get your money back, even if you take it to court. 

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