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Buying a car is a major financial decision, and understanding your legal rights can help protect you if something goes wrong. Whether you're purchasing from a dealership or a private seller, knowing what you're entitled to before handing over your money can make the process much less stressful.
When you buy through a reputable online dealership, you can often benefit from clear processes, reliable information, and strong consumer protections if something doesn't go according to plan.
However, buying from a private seller can be a little more complicated. Although you still have certain rights, there may be fewer protections available if a problem arises after the sale. That's why it's important to do your homework before committing to a vehicle.
Given this, buying from a dealer definitely gets you more rights than a private sale. And, to help you make the right choice for your new car, we've outlined a few of these below.
Buying from a dealer might be more expensive, but it's not totally an unfair trade-off. Indeed, while you will probably pay more for your second-hand car, you generally get more protections too. A must-have for many people!
These rights are guaranteed by the Consumer Rights Act 2015. Thus, they may give you a little more confidence when buying a used vehicle. In general, vehicles purchased from a dealer should:
Of course, we should point out here that these rights apply both to new and used dealership cars. However, it's generally more common for a second-hand car to have a fault. And, at the end of the day, mistakes happen.
So, while we generally assume dealers will check a used car thoroughly before they buy it, we strongly recommend running a car history check yourself to be doubly sure.
Car history checks are simple and cost-effective to run. Better still, they only take a few minutes and can bring up a lot of information about the car. Some of this may be information that the dealer doesn't immediately volunteer, too - so, it'll help you make informed decisions.
Unfortunately, things sometimes go wrong. Maybe the car had a hidden issue you didn't know about, such as an engine fault. In these scenarios, the exact nature of your rights typically depends on how long it's been since the purchase.
You'll have the most protection if the issue arises or appears within one month (30 days) of sale. If the vehicle doesn't meet the required standards during this period, you may have the short-term right to reject the car and request a refund.
After the first 30 days, you will generally need to give the dealer an opportunity to repair or replace the vehicle. If the repair or replacement isn't possible, doesn't resolve the problem or causes significant inconvenience, you may then have the right to request a price reduction or reject the vehicle.
The rules also change depending on how long you've owned the car. If a fault appears within the first six months, it will generally be presumed to have been present when the vehicle was supplied, unless the dealer can demonstrate otherwise. After six months, the burden of proving that the fault was present at the time of sale will generally fall on the buyer.
Don't forget, though, this is just the minimum. If you purchased a car with a warranty or other guarantees from a dealer, they still must comply with those terms. Be sure to check the warranty terms thoroughly when you first buy the car, just to be sure.
Buying privately can be appealing if you're looking to save money, but it's important to understand that your legal protection is generally more limited than when buying from a dealer. The Sale of Goods Act 1979 can still be relevant to certain private sales, particularly where questions arise about the seller's legal right to sell the vehicle. However, private buyers generally have fewer protections than consumers purchasing from a trader.
For example, a private seller should have the legal right to sell the vehicle, and the car should match the description they have given you. However, you shouldn't assume that a privately sold vehicle comes with the same guarantees or protections as one purchased from a dealership.
This makes carrying out your own checks particularly important. Before agreeing to buy, check the car's registration details, MOT history, mileage, service history and overall condition.
If the seller refuses to answer reasonable questions or won't allow you to inspect the vehicle properly, consider this a warning sign. Taking a little extra time to check everything beforehand could help you avoid an expensive problem later on.