Guide · Used cars

The used car is faulty, and
the dealer knows it.

Cars are the biggest-ticket consumer purchase there is, and the same Consumer Rights Act that covers a kettle covers a £15,000 car from a dealer: satisfactory quality, 30-day rejection, six-month presumption. Dealers know this law well. Now you do too.

1.Satisfactory, for its age and mileage

"It's a used car, what do you expect" only stretches so far. Quality is judged against age, mileage and price, and a car that develops a serious fault weeks after purchase usually wasn't satisfactory when sold:

Consumer Rights Act 2015 · s.9 · Goods to be of satisfactory quality
"Every contract to supply goods is to be treated as including a term that the quality of the goods is satisfactory. (2)The quality of goods is satisfactory if they meet the standard that a reasonable person would consider satisfactory, taking account of— (a)any description of the goods, (b)the price"…
In plain English: When you buy goods, the law automatically assumes they will be of satisfactory quality. This means they should be fit for purpose, look good, be free from defects, safe, and last a reasonable amount of time, considering their price and description.
§ Read the full text on legislation.gov.uk →

2.Your 30 days, and the six-month presumption

Reject within 30 days for a full refund. Within six months, the burden of proving the fault wasn't there at sale sits on the dealer:

Consumer Rights Act 2015 · s.20 · Right to reject
"Each of these rights entitles the consumer to reject the goods and treat the contract as at an end, subject to subsections (20) and (21). (5)The right is exercised if the consumer indicates to the trader that the consumer is rejecting the goods and treating the contract as at an end."
In plain English: If goods you buy are faulty, you can reject them and end the contract. You are entitled to a full refund for what you paid, and the trader must arrange and pay for the return of the goods.
§ Read the full text on legislation.gov.uk →
Consumer Rights Act 2015 · s.19 · Consumer's rights to enforce terms about goods
", goods which do not conform to the contract at any time within the period of six months beginning with the day on which the goods were delivered to the consumer must be taken not to have conformed to it on that day."
In plain English: If goods you buy don't match the contract terms, you have rights to reject them, get them repaired or replaced, or claim a price reduction. These rights are available if the goods are faulty or not as described, with a special rule for faults appearing within six months.
§ Read the full text on legislation.gov.uk →

3.One honest wrinkle

For motor vehicles, if you reject after a failed repair in the first six months, the dealer may deduct something for the use you've had. For the first 30 days, no deduction: a full refund.

4.What to do

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This guide covers England and Wales; Scottish and Northern Irish rules can differ. This is guidance to help you understand your rights, not formal legal advice, and we're entirely independent: no affiliation with Citizens Advice, GOV.UK or any law firm. Every quotation above links to the official text so you can check us. Law verified current at July 2026.